Wednesday, August 26, 2009

Diet Drugs

How well do you know your blog writer? Here is a test question. Does Deirdre believe in diet drugs? Answer. NO



It has been a little while since our grocery stores held prominent displays of the latest OTC weight loss drug, Alli. Long too, since Wynona Judd did her print and TV ads endorsing the product. I of course, had my say in these pages
http://yourhealtheducator.blogspot.com/2009/03/wellness-weekly-with-video.html

This drug was intended to enhance weight loss by blocking some fat absorption, probably because eating less fat would be too inconvenient for some people. I railed against it, I still rail against it and now the FDA has made a cautionary statement in its regard.

FDA notified healthcare professionals and patients that it is reviewing new safety information regarding reports of liver-related adverse events in patients taking orlistat. Orlistat is marketed in the United States as a prescription product, Xenical, and as an over-the-counter (OTC) product, Alli. Between 1999 and October 2008, 32 reports of serious liver injury, including 6 cases of liver failure, in patients using orlistat were submitted to FDA’s Adverse Event Reporting System. The most commonly reported adverse events described in the 32 reports of serious liver injury were jaundice, weakness, and abdominal pain. FDA is reviewing other data on suspected cases of liver injury submitted by the manufacturers of orlistat, analysis of these data is ongoing and no definite association between liver injury and orlistat has been established at this time. FDA is not advising healthcare professionals to change their prescribing practices with orlistat. Consumers currently taking Xenical should continue to take it as prescribed and those using over-the-counter Alli should continue to use the product as directed.

Scientifically speaking the safest and most effective way to lose weight is to take in less calories that you burn.

1 comment:

Nil Zed said...

it seems to me the main use for these drugs would be as a 'training' aid. some people (me?) convince themselves their diet is better than it is. if you are using this drug, you have an incentive to really get your dietary far down. immediate consequences, as it were, instead of the slowly rising weight.

That said, I think selling the OTC is wrong. I think they should be prescription only, with much support and follow up. and only for short term. People will get used to even the most icky inconveniences--I have a friend with gall bladder issues whose symptoms are much like the side effects of these drugs. Most days, he'll suffer to eat what he wants.