Health Newsfeed
OTC DIET DRUG
OTC DIET DRUG
ANCHOR LEAD: IS A FORMER PRESCRIPTION DIET MEDICATION WORTH BUYTING OVER THE COUNTER? ELIZABETH TRACEY REPORTS
Orlistat is the name of a prescription medication that blocks fat absorbtion and may aid in weight loss efforts. It will now be sold over the counter as Alli, albeit in a slightly reduced dosage. Lawrence Cheskin, director of the Johns Hopkins weight management center, says the prescription medication wasn’t all that successful.
CHESKIN: It is certainly repackaging a medication that was not wildly popular at a lower dose, for the general public, without a prescription required. And that certainly can lead to greater sales. Whether it will have much of a benefit depends on what else people do along with it. If they do change their diet and their physical activity level then it will certainly be effective. ;21
People who chose to use Alli should know that high fat consumption will likely lead to unpleasant gastrointestinal effects. I’m Elizabeth Tracey reporting.
