Alli, an OTC diet pill, is making the drug store industry hit tremendous sales. Since it is readily available without a need for a doctor’s prescription, more women with obesity problems are considering trying out this drug.

Before you try this drug, you need to first know how it works and what it does to your system. Of course, you also need to know its side effects. By understanding how Alli works, you will know if this drug can help you lose weight.

Although it is good if you first consult a dietician or nutritionist regarding this diet pill, it’s even better if you see a doctor. This will avoid any serious situations you may encounter later on, especially if you are under medication of other drugs – like blood thinners. Never take your life for granted.

Alli is the over-the-counter version of Orlistat, a diet pill available only with a prescription because of its high dosage. Alli, on the other hand, is its reduced version.

Alli’s main task is to inhibit fat absorption by about 25 percent. What makes this functional is the fact that fats are calorie dense.  In fact, 1 gram of actual fat consists of approximately 9 calories, while proteins and carbohydrates contain about 4 calories/gram.

If we compare taking this drug to exercise and diet alone, taking Alli will make you lose body weight about 5 percent more. It is actually equivalent to an extra pound of lost weight in a month.

When using Alli, it shouldn’t work alone. You also need to combine this with a healthy diet and proper exercise.

Alli is making a difference from other diet pills because it gives fewer discomforts. Other diet pills will make you jittery. Worse case scenario, others will even make you feel like your heart is pounding and racing fast.

Of course, like any other drug, Alli also has some side effects. You need to take note of these side effects before you start using Alli. It is always better to take precautionary measures.

This is also why Alli comes with available literature you can easily read. You can also buy the book about it. Make sure you read these before taking the pill. This is especially helpful because it has an outline of a good diet you can take while using Alli.

When you use Alli, your discharge from your anus will have a fatty-orange discoloration. Lucy Davis, a marketing analyst, describes it like that of pizza grease. Her solution would be the use of dark colored clothing.

Other side effects are stomach pains and loose bowel movement troubles. To lessen this, your meals should contain less than or only up to 15 grams of actual fat.

Thus, if you are consistent with taking Alli over a very low fat diet, you run the risk of experiencing depression episodes, brittle hair and skin problems.

Aside from this, Alli causes a fat-soluble deficiency in vitamins. The vitamin deficiency would be for vitamins A, E and D. You can still take vitamin supplements when using this pill but do take it about 2 hours or more before taking Alli. Never drink it at the same time you drink this diet pill.

Hence, Alli also blocks Omega-3s (good fat that is also good for the heart).  You can just additionally take Omega-3, flaxseed oil or fish oil supplements. The dosage of these supplements should ideally be about 3,000-5,000 milligrams daily. Also, take this about 2 hours before taking Alli. Again, never drink this at the same time as you drink Alli.

Although critics and some experts believe that Alli, when taken in for a long period of time, can be dangerous – it is yet to be proven. These are facts you can consider before you start taking Alli.