The ever-present battle of bulge has a unique new weapon — the first government approved diet pill that can be purchased without a prescription.
Intended only for people 18 and older, the drug, called Alli, is a low-strength version of the prescription diet drug Xenical.
The Food and Drug Administration announced its approval yesterday but officials are stressing that it is not a miracle drug and needs to be used in combination with a diet and exercise program.
“Using this drug alone is unlikely to be beneficial,” said Dr. Charles Ganley, FDA’s director of non-prescription products.
The new drug will be sold by GlaxoSmithKline PLC and the company said it is expected to be in stores by late June. The final price has not been decided upon yet but, it is expected to be about $1- to $2-a-day.
While some dietary supplements make weight loss claims, Ganley said this is the first nonprescription drug approved by the agency for that purpose.
Ganley said in trials, for every 5 pounds people lost through diet and exercise, those using Alli lost an additional 2 to 3 pounds.
When taken with meals the drug — known generically as orlistat — blocks the absorption of about one-quarter of any fat consumed. That fat — about 150 to 200 calories worth — is passed out of the body in stools, which can be loose as a result of this drugs use. About half of patients in trials experienced gastrointestinal side effects.
Also, FDA said people who have had organ transplants should not take over-the-counter orlistat because of possible drug interactions. In addition, anyone taking blood thinning medicines or being treated for diabetes or thyroid disease should consult a physician before using orlistat, the agency said.
GSK Consumer Healthcare, which will market the pill, said it chose the name Alli (pronounced AL-eye), to signify a partnership with consumers in their weight-loss efforts.
I guess there will be 1,000,000,000 of these sold the first year. Blocking fat sounds very helpful and a great way to help lose those stuborn pounds.