Advanced Diets Advice & News

Throughout the years,prescription weight loss pills have dominated the market.    Some have been pulled from the market and more are being monitored for serious side effects.   Even with the adverse conditions these drugs can cause, countless consumers fill the waiting rooms of the medical doctors to obtain these “wonder drugs for weight loss”.

One of the most popular diet pill available today is orlistat.    Orlistat, also known as xenical, for prescription strength or alli , the over the counter variety of lesser potency.

The mechanism of this drug is to prevent digestion and absorption of fat, and is combined with a reduced calorie diet.   Not only does orlistat block fat, but also prevents the absorption of Vitamin A, D, E and beta-carotene since they bind to the fat. Therefore the vitamins pass through the stool before absorption can occur.   When orlistat is prescibed for weight loss, a multivitamin must be added to the daily diet. 

Some of the most common side effects of orlistat are jaundice,abdominal pain,increased bowel frequency,urgent bowel movements and increase risk for kidney stones.  Listed above are just the most reported side effects, but there are more associated with this drug. Symptoms are lessened if you keep your diet below a thirty percent fat intake. But now tables have turned and this new “miracle pill” is under FDA scrutiny according to new studies.

The FDA was notified about 32 possible cases of liver damage from 1999-2008.   Thirty of the cases were reported to come from out of the country and could not be substantiated.   Even though this drug is on the FDA’s watch list, so far no severe complications have been reported.

A dilemma now faced by dieters is the market being populated with counterfeit alli.   The FDA has reported numerous cases in which “fake” alli did not contain orlistat.  This phony alli contained a drug called sibutramine, which is found in the weight loss drug meridia.  The prescription sibutramine has many drug interactions and should not be taken without constant medical supervision.    The side effects of sibutramine are more potentially dangerous than orlistat so the need to contain this bogus alli is critical to weight loss customers.

While researching this dieters dream drug made me shudder at all the impending threats to one’s health.    Are there more impending complications forthcoming in the future for consumers swallowing this weight loss remedy?  I left the most fascinating news for last to conclude this article.  Based on several studies, people who were prescribed orlistat for six months to one year lost an average of 12.4 – 13.4 pounds.  Are you rolling on the ground with laughter also? All the possible dangers for 13 pounds a year?  Wouldn’t the prescribed low fat diet create that minimal weight loss on its own?  So what does the orlistat do again?

Weight loss help along with tips and resources are available for you at my blog. Weight loss support is important to help you win your diet goals.

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