Alli 60mg Weight Loss Capsules is available in the following strengths and quantities.
60mg | |
---|---|
84 capsules | £39.98 |
168 capsules | £79.99 |
252 capsules | £109.99 |
336 capsules | £159.98 |
420 capsules | £199.99 |
504 capsules | £239.99 |
Alli is a lower strength version of the prescription medication Orlistat. As it is low dose it is available over the counter without a prescription. We will need you to answer a few simple questions to allow our pharmacists to make sure it is the right medication for you to use.
Alli can be used by individuals who are overweight, with a BMI >28.
The main component of Alli is the drug Orlistat. This works by inhibiting the enzyme lipase which is produced within the stomach and by the pancreas. Lipase breaks down fats to its constituent components, enabling them to be absorbed by the gut. If this process is prevented then the fats essentially pass straight through the digestive system without being absorbed, resulting in a reduction in calorie intake and, hopefully over time, weight loss.
One 60mg capsule should be taken no more than three times a day. It can be taken immediately before, during, or up to one hour after a meal. If a meal is missed or contains no fat, the dose should be missed.
Alli is not a ‘miracle cure’. Diet and exercise go hand in hand with weight loss and exercise has many other added health benefits such as keeping the heart healthy and improving mental wellbeing. Ideally a diet and exercise programme should be started before treatment with Alli and should continue once treatment has stopped.
It is important to have a mild calorie deficit, and an even distribution of carbohydrates, protein and fat over the three main meals. Ideally only 30% of the total daily calorie intake should come from fat.
Alli is manufactured by GlaxoSmithKline, and they say that in clinical trials when used with a reduced calorie, lower fat diet, it can help people lose 50 percent more weight than dieting alone.
The reality of the situation is that results will vary in different individuals.
You should not take Alli in the following situations
If you are taking any other medications such as:
It is best to consult with a doctor as the absorption of these medications may be affected by Alli.
In addition, if you are taking diabetic or blood pressure medication, Alli could improve the control of these conditions and a reduction in dose may be needed. It is best to let your doctor know so that this can be monitored.
Because Alli causes fat not to be absorbed as well, it can also affect the absorption of the ‘fat soluble’ vitamins A, D, E and K. For this reason, it may be advisable to take a supplement of these vitamins at bedtime, they should not be taken at the same time as Alli.
The majority effects are gastrointestinal and mild. However, flatulence, diarrhoea, flatus with discharge and faecal incontinence are potentially embarrassing yet common. As are oily stools, increased stool frequency, and abdominal pain.
Rarely, an allergic reaction may occur which could be associated with a rash, tongue swelling, and difficulty breathing. This is a medical emergency and requires an immediate assessment by emergency medical services.
Other rare side effects include:
Liver failure: the FDA in America have reported one U.S. case with Alli and 12 foreign cases with Xenical, which contains a higher dose of Orlistat, reported between April 1999 and August 2009 out of an estimated 40 million people worldwide who have used Xenical or Alli.
Kidney failure: due to increased oxalate levels in the urine, frequency not known.
Diverticulitis, pancreatitis, rectal bleeding and skin reactions, are other rare potential side effects.
Reduction in the risk of developing Type 2 diabetes.
In the XENDOS study, which followed up over 30, 000 patients using either Orlistat or placebo, it was shown that 4-year use of orlistat reduced the risk of developing type 2 diabetes by 37% compared with placebo.
Reduction in Blood Pressure.
A 2020 review of 27 randomized controlled trials found that weight loss induced by Orlistat use contributed to an associated decrease in blood pressure in overweight and obese subjects. (2)
Reduction in LDL and total cholesterol levels.
A 2017 review of 33 randomized controlled trials concluded that Orlistat treatment slightly reduces cholesterol and triglyceride levels, with the level of reduction being more consistent in patients with greater body weight reduction and shorter duration of Orlistat treatment. (3)
Ideally a 3-month trial is recommended. At the end of this period a 5% reduction in weight would be considered a successful result. If this is not achieved then it may be worth considering if continuation of treatment is beneficial, by weighing up the side effects and any potential risks.
(1) https://diabetesjournals.org/care/article/27/1/155/26587/XENical-in-the-Prevention-of-Diabetes-in-Obese
(2) https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29275922/
(3) https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28559211/
The recommended dose of Alli is one 60 mg capsule to be taken three times daily. The capsule should be taken with water immediately before, during or up to 1 hour after each main meal.
If a meal is missed or contains no fat, the dose of Alli should be omitted
No more than three 60 mg capsules should be taken in 24 hours.
Eat lower-fat meals to reduce the chance of diet-related treatment effects.
Treatment should not exceed 6 months.
The active substance is Alli. Each hard capsule contains 60 mg of orlistat.
The other ingredients are:
Side Effects of Alli
With any medication you take, there is always a risk of side effects. Some are more common than others, and often side effects may subside with the regular usage of the medicine. If the side effects do not subside, you should report them to us, or your GP.
Very common side effects
• headache
• upper respiratory tract infection
• abdominal pain/discomfort
• urgent or increased need to open the bowels
• flatulence (wind)
• flatulence (wind) with discharge
• oily discharge
• oily or fatty stools
• liquid stools
• increased elimination of stools
• influenza (‘flu’)
• low blood sugar levels (experienced by some people with type 2 diabetes).
Common side effects
• lower respiratory tract infection
• rectal pain/discomfort
• soft stools
• faecal incontinence (inability to control your bowel movements)
• bloating (experienced by some people with type 2 diabetes)
• tooth/gum disorder • urinary tract infection
• irregularity of menstrual cycle
• tiredness
• anxiety.
For a full list of side effects, please read the patient information leaflet.