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Anybody on Alli plan to help with weight loss?
I've been taking Alli for 2 weeks now and have lost 6 lbs. I feel great. I was told by an Endo that I could take Alli pills to help me lose weight even though I am taking synthroid. He said it was safe.
Has anybody else taken the Alli pills, and has it been a success? Were you advised by an Endo NOT to take them even if you don't have thyroid disease?
Thanks.
Has anybody else taken the Alli pills, and has it been a success? Were you advised by an Endo NOT to take them even if you don't have thyroid disease?
Thanks.
COMMUNITY LEADER
Like any method of weight loss - a healthier eating style and exercise must be implemented and maintained or any weight lost will be regained as soon as the med it stopped. These facts are stated very clearly in the literature.
Deb, you daughter may have been on Xenical - that's what my doctor prescribed for me and it is really the same drug as Alli (orlistat) only it's twice as strong...... And some of the stuff you posted could have come directly from the literature that comes with the Alli kit -----
The fear of the side effects is enough to make me keep the fat in my diet down in order to avoid them. I find that most of the time I don't eat that much fat anyway, so I've been able to avoid side effects, which is a "MUST" for me because I'm not always where I can make it to a restroom "right now" ----- I just find myself not being taking it consistently.......
And I can't hit the send button without once again cautioning anyone who might be contemplating Alli or any other diet supplement - make sure you discuss it with your doctor first. Alli CAN prevent thyroid med (and maybe others as well) from being absorbed, so care must be taken to separate the Alli from the thyroid meds by several hours............
Deb, you daughter may have been on Xenical - that's what my doctor prescribed for me and it is really the same drug as Alli (orlistat) only it's twice as strong...... And some of the stuff you posted could have come directly from the literature that comes with the Alli kit -----
The fear of the side effects is enough to make me keep the fat in my diet down in order to avoid them. I find that most of the time I don't eat that much fat anyway, so I've been able to avoid side effects, which is a "MUST" for me because I'm not always where I can make it to a restroom "right now" ----- I just find myself not being taking it consistently.......
And I can't hit the send button without once again cautioning anyone who might be contemplating Alli or any other diet supplement - make sure you discuss it with your doctor first. Alli CAN prevent thyroid med (and maybe others as well) from being absorbed, so care must be taken to separate the Alli from the thyroid meds by several hours............
Having read the wikipedia result for Alli, I think I will stick to excersise and good eating!
Perhaps when I was 102kgs it might have been easier to lose the excess weight.
If you don;t mind oily poohs and possible botty accidents, and you see results then I guess it would work! I too, would be worried once you stopped taking it that the fat soluble process would be eliminated (pardon the pun!) and the weight would come back on.
Good luck!
Perhaps when I was 102kgs it might have been easier to lose the excess weight.
If you don;t mind oily poohs and possible botty accidents, and you see results then I guess it would work! I too, would be worried once you stopped taking it that the fat soluble process would be eliminated (pardon the pun!) and the weight would come back on.
Good luck!
My daughter was on a proiduct that does the same thing.,......the fat is excreted in the stools and (excuse the next statement) you could see the fat in the toilet floating in the toilet bowl (orange oil).
She found it did the trick with weight loss but as soon as she stopped...so too did the weight loss and she gained it all back.
My Doc said that it is only for people who are SLIGHTLY overweight and not for really obese patients.
I tend to think hes right.
She found it did the trick with weight loss but as soon as she stopped...so too did the weight loss and she gained it all back.
My Doc said that it is only for people who are SLIGHTLY overweight and not for really obese patients.
I tend to think hes right.
Heres what I found....I'd be worried that the thyroxine doesnt stay in the body due to using the bowels more with Alli.
Pharmacies up and down the US have reported large sales of Alli, perhaps more to do with the hype which has been in the press for the last 3 or 4 months than anything else. There have been some major sales pushes in the US especially, playing on the fact that it is the only OTC treatment for obesity, and the relatively cheap price of the drugs. Available in 60g dosage, 50 capsules have been priced at $50, 90 capsules at $60 and a 120 capsule pack at $69.99. It seems that the distributors are targeting the long term market by using such a pricing structure.
What Can Alli Do For You?
The positive, and negative side effects of Alli have been well covered in both the medical and traditional press. On the positive side the treatment has been shown to have a substantial impact on weight loss, almost immediately. Human trials showed a significant weight loss above and beyond that of traditional diets, which is in the main due to the immediate 30% reduction in the intake of fatty food elements into the body. By reducing the initial intake the body needs to draw more energy from the existing fat content in the body, thereby instigating an immediate reduction even if no change to the users exercise or dietary regimes.
However, it has been stated by many that the drug should be considered as only part of a long term goal for obesity suffers. It is strongly advised that a change in dietary and exercise habits should be instigated as soon as possible, with many Alli users expected to receive a natural boost from a greater self esteem. Unless significant changes are made to the users long term habits, there is the potential for weight gain as soon as the treatment ends (although there has been no official guidance as to any potential longer term side effects).
On the negative side, many media companies and internet sites have picked up on the rather embarrassing side effects. These include oily stools, increased flatulence and the possibility of sudden and uncontrollable bowel movements in the early days of use. However, the impact of these side effects can easily be reduced by a reduction in the intake of fatty content in the users diet. Official guidance suggests a fatty intake of no more than 15g per meal in order avoid the majority of the side effects.
While these side effects are unfortunate and can be very embarrassing for users, they will be more predominant at the beginning of the treatment and should reduce naturally (and even more so with a change in the users lifestyle).
As the popularity of the treatment becomes more and more apparent it seems that many of the medical and popular press have missed what may yet turn out to be one of the larger impacts which Alli can have on much of the population - a rise in the “feel good factor”. It has been common knowledge in the medical world that one of the most expensive and potentially harmful conditions for the public can be depression.
Depression is often linked to a personal “feel good factor” and how the person feels about themselves. This vicious circle of depression, comfort eating and a reluctance to integrate with the rest of society has often been at the heart of many obesity suffers. Breaking this cycle of depression, increased weight gain and further depression is vital not only to the suffer, but also the many health organisations and economies around the world. This condition costs millions and millions of dollars around the world in lost working hours, and emergency medical treatments - but perhaps the tide is turning?
Are There Any Medical Guidelines?
While there are no strict medical guidelines, GlaxoSmithkline have advised that Alli should only be used by people who have a Body Mass Index of 25 and upwards. This is the calculation which involves taking the persons weight and height and calculating their BMI. Officially a BMI of 30 and over is classified as obese, but there is some gain to be made for people with a BMI of between 25 and 30.
As highlighted earlier in this article it is also advisable to consider Alli in conjunction with a long term change in the users lifestyle. Seen by many as a “wonder drug”, GlaxoSmithkline are keen to emphasise the importance of increased exercise and healthier dietary habits in order to receive the best long term benefits.
Conclusion
While we have seen all of the headlines of late regarding high sales and Alli literally “flying off the shelves”, there is a growing awareness of the greater benefits of Alli in relation to breaking the cycle of depression and over eating. This is perhaps something that will interest worldwide governments once the hype and smoke has cleared after the launch.
Even though we have seen many weight loss “treatments” come and go, with many shown to be ineffective or potentially harmful in the past, Alli really is different. This none surgical treatment physically stops the body form producing the enzymes which allow fat to be absorbed into the body, an effect which will be turned off as soon as treatment is stopped.
It is perhaps this fact more than any other which prompted the US Food and Drugs Administration to approve the treatment for OTC distribution. It will be interesting to see whether the reported side effects have any impact on longer term sales, although it seems that for many, the benefits of weight loss far out weigh these side effects.
Pharmacies up and down the US have reported large sales of Alli, perhaps more to do with the hype which has been in the press for the last 3 or 4 months than anything else. There have been some major sales pushes in the US especially, playing on the fact that it is the only OTC treatment for obesity, and the relatively cheap price of the drugs. Available in 60g dosage, 50 capsules have been priced at $50, 90 capsules at $60 and a 120 capsule pack at $69.99. It seems that the distributors are targeting the long term market by using such a pricing structure.
What Can Alli Do For You?
The positive, and negative side effects of Alli have been well covered in both the medical and traditional press. On the positive side the treatment has been shown to have a substantial impact on weight loss, almost immediately. Human trials showed a significant weight loss above and beyond that of traditional diets, which is in the main due to the immediate 30% reduction in the intake of fatty food elements into the body. By reducing the initial intake the body needs to draw more energy from the existing fat content in the body, thereby instigating an immediate reduction even if no change to the users exercise or dietary regimes.
However, it has been stated by many that the drug should be considered as only part of a long term goal for obesity suffers. It is strongly advised that a change in dietary and exercise habits should be instigated as soon as possible, with many Alli users expected to receive a natural boost from a greater self esteem. Unless significant changes are made to the users long term habits, there is the potential for weight gain as soon as the treatment ends (although there has been no official guidance as to any potential longer term side effects).
On the negative side, many media companies and internet sites have picked up on the rather embarrassing side effects. These include oily stools, increased flatulence and the possibility of sudden and uncontrollable bowel movements in the early days of use. However, the impact of these side effects can easily be reduced by a reduction in the intake of fatty content in the users diet. Official guidance suggests a fatty intake of no more than 15g per meal in order avoid the majority of the side effects.
While these side effects are unfortunate and can be very embarrassing for users, they will be more predominant at the beginning of the treatment and should reduce naturally (and even more so with a change in the users lifestyle).
As the popularity of the treatment becomes more and more apparent it seems that many of the medical and popular press have missed what may yet turn out to be one of the larger impacts which Alli can have on much of the population - a rise in the “feel good factor”. It has been common knowledge in the medical world that one of the most expensive and potentially harmful conditions for the public can be depression.
Depression is often linked to a personal “feel good factor” and how the person feels about themselves. This vicious circle of depression, comfort eating and a reluctance to integrate with the rest of society has often been at the heart of many obesity suffers. Breaking this cycle of depression, increased weight gain and further depression is vital not only to the suffer, but also the many health organisations and economies around the world. This condition costs millions and millions of dollars around the world in lost working hours, and emergency medical treatments - but perhaps the tide is turning?
Are There Any Medical Guidelines?
While there are no strict medical guidelines, GlaxoSmithkline have advised that Alli should only be used by people who have a Body Mass Index of 25 and upwards. This is the calculation which involves taking the persons weight and height and calculating their BMI. Officially a BMI of 30 and over is classified as obese, but there is some gain to be made for people with a BMI of between 25 and 30.
As highlighted earlier in this article it is also advisable to consider Alli in conjunction with a long term change in the users lifestyle. Seen by many as a “wonder drug”, GlaxoSmithkline are keen to emphasise the importance of increased exercise and healthier dietary habits in order to receive the best long term benefits.
Conclusion
While we have seen all of the headlines of late regarding high sales and Alli literally “flying off the shelves”, there is a growing awareness of the greater benefits of Alli in relation to breaking the cycle of depression and over eating. This is perhaps something that will interest worldwide governments once the hype and smoke has cleared after the launch.
Even though we have seen many weight loss “treatments” come and go, with many shown to be ineffective or potentially harmful in the past, Alli really is different. This none surgical treatment physically stops the body form producing the enzymes which allow fat to be absorbed into the body, an effect which will be turned off as soon as treatment is stopped.
It is perhaps this fact more than any other which prompted the US Food and Drugs Administration to approve the treatment for OTC distribution. It will be interesting to see whether the reported side effects have any impact on longer term sales, although it seems that for many, the benefits of weight loss far out weigh these side effects.
COMMUNITY LEADER
Regarding the side effects - I found them not to be horrible if I didn't eat a lot of fat, but if you eat more than the recommended grams of fat per meal, you will pay for it. And one thing that's stressed is to spread the fat over the course of the day - don't eat your entire days allotment in one sitting..............I've never done that, but would hate to see what would happen.........
taracarter42 - you are SO new to the hypo thing that you might have a hard time until your levels get balanced out....only being on med for 2 weeks, most likely, it hasn't even had a chance to work much yet...... I'm actually finding that as my levels get better and I feel better, I can actually lose a little bit with diet and exercise - I just need to be more disciplined...... I would strongly recommend that you allow your thyroid levels to balance and concentrate on getting well before you worry too much about the weight..........It might come off naturally once you are well again....
I don't know if Alli is sold in Canada - you'd have to check the pharmacies, department stores, etc.
Again - I caution anyone against using ANY diet aid without the knowledge and blessing of your doctor........
taracarter42 - you are SO new to the hypo thing that you might have a hard time until your levels get balanced out....only being on med for 2 weeks, most likely, it hasn't even had a chance to work much yet...... I'm actually finding that as my levels get better and I feel better, I can actually lose a little bit with diet and exercise - I just need to be more disciplined...... I would strongly recommend that you allow your thyroid levels to balance and concentrate on getting well before you worry too much about the weight..........It might come off naturally once you are well again....
I don't know if Alli is sold in Canada - you'd have to check the pharmacies, department stores, etc.
Again - I caution anyone against using ANY diet aid without the knowledge and blessing of your doctor........
I read about the side effects of Alli online and well...wow! It even warns you to not wear white pants!!! Is it that bad? What had you tried before Alli?
I have been doing EVERYTHING and I can't lose an ounce. I started Armour Thyroid 2 weeks ago so my hypothyroidism is newly diagnosed. I would love to know more!
I have been doing EVERYTHING and I can't lose an ounce. I started Armour Thyroid 2 weeks ago so my hypothyroidism is newly diagnosed. I would love to know more!
COMMUNITY LEADER
My endo prescribed Xenical for me, which is the same drug as Alli only twice as strong. The problem was the script was $300/month and not covered by insurance, so I decided not to have it filled. My pharmacist in the one who told me Xencial is the same thing as Alli. I did buy some Alli. I've read that it's not safe to take Alli if you have thyroid disease, but the warning was "don't take it WITH thyroid med and make sure there's a separation of so many hours between taking the Alli and thyroid med because it affects the absorption of the thyroid med" (don't remember the exact wording).
Yes, I've lost a few pounds on it, but my problem is the side effects and I spend a lot of my work day out and about, so can't always be near a bathroom; therefore, it isn't always practical for me to take it and because of that, I have not been able to be consistent with it.........I NEVER take it with breakfast because I take my thyroid med in the morning and of course, don't want anything to interfere with that.....
I would NEVER take anything like that without my doctor saying it was okay..
Yes, I've lost a few pounds on it, but my problem is the side effects and I spend a lot of my work day out and about, so can't always be near a bathroom; therefore, it isn't always practical for me to take it and because of that, I have not been able to be consistent with it.........I NEVER take it with breakfast because I take my thyroid med in the morning and of course, don't want anything to interfere with that.....
I would NEVER take anything like that without my doctor saying it was okay..
Probably in the states only, never seen it here. Well thank you very much for your quick response. Best of luck.
You can find it in Walmart or a pharmacy. You take a pill with each meal and it binds some of the fat from your food so it is elminated.
Of course, a lowfat diet and exercise is required. I was doing the lowfat and exercise before and didn't lose an ounce. With Alli, it's helping me to lose the weight and is definitely noticeable. Just 6 lbs off so far. I have energy, not tired, no mood swings.
Just ask your doctor first if you can take it.
Of course, a lowfat diet and exercise is required. I was doing the lowfat and exercise before and didn't lose an ounce. With Alli, it's helping me to lose the weight and is definitely noticeable. Just 6 lbs off so far. I have energy, not tired, no mood swings.
Just ask your doctor first if you can take it.
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