Popular Diet Drug to Be Released Over the Counter

If one of your New Years Resolutions was to lose weight and you found that following through is a little tough, your road to weight loss may get a little easier. The first over the counter diet pill was approved by the FDA this week. Alli, a weaker form of Xenical is set to be on store shelves by summer. GlaxoSmithKline will release a less strong version of their popular diet pill, Xenical. The drug will be released under the product name Alli.

There are diet drugs that are available over the counter now such as herbal supplements and appetite suppressing drugs such as Dexatrim. The effectiveness of these drugs is not known. Herbal supplements like Hoodia have gained popularity in the last few years. However, these medicines are not tested for effectiveness by the FDA and there is no way for consumers to how effective or how dangerous these drugs are.

The makers of Xenical wanted to bring the drug to the non-prescription market because sales have declined over the last few years. Xenical is one of the newer diet pills that blocks the absorption of fat; it was approved for prescription usage in 1999. Up until that time, one of the most widely prescribed diet drugs was a combination Phentermine and Fenfluramine better known as Fen-phen. Fen-Phen effected serotonin levels while decreasing a person's appetite. The drug was somewhat effective, but had very serious and sometimes fatal side effects like causing heart valve disease. Fenfluramine was blamed for causing the disorder and was taken off the market around 2000. Phentermine is still used and still widely prescribed today; the side effects of the drug are numerous and can include agitation, glaucoma, cardiovascular disease, insomnia, and hyperthyroidism.

Xenical was almost revolutionary because instead of suppressing the appetite, it actually decreased the amount of fat that was stored in the system. The makers of Xenical claim that it blocks up to one-third of the fat a person ingests. Since the drug does not suppress the appetite, it is imperative that the patient take the drug in conjunction with a low fat diet with no more then 30% of daily calories coming from fat. GlaxoSmithKline claims that taking Xenical while dieting can increase weight loss up to fifty percent more then dieting alone.

Xenical does not cause the same agitation as Phentermine, but does have its own list of side effects that include frequent bowel movements, oily stools and stomach discomfort and bloating. It can also decrease the levels of Vitamins A, D, E, and K according to WebMD.

GlaxoSmithKline is going to market the drug as a program instead of a quick fix. Dieters will be able to buy starter packs that include ninety 60-milligram capsules, a pill holder, meal suggestions, and diet tips. Dieters will also be able to buy the capsules without the starter pack. Purchasers of the starter pack will gain access to a website that GlaxoSmithKline has set up to help users track their progress while taking the drug. The site will also include customized meal plans and dieting tips. You can visit the website at www.myalli.com(http://myalli.com) to learn more about the program. The cost of the pills will be lower than its prescription counter part; around $16 a week.

There are concerns among health professionals that people will not take the time to read the literature that will be released with the medicine. By not reading the literature, users may think the drug is similar to Dexatrim and not reduce their caloric intake as is recommended. Other concerns are that people with eating disorders or minors will buy the drug or that the drug will be abused by users who think by taking more then the recommended dose will speed up weight loss. While not much can be done to deter those with eating disorders, GlaxoSmithKline with ask retailers to limit minors from purchasing the drug.

There is another prescription drug similar to Xenical that blocks the absorption of carbohydrates and is mainly prescribed to diabetics. There is currently no news on whether or not this drug will be released and marketed to dieters who follow diet plans such as the Atkins Diet and the Sugar Busters diet.

The news of Alli's release is wonderful for those who struggle with weight problems. The drug can be obtained quickly and cheaply without having to be under the care of a physician or diet specialist. The drug will also be effective for a number of dieters if used properly.