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What Are the Dangers of Alli Weight Loss?

Any weight-loss program or medication, being disruptive to existing body systems, carries a potential for negative side effects. Though losing weight could improve your health, keep in mind that you are affecting your body to create that weight loss.

  1. Reactions to Alli Weight Loss Pill

    • The Alli weight-loss pill, an over-the-counter preparation (main ingredient is orlistat), is no exception. Some users have reported negative side effects of Alli.

    Announced Side Effects

    • In their submission documents to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the makers of Alli presented potential "treatment effects" of the pills and accompanied these with suggestions on the proper use of the pills. The Alli starter literature recommended a low-calorie diet of 15 grams of fat in each meal.

    Confirmed Side Effects

    • Some of the side effects that were confirmed by reports from the field included stomach pain, loose bowel movements, more frequent bowel movements, difficult-to-control bowel movements, oily stools, fecal incontinence, flatulence, fatty stools, gas with accompanying oil or stool, uncontrolled oil spottings, soft bowel movements, and diarrhea. Other side effects reported were infection of the sinus, back pain, kidney stones and allergy.

    Other Side Effects

    • Health-care professionals also do not recommend the pill to those who are taking cyclosporine (an immune system suppressant), have had an organ transplant or who otherwise have problems with the digestive system. In addition, Alli caution should be exercised if you are taking blood-thinning medications or are a confirmed diabetic or suffering from a thyroid disease.

    Most Common Reaction

    • Most of the common side effects pertain to the reaction of the stomach. This is because Alli works to prevent you from absorbing fats in your food, causing an "inundation" of the colon and intestines with rejected fats--thus the frequent trips to the bathroom. Following the suggested diet could reduce the effects--less fat in the colon and less softening of stool.

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