Alli Diet Pills and Alli-Oops
Here’s the deal: If you’re taking the new over-the-counter diet drug Alli, and you want the chicken with crispy noodles, you have to really, really want the chicken with crispy noodles.
Against her better judgment, Alli-user Caryn Eyring, 39, ordered just such a chicken appetizer during a recent dinner out. “I knew darn well it was cooked in oil,” says Eyring, a Glendale, N.Y., secretary.
But she ate it anyway, and the next day suffered what she – and the official Alli Web site – calls “a treatment effect,” or an “oily diarrhea” that occurs when a person eats more than 15 grams of fat in a single meal.
Therein lies one of the biggest hurdles that Alli, the first FDA-approved over-the-counter diet drug, faces in the marketplace. In February the FDA green-lit Alli for sale at half the dosage of its Rx counterpart, Xenical (generic name of both: Orlistat).
Because it works by blocking one-quarter of fat consumed (users are advised to take multivitamins at bedtime to replace the loss of fat-soluble vitamins A, E and D), some early adopters have underestimated the extent of the “treatment effects.”
(Alli’s Web site warns, “it’s probably a smart idea to wear dark pants.”) On the message board of the site, one user writes, “Now I [know] how toddlers feel when they are trying to be potty-trained and not have an accident.” Another dubbed such incidents “alli-oops.”
Those aren’t the only concerns. Critics of Alli worry that the drug – intended for overweight adults 18 and over – will fall into the wrong hands without a doctor’s prescription.
“People who are marginal maybe using it,” says Dr. Lawrence Cheskin, director of Johns Hopkins Weight Management Center. “They might lose a couple of pounds; they might not.” [via]
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07-02-07 at 11:18 pm
Soooo not worth it! I recently read an article in the Canyon News stating that Alli recommends that people who take the pill stick to a low calorie/low fat diet as to avoid “treatment effects”. At that point, it is the low fat diet doing the work, and not the pill. If people just stick to a low fat/low calorie diet, then there is really no need to incorporate a pill which may harm their social life, into their daily routine…
07-09-07 at 10:47 am
So far so good! I have taken the pill for 3 days, and although there has been an increase in bowel movements, it’s not “awful” by any means. I’ve lost 4 pounds in 2 days, and I’m not really hungry. Perhaps its the idea of becoming ill that actually helps prevent cheating and helps curb my appetite? My stomach does have pressure, but it’s manageable. Oh, and although you can lose weight w/o it, it helps you loose an additional 50% more weight. So if you loose 3 pounds a week w/o Alli, you’ll loose 4 1/2 pounds w/ Alli. The side effects may be there for some, but to loose weight a little quicker, makes it worthwhile for me.
07-11-07 at 10:42 am
since i have been taking the alli pill i cant stop oiling on myself. i am scared to go anywhere in public because it could just leak out at any moment. the people who live with me make fun of me all the time because im always having an accident and they call me the oiler. but the good thing is that i have lost some weight and i have only been using it for two weeks. i am definitly going to stick to the alli diet because of the frequent weight loss…..i love alli!!!!!!!!!!!!!
07-14-07 at 7:13 am
Alli is supposed to train you to eat less fatty foods, the less fat you eat the less of an “oiler” you will be!
08-10-07 at 3:50 pm
Well im abuot to try it i will get back with yoou i already started a fat free so lets seee… talk to you in a week
08-28-07 at 12:32 pm
I just started taking the pill. Probably have took it 4 times I just had my first experience of a oily poop it is gross.
08-30-07 at 5:00 pm
I like Alli I have absolutely no side effects. I havent been taking it long but there is no change in my moods or bowels….i lost 4 pounds in a day and a half…
09-12-07 at 8:55 pm
I started taking ALLI about 3 days ago, the side effects have NOT been bad for me at all, its not even as bad as taking a laxative, for me its just a lil oil in the bowl, and a lil gas here and there, nothing on myself AT ALL!!!it made me lose about 5 lbs in 3 days but I do eat better (not perfect) & exercise at the gym…but before Alli the weight just wouldnt come off & now it has & im so excited, I cant wait to weight myself again in a few days!
03-03-08 at 8:46 pm
Ive been taking alli for 3 months have lost 30lbs and have only had 3 accidents. Luckly they were at home. I love loosing the weight so ill keep taking it i hope it keeps workng.
03-16-08 at 8:55 am
I am a 37 year old Man, 5′7″, and in the military… which means if I weigh too much, I can get kicked out. I am allowed a 24% body fat or I go on the weight control program… a maximum weight of 174 lbs. If you are over your max weight, you get “taped” to determine your body fat %. I am stocky, but not what I would call “fat” and most people are shocked when they find out I need to get “taped”. In January of this year, I weighed in at my highest… 206 pounds… my scale had my body fat at 30%… I would not make weight at weigh-in if I didn’t do something… so I bought Alli.. I have been using it since January 18th, and I am currently weighing in at 177 lbs. I have lost 29 lbs in under 60 days, and my body fat % is now 21%.
I have increased my physical activity, cut back on fat and carbs, and have enjoyed a much healthier diet… although I do still eat pizza.
When I started, I didn’t have any “oops” moments, so one day, during a Saturday NFL football game, I popped an Alli, and ate about a third of a pizza… I paid for it on Sunday… needless to say, I really started watching my fat intake.
On a somewhat gross side note though, I have found that when I take fiber tablets, the “oil” is absorbed by the looser “poop” and there are no “oily” residues in my toilet… and no more “oops” moments.
I will continue using Alli until I am done with this bottle… 150 count from Costco… and only a few more pills left.
I would like to get to under 174, and stay there… I think I can, because I have dramatically changed my diet because of Alli.. I feel healthier than I ever have before, and I feel attractive again. Some people may think Alli is stupid, but it has helped me change my lifestyle into a healthy one, that I fully intend to continue once I am off the pills.
06-26-08 at 4:45 pm
Today was my first day using Alli and I’ve lost 2 pounds, with exercise and dieting, I ate a bowl of cereal in the morning then went to chipotlle and ate a burrito w/ only a little grease in the bowl when I was done. I’m going to continue using this :]
06-26-08 at 8:01 pm
I tried alli and I didn’t like it. I eat a lot of grilled foods…grilled chicken,veggies,ets. I don’t eat perfect all the time but I don’t pig out either….anyway…I tried alli and I could not stop OILING!!! It was soooo gross!! I took it for about 2 weeks and decided it was not for me. I was miserable the entire 2 weeks thinking to myself…maybe it was a side effect or something…until my body got used to it…..it never stopped. I’d like to hear if anyone else out there stopped taking it due to “oily” incidents.
10-15-08 at 5:05 am
when I started taking Alli I was eating regular and regular for me was big meals and snacks anytime I wanted it.Didn’T take long for me to cut those meals down when I had a large amount of oil come out in a store at the mall.OMG had bad was that good thing i was wearing an over sized Kotex.
i was thinking ,walking in the mall this pad is large I bet people can see it.Now I thank god for that pad.During my first week with Alli while eating anything i lost 13 lbs with help of exercise.How good is that ,Well great for me.Then i stopped taking it a dumb move.I am back on Alli but this time with a very low fat diet,and it is going very slow.When I over eat and using the bathroom 4-5 times a I lost more weight.I know Alli works ,but is it only when u over eat?Because I am back on the Alli with low fat diet and this is really going slow hardly no result.When I over ate I saw imediate results.Alli does work.
01-18-09 at 4:33 pm
I’ve taken Alli for about 3 months. I lost 10 pounds in the first month. Now I need to start cutting back on my calorie intake to loose my last 15. One thing that the oily accidents have taught me is what foods will cause it and what will not; therefore teaching me to eat the right foods. I suppose its positive reinforcement when I don’t have the “treatment effect”. I know what foods are less fatty and will continue eating those. So if there is any positive effect to the oil it is that it teaches you what foods ARE bad even when they may appear healthy.
02-02-09 at 7:56 am
I LOVE Alli! This pill has done me wonders and I really have put thought in my diet too. It is expensive but I tell you it works! And I have NEVER had an accident thank God!
02-04-09 at 2:17 am
“At that point, it is the low fat diet doing the work, and not the pill. If people just stick to a low fat/low calorie diet, then there is really no need to incorporate a pill which may harm their social life, into their daily routine…”
When you purchase a start up kit you receive a code to myalli.com. It has a great meal planner where you choose what you want to eat if you dont like what they show you, even prints out your shopping list for food for that week which is very convient. Gives you directions to cook your meals and even features how to videos for those less skilled at cooking, a exercise tracker, per meal per day fat and calorie meal planner, and personal journal. Alli is not just a pill, its a planner and educator to low fat low calorie meals that you talk about. If most people were able to do this they wouldn’t be thinking about taking Ali now would they?!
04-27-09 at 8:59 am
I have been on Alli for 1 week. No treatment effects. Lost 4 1/2 lbs. Eat anything I want, just less, very little exercise. Had 1st oily spot (size of a quarter) 4 days after I started taking it. Had more the next day. No sudden urges, no spotting. I have never lost this much weight even when dieting and exercising, the most I ever lost was 3 lbs in a week and I was always hungry!
04-27-09 at 11:49 am
I use alli and I excercise. So far, I have lost 10 pounds. I had not had any accidents until today. Yesterday, I made a mistake and too 2 instead of 1. I took 1, could not remember if I had done it so I took another one.. Today I have oil leaking out of my butt like were an oil well… That is my fault for not keeping track. It is a good way to control your fat intake, and the treatment effects are only bad if you eat a lot of fat, or if you make a mistake like I did.
06-01-09 at 1:46 pm
I thought about taking Alli when it first came on the market, but decided against it and was discouraged by all the negative side effects. Recently, I have noticed all ladies in my office that used to be on the heavy side are a lot thinner, so much so that I am bigger than they are and they were fat while I was just a little chubby. Upon investigation, I realized they were all taking Alli together. When I asked them about “accidents” they reported that was all hype. Some of them modified their diets and some did not, but all lost weight and out of seven girls, zero have ever pooped their pants. They said maybe you go a bit more often and maybe the stool is accompanied by some oils, but it doesn’t even stink. I know there is some truth to this as I am the boss and there wasn’t any running to the bathroom, changing clothes or leaving early. I have been taking it for 1 week and have lost 5 pounds, as so far am the 8th lady in the office without any embarrassing moments to report.
06-09-09 at 11:30 am
my niece has just been on it for two weeks, and has followed the diet plan to the letter, she has suffered from constipation a bit, but no loose stools. she weighed herself this morning and has put on six pounds, she is very upset and disappointed having paid forty quid for it, i don’t know about other people but for her its been a waste of money, and she did stick to the diet VERY carefully
06-25-09 at 6:29 pm
Love reading others input. I am optimistic I am @ 25lbs overweight and have been taking alli for 5 days. I was expecting to go to bathroom and was actually constipated. Now going to bathroom. Nothing gross or oily to report. I have not lost a pound as of yet & have been lightly excercising. I don’t eat too bad or too much like sweets though. Keeping fingers crossed.