Alli Weight Loss Pills

Common gastrointestinal side effects include:

• Oily spotting on underclothes
• Gas with discharge
• Urgent or increased bowel movements
• Fatty, oily stools
• Stomach pain
• Faecal incontinence

Other possible effects:

• Headaches, fatigue, anxiety
• Respiratory or urinary infections
• Menstrual irregularities, dental problems
• Low blood sugar (in type 2 diabetes)

What you need to know before you take alli

Do not take alli:

• If you have cholestasis (a condition where bile flow from the liver is blocked).
• If you are taking ciclosporin, used after organ transplants, for severe rheumatoid arthritis and some severe skin conditions.
• If you are allergic to orlistat or any of the other ingredients of this medicine (listed in section 6).
• If you are pregnant or breastfeeding.
• If you are taking warfarin or other medicines used to thin the blood.
• If you have problems absorbing food (chronic malabsorption syndrome), it is diagnosed by a doctor.

How to take Alli Weight Loss Capsules

Choose your start date – Choose the day you will start taking the capsules ahead of time. Before taking the capsules, begin your reduced-calorie, lower-fat diet and give your body a few days to adjust to your new eating habits. Keep a record of what you are eating in a food diary. Food diaries are practical because they make you aware of what you are eating and how much you eat and give you the basis to make changes.

Decide on your weight loss goal – Think about how much you want to lose, then set a target weight. A realistic goal is to lose between 5% to 10% of your starting weight. The amount of weight you lose may vary from week to week. It would be best to lose a gradual, steady pace of about 0.5 kg (1 lb) weekly.

Set your calorie and fat targets – To help you reach your weight-loss goal, you must set two daily targets, one for calories and one for fat.

Adults 18 and over

• Try to be more physically active before you start taking the capsules. Physical activity is an essential part of a weight loss program. Remember to check with your doctor first if you have not exercised before.
• You can keep your daily dose of alli in the blue carry case (Shuttle) included in this pack.
• Swallow the capsule whole with water.
• Take alli just before, during or up to one hour after meals. This usually means one capsule at breakfast, lunch and dinner. Ensure your three main meals are well balanced, have reduced calories, and are lower in fat.
• Take one capsule three times a day.
• Do not take a capsule if you miss a meal or your meal contains no fat. alli does not work unless there is some fat in the meal.
• Do not take more than three capsules a day.
• Eat lower-fat meals to reduce the chance of diet-related treatment effects.
• Continue to be active while taking alli and after you stop taking it.

What do Alli Weight Loss Capsules contain

The active substance is orlistat. Each hard capsule contains 60 mg of orlistat.

The other ingredients are:

• Capsule shell: gelatin, indigo carmine (E132), titanium dioxide (E171), sodium lauryl sulfate, sorbitan monolaurate, black ink (shellac, iron oxide black (E172), propylene glycol).
• Capsule filling: microcrystalline cellulose (E460), sodium starch glycolate, povidone (E1201), sodium lauryl sulfate, talc.
• Capsule band: gelatin, polysorbate 80, indigo carmine (E132).

Do not take alli capsules:

• If you are allergic to orlistat or any of the ingredients of this medicine (please see leaflet enclosed with your medicine)
• If you are pregnant or breast-feeding.
• If you are taking ciclosporin, used after organ transplants, for severe rheumatoid arthritis and some severe skin conditions.
• If you are taking warfarin or other medicines used to thin the blood.
• If you have cholestasis (condition where the flow of bile from the liver is blocked).
• If you have problems absorbing food (chronic malabsorption syndrome) diagnosed by a doctor.

Talk to your doctor or pharmacist before taking alli capsules if you have:

• diabetes. Tell your doctor who may need to adjust your anti-diabetic medicine.
• have kidney disease. Talk to your doctor before taking alli if you have problems with your kidneys. The use of orlistat may be associated with kidney stones in patients suffering from chronic kidney disease.

This medicine must not be taken by children and adolescents under 18 years old.

Do not take alli with these medicines

• Ciclosporin: ciclosporin is used after organ transplants, for severe rheumatoid arthritis and some severe skin conditions.
• Warfarin or other medicines used to thin the blood.

The oral contraceptive pill and alli

• The oral contraceptive pill may be less effective if you get severe diarrhoea. Use an extra method of contraception if you get severe diarrhoea.

Take a multivitamin every day if you are taking alli

• alli can lower the levels of some vitamins absorbed by your body. The multivitamin should contain vitamins A, D, E and K. You should take the multivitamin at bedtime, when you will not be taking alli, to help ensure that the vitamins are absorbed.

Talk to your doctor before taking alli if you are taking

• amiodarone, used for heart rhythm problems.
• acarbose, (an anti-diabetic medicine used to treat type 2 diabetes mellitus). alli is not recommended for people taking acarbose.
• a thyroid medicine (levothyroxine) as it may be necessary to adjust your dose and take your medicines at different times of the day.
• a medicine for epilepsy as any changes in the frequency and severity of your convulsions should be discussed with your doctor.
• medicines to treat HIV. It is important that you consult your doctor before taking alli if you are receiving treatment for HIV.
• medicines for depression, psychiatric disorders or anxiousness.

Talk to your doctor or pharmacist when taking alli

• If you are taking a medicine for high blood pressure as it may be necessary to adjust your dose.
• If you are taking a medicine for high cholesterol as it may be necessary to adjust your dose.

Talk to your doctor or pharmacist before taking alli capsules if you are taking any prescribed medicines.