Alli slimming pill hits stores - experts warn of side effects, misuse
For two years, George Hegedus has avoided expensive diet plans and made it to the gym barely three times a week. At 270 pounds, the Coconut Creek, Fla., resident said he needs something to help combat the fat calories.
So when alli, the first federally approved over-the-counter slimming pill, hit South Florida drugstore shelves Thursday, he drove to a Walgreens store on his lunch hour and bought a starter pack: 90 pills at $59.99.
"I hope it helps take calories off, but it's not a magic pill," said Hegedus, 42, a structural engineer.
South Florida drugstores reported growing consumer interest in the new slimming pill, which is being rolled out nationwide this week with an unprecedented $150 million marketing campaign. Although the drug has been available at greater strength by prescription since 1999, this is the first time it is available over the counter to overweight adults.
The pill works by blocking about 25 percent of the body's absorption of fat in the digestive system by attaching to natural enzymes that would otherwise break down fat.
Alli's London-based manufacturer, GlaxoSmithKline, recommends taking it along with a low-fat diet and exercise. Consumers who don't stick to a low-fat diet can experience some unpleasant side effects, such as oily discharge, diarrhea and gas.
The Food and Drug Administration approved the pill in February, at half the strength of its prescription version, sold under the name Xenical. GlaxoSmithKline is promoting the pill with books, a TV commercial and educational CDs.
Drugstore representatives said many consumers were putting in pre-orders for the drug before it hit the shelves Thursday.
"We've been getting a lot of calls and we've taken a number of pre-orders through the Web site," said Carol Hively, a spokeswoman for Walgreens. "We expect this to be a big product."
But dieticians and pharmacists say that, despite the buzz, it does not change the classic formula for weight loss: eating less and moving more.
Jan Schuman, a pharmacist at Boca Pharmacy, said the key to losing weight is behavior modification.
"I'm on a diet now. I'm exercising and can do without alli," Schuman said. "I don't eat that much fat."
Schuman said taking alli and having a high calorie intake is like diabetics eating sugary foods and injecting more insulin into their bodies. He urges people not to "play a game" with themselves by thinking the pill will solve their problem, and instead focus on a good diet and exercise.
GlaxoSmithKline mailed fliers and educational material to drugstores, but Schuman said he has not heard from the company on counseling those who buy alli.
Via SunHerald.com
Actually alli is half strengh of Xenical slimming pill which is well known and proved efficacy although many people noticed side effects. Alli does have the same side effects like Xenical.
Here they are:
- loose stools
- too-frequent stools
- uncontrollable bowel movements
- gas with an oily discharge
Natural fat binder Proactol showed approximately the same efficacy in blocking fats like alli, except for no side effects noticed from testers who took it.
People using Proactol since February 2007 (the month it's become available for public) also noticed no side effects and increased weight loss rate as compared to routines without taking Proactol.
It seems natural because Proactol active ingredient is based on Opuntia Ficus Indica fiber, known for thousands of years for it's strong binding capacities. Scientific researches by Bio Serae Laboratories discovered great fat binding power of Neopuntia (made from the fiber) and several clinical studies proved that it can be used for safe weight loss.
So make your choice towards natural and safe weight loss aid and please remember that if other people reach weight loss success it's available for you too!
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