First Phen Fen and now Orlistat, Xenical and Alli.
Phen Fen, the weight loss wonder drug, came under fire years ago for numerous side effects (ranging from heart valve damage to death) costing the company over $4.83 billion dollars in lawsuits. And, a few days ago the FDA announced 6 cases of liver failure and 27 hospitalizations associated with Orlistat (marketed as the prescription drug Xenical).
The over the counter (OTC) form of the prescription drug Orlistat (Xenical) is Alli (remember the poopy pants youtube videos)? Alli is a lower dose form of Orlistat that decreases the body’s absorption of some dietary fat. Side effects were listed as minor (though socially embarrassing at times) and include diarrhea, oily stools, gas and the potential for poopy pants if you don’t watch your diet closely.
According to the FDA’s recent report, Alli comes with one more potential side effect – liver injury. However, according to these reports, there isn’t a definite conclusive association between Alli and liver problems. But, here’s my take – losing a few pounds (you aren’t going to lose a ton of weight on Alli) isn’t worth the possibility of ruining your liver.
So what’s the bottom line on weight loss drugs? They are a last option (well, maybe before surgery). Weight loss isn’t always easy and you may not achieve it without taking some detours along the way. But, the greatest thing you can do is continue to make the effort, find solutions, incorporate what works, stay positive (beating yourself up won’t help you achieve anything) and constantly educate yourself on nutrition and exercise. And of course, there’s really no substitute for seeing a great personal trainer and dietitian to get you started.