Alli 60mg 168 Capsules

How do Alli weight loss pills work?

The active ingredient in Alli weight control capsules is Orlistat, which works by blocking digestive enzymes known as lipases. These enzymes are produced by the stomach and by the pancreas and break the fat you eat so that it can be absorbed by the body.

By blocking lipases, Alli prevents around 25% of the fat you eat from being absorbed (11). Instead, the fat passes straight through the digestive system and out in your stools, resulting in reduced calorie intake. Over time, this can support weight loss, but you’ll get the best results from Orlistat when taking Alli alongside a healthy, balanced diet and regular physical activity.

Unlike weight loss injections such as Wegovy or Mounjaro, Alli fat loss pills don’t reduce your appetite. Their effects are entirely due to reducing the amount of dietary fat your body absorbs.

Who is suitable for Alli capsules?

Alli diet pills are suitable for adults aged 18 or over who are overweight and have a BMI of 28 or more. If you’re unsure of your BMI, you can use this free NHS BMI calculator to work it out.

Although Alli is available over the counter without a prescription from a doctor, you will need to speak to a pharmacist before buying Alli so that they can make sure it’s suitable for you. When using our online service, this suitability check is a simple online questionnaire our pharmacists can review.

If Alli isn’t suitable for you, we can recommend an alternative weight loss treatment if appropriate.

Who cannot take Alli capsules?

Alli tablets are not suitable for children or adolescents under 18 or for anyone with a BMI of below 28 (10). You should also not take Alli for weight loss in the UK if you:

• Are pregnant, trying to become pregnant or breastfeeding

• Are allergic to Orlistat or any of the other ingredients in Alli

• Have chronic malabsorption syndrome (a condition that affects how your body absorbs nutrients)

• Have cholestasis (reduced or blocked bile flow from the liver)

• Are taking ciclosporin

• Are taking warfarin or another anticoagulant (blood thinner), unless advised by your doctor

• If you have diabetes, kidney disease, liver disease, or any other significant medical condition, let your pharmacist know during your consultation, so they can assess whether Alli is suitable for you. (10)

For a full list of contraindications, refer to the Patient Information Leaflet.

Advisory information

You should tell your pharmacist about any prescription medicines, over-the-counter medicines and supplements you take before starting treatment so that they can advise you on how to safely take them alongside Alli capsules.

Medicines you should not take with Alli

Alli diet supplements should not be taken if you are using:

• Ciclosporin, a medicine used to suppress the immune system

• Warfarin or other oral anticoagulants, as Alli may affect blood clotting control

If you take either of these medicines, speak to your doctor or pharmacist about alternative weight loss treatments.

Medicines that require extra guidance

Because Alli works by blocking the absorption of some dietary fat, it can also affect how other medicines are absorbed, which may make them less effective. Particular care is needed if you take:

• Levothyroxine

• Amiodarone

• Medicines for epilepsy

• HIV treatments

• Medicines for diabetes or high blood pressure (10)

Your pharmacist may advise you to separate doses, speak to a doctor before starting treatment, or recommend an alternative, more suitable option.

The contraceptive pill

Alli does not directly reduce the effectiveness of oral contraception (10). However, if you experience severe diarrhoea, your pill may not be absorbed properly. Follow the instructions in your contraceptive pill's patient information leaflet and consider using additional contraception if advised.

Vitamin supplementation

Because Alli diet pills reduce the absorption of fat, they can also reduce the absorption of the fat-soluble vitamins, including vitamin A, D, E and K.

For this reason, taking a daily multivitamin is recommended while using Alli. Your vitamin supplement should be taken at bedtime or at least two hours before or after taking an Alli capsule to avoid affecting its absorption.

Alternatives to Alli weight loss capsules

If Alli pills are not suitable for you, our pharmacists may recommend another weight loss treatment.

There are several clinically proven weight loss medications available in the UK. Alli (and Orlos, another 60mg Orlistat capsule) are the only non-prescription treatments you can buy over the counter. All others will require a prescription from a doctor, but you can still buy them online from Oxford Online Pharmacy after completing an online consultation and have your prescription delivered to your door.

Below are the main alternatives to Alli slimming tablets:

• Prescription Orlistat pills contain the same medicine as Alli capsules and work in the same way but come in a stronger 120mg dose. This stronger dose means they block more fat from being absorbed, so you may lose weight faster.

• Weight loss injections like Mounjaro and Wegovy mimic hormones involved in appetite regulation to help you feel fuller for longer and think less about food. They generally produce greater weight loss than Orlistat-based treatments like Alli, but individual results vary.

• Oral GLP-1 tablets like the Wegovy Pill and Eli Lilly’s new weight loss tablet Orforglipron work on the same hormone pathways as injectable treatments but come in tablet form. They generally produce more weight loss than other oral options.

• Mysimba weight loss pills are an older treatment that contain Naltrexone and Bupropion. They act on areas of the brain involved in hunger and reward and can help reduce food cravings to support weight loss.

The most suitable treatment depends on factors such as your BMI, medical history, weight loss goals and personal preference. Our pharmacists can help determine whether Alli or another treatment would be most appropriate for you