FAQs

A:

alli is an effective weight loss aid but it’s not for everyone. It can be taken by overweight adults aged 18 or more with a BMI of 28 or over who are willing to adopt a reduced calorie, lower-fat diet and to make the necessary adjustments to their lifestyle to succeed with alli.

There are some people who must not take alli or who need to check with their doctor first. Do not use alli:

•    if you are under 18.
•    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 any other medicines used to thin the blood.
•    if you are allergic to orlistat or any of the ingredients.
•    if you have cholestasis (condition where the flow of bile from the liver is blocked).
•    if you have problems absorbing food (chronic malabsorption syndrome).
•    if you have been told by your doctor that you have an intolerance to some sugars (Only for alli chewable tablets).

Talk to your doctor before taking alli:

•    if you are taking amiodarone for heart rhythm problems.
•    if you are taking a medicine for diabetes.
•    if you are taking a medicine for epilepsy.
•    if you have kidney disease.
•    if you are taking a thyroid medicine (levothyroxine).

Talk to your doctor or pharmacist when taking alli:

•    if you are taking a medicine for high blood pressure.
•    if you are taking a medicine for high cholesterol.

The oral contraceptive pill may be less effective if you get severe diarrhoea, so use an extra method of contraception if this happens.

It is important to read the label before taking alli.

A:

alli capsules and alli chewable tablets are available in packs of 84 and 120.

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Treatment should not exceed six months. If you do not lose weight after taking alli for 12 weeks, see your pharmacist or doctor for advice. You may need to stop taking alli. You should maintain your healthy eating and lifestyle changes after you stop taking alli.

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The dose is a maximum of 3 times a day.

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You should take alli just before or during a meal, or up to one hour after the meal. If you are eating a meal that does not contain fat, do not take alli.

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No. alli is indicated for use by overweight individuals 18 years of age or older.

A:

We recommend starting alli a few days after you begin your reduced calorie lower-fat diet. If you're already on a reduced calorie lower-fat diet, you can start immediately.

A:

Clinical studies show alli works best when you eat 3 healthy, low-fat meals a day, one of which is breakfast. If you skip a meal or you are certain your meal contains no fat, you can skip a dose.

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No. You should never take more than the recommended dose of a medicine. Take one alli capsule or chewable tablet at mealtimes, three times a day. This usually means one capsule or chewable tablet at breakfast, lunch and dinner.

Read and follow label directions.

A:

No. You should never take more than the recommended dose of a medicine. Take only one alli capsule or chewable tablet at mealtimes, three times a day. This usually means one capsule or chewable tablet at breakfast, lunch and dinner. Make every effort to avoid high-fat meals while on the alli programme. Taking alli with a meal containing more fat than your recommended target, may increase the chances of diet-related treatment effects.

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The safety of patients is of utmost importance to GSK. The safety of all of our products is monitored in a proactive and systematic way. All of our safety information is shared on a regular basis with the regulatory agencies.

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If you have a special occasion and know you are going to be eating a high-fat meal, do not take alli with that meal. Taking alli with a meal containing more fat than your recommended target, may increase the chances of diet-related treatment effects. However, it’s important you make every effort to avoid high-fat meals or snacks while on the alli weight loss programme.

A:

No, take no more than 3 doses of alli a day. Just choose three meals that contain about 15 grams* of fat and take alli with those meals. If you are eating more than 3 meals a day, you may need to check you are not exceeding your daily calorie target.

*Based on a diet of 1400 calories a day.

A:

As you eat fewer calories on a reduced calorie, lower-fat diet — and use alli to prevent absorption of some of the fat you eat — your body will automatically tap into its fat stores and use them for the energy it needs. This leads to weight loss as your body burns its fat.

A:

Nothing, because there’s no fat for alli to work on. Don’t take alli if you’re going to eat a meal that doesn’t contain fat.

A:

You should take a multivitamin every day because alli can lower the levels of some fat-soluble vitamins absorbed by your body. The multivitamins 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.

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If you forget to take alli and more than an hour has passed since your meal, do not take it. Just wait until your next meal and take alli then. Never take two doses of alli at the same time.

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Orlistat works primarily in the digestive system and prevents some of the fat from a meal from being absorbed. Orlistat is a non-systemically acting medicine because it acts locally in the digestive system - there is minimal absorption into the bloodstream.

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If you commit a healthy lifestyle and follow a reduced calorie, lower-fat diet, alli can reward your hard work with 50% more weight loss. So, for every 2 lb you lose by your own efforts, alli can help you lose 1 lb more. They work in your digestive system to prevent some of the fat in your meals from being digested and absorbed. The unabsorbed fat passes naturally out of your body in your stools.

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The level of sodium in alli is very low and so you do not need to take this into account if you are on a controlled sodium diet.

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No. You must swallow the capsule whole with water. You should not break the capsule open. But as an alternative, alli is now also available as a chewable tablet which is chewed and swallowed without water, making it more convenient to take.

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Since the time it takes people to digest food varies, the active ingredient in alli can actually remain in your body for up to 48 to 72 hours, mainly because the time taken for food to pass through the digestive system varies from person to person. However, it only affects the fat absorption of meals that are eaten within a short time of taking alli. Only a very small amount of orlistat is absorbed into the bloodstream.

A:

If you take the multivitamin with a meal, at the same time that you take alli, it can cause some of those vitamins to be lost. So it’s best to take the multivitamin at a time when you won’t be taking alli, such as bedtime.

A:

alli is only available in pharmacies - either on the high street, in a supermarket, or online. You will find alli behind the pharmacy counter, so you should ask you pharmacist for alli.