New diet drug helps promote weight loss

Pharmacist Dennis McComb at Lakewood Drugs said they are selling alli, the first FDA-sanctioned diet drug to be sold over the counter, and have sold all the starter kits and have placed orders for more. He said there has been interest in it and the interest has been there all along.

McComb said a more potent version, Xenical, had been sold but the sales were not as good due to the price point and the dosage. Now because of the lower dosage and the fact it is more accessible, it will help increase sales. He said the important thing about the drug is that people are being educated about it.

"There is a big media push to make sure people get a diet book and good dietary counseling. It is very well done," he said.

McComb recommends following the guidelines listed in the paperwork included with the medication. It must be taken within an hour of meals and if the person is eating a non-fat meal, it should not be taken. A vitamin supplement must be taken at bedtime and not taken at the same time as medication.

The alli package

To help consumers get off to a successful start, the alli package includes:
• Welcome and Companion Guides
• Guide to Healthy Eating
• Daily Journal
• Calorie and Fat Counter
• Quick Fact Cards
• Free access to an individualized online action plan at myalli.com.
Source: http://www.seniorjournal.com.

If guidelines are not followed or if diets are high in fat, McComb said a side effect can be a liquidy stool.

Overall, McComb said as long as people are educated about the pill, it should be beneficial to those who use it.

"Hopefully, it will be a good product and it will be promoted in the proper way and we'll get some good weight loss from it."

Denise Morford, from the Diet Center, has a different view of the pill.

"There's no magic pill out there. If there was, everyone would know about it," she said. She recommends the best way for weight loss is to find the right diet program and exercise. She said diet is 99 percent of the problem for many, but exercise will help long term.

Reader Feedback

judy wrote on Jun 20, 2007 12:37 PM:

" I read online that this product is not expected to help much since it is a lower dosage than Xenical and Xenical didn't work that well. Also I read the same information as the first person who posted - leakage is a problem. Denise Morford's statement is right - "There's no magic pill out there." Whether we like it or not, diet and exercise seem to be the only things that really work. "

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I read wrote on Jun 20, 2007 8:29 AM:

" you are suppose to take a long an extra pair of pants with you wherever you go because there is a high rate of anal leakage on this new ALLI program. Sounds just lovely... ugh! "

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