Originally published February 26 2006
Experts question the significance of Alli's approval by the FDA
by Mike Adams, the Health Ranger, NaturalNews Editor
The Boston Herald reviews the FDA's recent approval of the weight loss drug Xenical, which will be called Alli, for over-the-counter use.
Diet drugs will always get you in the end.
Prescription weight-loss drug Xenical recently won endorsement by the FDA to be sold over the counter, but don't run to the store just yet.
The drug, which will be rechristened Alli, has a few drawbacks, like flatulence and loss of bowel control.
Worse, the promise-filled pill isn't really good enough to send calorie counters to CVS by the truckload, experts said.
"If a drug really worked, you couldn't keep it on the shelf," said Dr. Lee Kaplan, director of the Weight Center at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston.
"And since most prescription weight-loss drugs aren't covered by insurance and aren't truly effective, having them available over the counter doesn't change anything."
Prescribed since 1999, Xenical would become the only FDA-approved weight-loss drug sold without a prescription if the panel's findings are accepted.
About 50 percent of patients experience mild problems, but more than 7 percent endured the aforementioned bathroom issues.
The drug also blocks absorption of some vitamins and can cause organ rejection for transplant recipients.
Still, Kaplan said Xenical is "quite safe," but the unpleasant side effects make headlines because they're "uncomfortable to talk about."
"What's unfortunate is we desperately need weight loss drugs that work because the obesity epidemic is out of control," he said.
"The health implications and social/psychological implications are huge."
A 90-capsule supply of Alli will cost about $55, according to pharmaceutical company GlaxoSmithKline and comes with 250 pages of diet and exercise guides and an online weight management program.
They also will give out clothing recommendations to cope with the potential bowel control problem.
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