Orlistat Reviewed
The obesity-treatment drug Orlistat is the key ingredient in the prescription diet pill Xenical and the over-the-counter supplement Alli. But with the number of unpleasant side-effects and health risks associated with this drug, it ought to be restricted to episodes of Fear Factor.
Orlistat is harsh, risky, and modestly effective. Orlistat medication can be obtained with a doctor’s prescription.
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Orlistat is gross and dangerous
Safety and Quality
Orlistat blocks the enzymes that break down fat. When fat isn’t broken down in the body, it has to go somewhere—so it goes right through you.
A whopping 91 per cent of subjects experienced gastrointestinal-related Orlistat side effects in the first year of treatment. By that we mean diarrhea, oily anal discharge, and uncontrollable bowel movements.
Beyond this, Orlistat pills block the absorption of essential fat-soluble vitamins and nutrients.
The FDA discussed Orlistat’s potential link to hepatoxicity—chemical driven liver damage—at an April 16, 2009 Drug Safety Oversight Board meeting. They are still reviewing the drug’s safety.
Effectiveness
Human trials by the Sunnybrook and Women’s College Health Sciences Center found subjects taking Orlistat lost 4-6 more pounds a year than those on diet and exercise alone. Given the health hazards, this hardly seems worth it. The natural supplements on our list of best diet pills show more promising results with far fewer side-effects.
Cost
A 40-day supply of Alli is $69.99, which works out to $638 per year. At four pounds per year, you’ll $159.50 per lost pound.
Without insurance, Xenical can cost up to $300 per month, or $3,600 a year. That’s $900 a pound.
There is no such thing as generic Orlistat. Any website purporting to sell this is a scam.
Customer Service
The Better Business Bureau gives GlaxoSmithKline—the pharmaceutical company that makes Orlistat medication—a D- for failing to respond to consumer complaints.
Money-back guarantee
GlaxoSmithKline does not trust its products enough to offer money-back guarantees.
Conclusion
Orlistat is inconvenient and possibly dangerous. There are much better fat-burners out there. Check out our top-ranked weight loss pills to see some weight-loss supplements with all natural ingredients.
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