ALLI

Has anybody taken the new diet pill Alli?

I haven't personally, but I do know several people (non wls'ers) that are currently taking it.

It's my understanding that Alli is the over the counter version of Meridia, made by the same company.  I may be wrong, but if I am not then I am sure alot of people tried it pre-op.  It causes the fat to pass through unabsorbed or less absorbed.  If you eat too much fat, you get cramps and diarhea.  However, as gastric bypass patients most of us already have this occurance if we eat too much fat.  I am not really sure it would be effective for post ops.  I could be totally wrong though.  I haven't researched it.  

No, Alli is not the over the counter version of meridia. It is the over the counter version of Xenical. That's the one with leakage.

Alli is, indeed, the OTC equivalent of Meridia. The big side effect of the drug is referred to an "anal leakage." I work at a poison control center and we also handle drug information calls as well. People have called with terribly embarrassing experiences with this drug. One man had an oily, orange BM in a swimming pool during a big family reunion. No one would get into the pool again and he was mortified. Yes, he ate too much fat, but what a price to pay. People sometimes wake up in a pool of oily, orange stool.  Since many of us WLS grads have frequent or bulky stool anyway Alli would just be feeding the fires. Doesn't seem like a good drug for us. Wilma

I thought Alli was the OTC equivalent of Xenical.  Am I wrong.?  I thought about using in on the occasions that I eat fat and not take it otherwise.  What do you think about this plan?   Just a thought. 

Alli, is the OTC equivalent to XENICAL, it stops you from absorbing fat, which in turn passes through the GI system. I used it as a fat girl and did have the greasy stools and foul gas. I use it now without any ofthos eproblems. i figure i already malabsob, so what's a little more. I just make sure to take my vitamins at a different time. I also only take alli when i have a higher then usual fat meal. For me that is chinese or beef.  My theory on why i no longer get the greasy poop is that i am no longer eating enough fat to deep fry myself.

You're right. It's Xenical not Meridia. I was thinking one thing and writing another. Sorry.

My brother and I were just discussing this today. A coworker of his has started taking it. Yesterday she got up from her desk and had a HUGE oily stain on the back of her pants and she didn't even know she had discharge. She was horrified when another gal told her. Don't think its worth it to me. Quite embarrassing! Rhonda

I totally agree...If Alli was the only thing available......you can bet you're A$$ I would be fat for the rest of my life......Sorry...but somethings are just not worth it!!!