alli tablets

alli works by stopping some of the fat you eat from being absorbed by your body. It does this by blocking the action of an enzyme called lipase that breaks down fat. When lipase is blocked, around 25% of the fat you eat isn’t absorbed and passes out of the body with your stools (poo).

Always take any medications exactly as your doctor or pharmacist tells you to, or follow the instructions on the packaging or patient information leaflet

To take alli, swallow one 60mg capsule whole with water before, during, or up to one hour after a meal. This will normally mean taking one capsule three times a day with breakfast, lunch, and dinner. If you skip a meal, or your meal does not contain any fat, you do not need to take alli.

Do not take more than 3 capsules daily. If you take too many alli capsules, or someone else takes your medication, contact your doctor or healthcare provider.

You should avoid eating a lot of fat while taking this medication. Aim for around 15g of fat per meal. If you do eat a high fat meal do not take more than your usual dose of alli.

If you forget to take your dose of alli and it's less than an hour since your last meal, take your medication as usual. If it is more than one hour since your last meal, skip that dose and continue your medication with your next meal.

alli can affect the absorption of some fat soluble vitamins including beta carotene and vitamins A, D, E, and K. If you’re taking multivitamins, or supplements, make sure you take them at least 2 hours after taking alli, such as before you go to bed.

alli is suitable for most adults over 18 years of age with a body mass index (BMI) of 28 or above.

Like all medications, alli can cause side effects in some people. The most common side effects of alli are caused by undigested fat passing through the body. You can reduce these side effects by eating a lower fat diet. It is also better to split your daily fat intake evenly between meals than to eat a lot of fat in one go.

Most side effects go away on their own after a few weeks, but if your side effects are unpleasant, getting worse, or not going away, talk to your GP or pharmacist.

Always read the patient information leaflet carefully before taking any medication.

Common side effects of alli include:

• flatulence (wind)
• fatty, oily stools
• oily discharge from the anus
• more frequent or urgent bowel movements
• abdominal (stomach) pain
• anxiety

Less commonly alli may cause:

• headaches
• changes to your menstrual cycle (period)
• back pain
• cold-like symptoms

alli can affect the results of some blood tests. Tell your doctor you are taking alli if you have a blood test.

Rarely, serious side effects can occur when taking alli. These include:

• severe allergic reaction (anaphylaxis). Symptoms include swelling of the face, lips, tongue, itchy rash, fast heart rate, difficulty breathing, and collapse.
• bleeding from the rectum (back passage)
• inflammation of the large intestine (diverticulitis). Symptoms include inflammation of the pancreas (pancreatitis), which can include severe abdominal pain that may radiate to the back, as well as nausea, vomiting, and fever
• blistering of the skin
• gallstones. Symptoms include severe abdominal pain, nausea, and vomiting
• inflammation of the liver (hepatitis). Symptoms include yellowing of the skin and whites of the eyes, itchy skin, dark coloured urine, right sided pain under the ribs, and loss of appetite
• kidney stones. Symptoms include severe back or flank pain, painful and frequent urination, blood in the urine, and fever

If you experience any of the above symptoms stop taking your medication and seek immediate medical attention.