http://www.healthandage.com/beware-of-counterfeit-alli-23718#comment-1130
According to preliminary laboratory tests conducted by GlaxoSmithKline, the manufacturer of
Alli, the counterfeit version does not contain
orlistat, the active ingredient of
Alli. Rather, the counterfeit product contains sibutramine, a controlled substance that can interact with other medications and should not be used in certain patients or without the advice of a health care professional.
Consumers first began reporting suspected counterfeit
Alli products in early December 2009. GlaxoSmithKline has determined that the counterfeit product has been sold over the internet. At the present time, there is no evidence that any counterfeit
Alli product has been sold through retail stores or other channels.
http://www.bnd.com/yourlife/story/1097368.html
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is warning dieters to be on the lookout for a potentially dangerous counterfeit version of
Alli, a popular prescription weight-loss medication.
Last month, consumers began reporting suspect copies to the FDA. Tests by GlaxoSmithKline, the drug's manufacturer, found that some 60-milligram capsules contained sibutramine, which could produce harmful interactions with other drugs. The real drug is made with
orlistat.
The FDA says most of the counterfeits were sold over the Internet in a 120-count refill. The real
Alli will have a lot code on the outer cardboard package; the expiration date will include only a month and year; the drug should be a small pellet, not a large capsule; and the safety seal will include the words "Sealed for your protection."
http://www.tradingmarkets.com/news/stock-alert/gsk_brief-fake-diet-drug-being-sold-on-internet-fda-tells-how-to-recognize-phony-potentially-harmful--712752.html
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is warning dieters to watch out for a counterfeit and potentially dangerous copy of
Alli, a popular prescription weight loss drug.
Tests by manufacturer GlaxoSmithKline discovered some 60 milligram capsules did not contain the ingredient
orlistat but instead had substituted sibutramine, a drug that could interact harmfully with other medications.
Consumers began reporting suspect
Alli in December. FDA officials believe most of the fake drugs were sold over the Internet, in a 120-count refill kit.
http://www.fiercepharma.com/story/glaxo-troubled-flu-cuts-fake-alli/2010-01-19
No sooner had GlaxoSmithKline been hit with H1N1 flu disappointments than another problem surfaced: counterfeit versions of its weight-loss product
Alli. The difference is that the flu vaccine and drug woes will definitely decrease sales, while the
Alli fakery could conceivably end up channeling more folks to legit branded versions of the product. Provided it doesn't scare them away altogether.
Here's the deal: The FDA is warning that fake
Alli doesn't contain
orlistat, the real version's active ingredient, but sibutramine, a narcotic that can be dangerous for some people to take. So far, it appears that the fake versions were just sold over the internet, not in retail stores. So the patients who'd been ordering from online pharmacies might turn instead to retail outlets where bonafide
Alli is sold. Not nearly the sort of windfall Glaxo expected to get from flu vaccine sales, but it's something.
Research has yet to determine the long-term health effects of weight-loss drugs. To date, the longest study is a 4-year investigation of
orlistat (aka
Xenical or
alli ). Most other studies have lasted 6 to 12 months or less. In addition, research has not examined rare side effects (those occurring in less than 1 per 1,000 patients), and the optimal duration of treatment is unknown.
When considering long-term weight-loss drugs to treat obesity, you should consider the following areas of concern and potential risks.
Potential for abuse or dependence. Currently, all prescription medications to treat obesity except
orlistat are controlled substances, meaning doctors need to follow certain restrictions when prescribing them. Although abuse and dependence are not common with nonamphetamine appetite-suppressant medications, doctors should be cautious when they prescribe these medications for patients with a history of alcohol or other drug abuse.
Development of tolerance. Most studies of weight-loss drugs show that a patient’s weight tends to level off after 6 months while still on medication. Although some patients and doctors may be concerned that this shows tolerance to the medications, the leveling off may mean that the medication is no longer effective. Based on the currently available studies, it is not clear if weight gain with continuing treatment is due to drug tolerance. A recent study found that
orlistat aids in weight maintenance over a 3-year period, but more research is needed to confirm these findings and investigate other drugs.
Reluctance to make behavioral changes while using prescription medications. Patients who are overweight or obese should be able to seek medical treatment to prevent health risks that can cause serious illness and death. Weight-loss drugs, however, are not “magic bullets” or a one-shot fix for this chronic disease. They should always be combined with a healthy eating plan and increased physical activity.
Side effects. Because weight-loss drugs are used to treat a condition that affects millions of people, many of whom are basically healthy, the possibility that side effects may outweigh benefits is of great concern. Most side effects of these medications are mild and usually improve with continued treatment. Rarely, serious and even fatal outcomes have been reported. Some of the common side effects of medications are explained below.
Source: Mayo Clinic
Weight-loss drugs such as
alli can improve your health, if used in combination with a healthy diet and regular exercise. Find out if you could benefit from taking these medications.
Weight-loss drugs may sound like a dieter's dream. But they aren't a good choice for everyone who's overweight. In fact, many doctors reserve them for people with weight-related health problems.
It's best to lose weight through a healthy diet and regular exercise. But if you're among those who struggle to lose weight and the excess weight has produced medical problems, weight-loss drugs may be able to help you.
Source: Mayo Clinic
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved
Alli — a reduced-strength over-the-counter (nonprescription) version of
orlistat, a prescription weight-loss medication for adults age 18 and older.
Alli promotes weight loss by decreasing absorption of fat by the intestines. The capsules are taken with meals, up to three times a day.
Alli sounds like a dieter's dream, but there are no shortcuts to permanent weight loss.
Alli is intended to be used only with a reduced-calorie, low-fat diet and regular exercise. Side effects, such as diarrhea and gas with oily spotting, can be significant if you don't reduce the amount of fat in your diet.
http://www.consumerreports.org/health/best-buy-drugs/weight-loss-drugs-alli-and-xenical-orlistat-8-09/alli-xenical-overview/weight-loss-drugs-alli-xenical.htm
Avoid weight-loss drugs
Alli
We've recently reviewed several thousand adverse event reports from the Food and Drug Administration that show side effects associated with the drug
Orlistat—the active ingredient in the over-the-counter (OTC) weight-loss drug
Alli and the prescription drug
Xenical.
The worrying findings have further strengthened our earlier advice: Skip both versions of this drug.
Alli is an over-the-counter drug.
Active ingredient (in each sealed capsule)
Orlistat 60 mg
Purpose
alli is used for weight loss aid
Uses
alli is used for weight loss in overweight adults, 18 years and older, when used along with a reduced-calorie and low-fat diet
Drug Ther Bull. 2009 Nov;47(11):125-7.
Over-the-counter weight loss with
orlistat?
[No authors listed]
Orlistat first became available (as 120 mg capsules [
Xenical ]) around 10 years ago as a prescription-only treatment for obesity. Earlier this year,
orlistat 60 mg capsules (
alli - GlaxoSmithKline Consumer Healthcare) became available for sale without a prescription to the public in the European Union.
Orlistat 60 mg is available in the UK as a Pharmacy (P) medicine and so can be purchased over-the-counter (OTC) from pharmacies. OTC
orlistat is promoted as a new weight loss aid, "boosting weight loss by 50%" when added to a reduced calorie, lower-fat diet. Here we review the place of OTC
orlistat in tackling obesity.
PMID: 19887686 [PubMed - in process]