1What do the capsules do?
The capsules help boost your weight loss by 50% more than by dieting alone. They work in your digestive system to prevent some of the fat in your meals from being digested and absorbed. The unabsorbed fat passes naturally out of your body in your stools.
2Who can take the alli capsules?
alli® is an effective weight loss aid but it’s not for everyone. It is for people who are ready and willing to make the necessary adjustments to succeed with alli. It can be taken by overweight adults aged 18 or more with a BMI of 25 or over who are willing to adopt a reduced calorie, lower-fat diet.
There are some people who must not take alli or who need to check with their doctor or pharmacist first such as, people who are taking ciclosporin (used after organ transplants, for severe rheumatoid arthritis and some severe skin conditions); people taking wafarin or other medicines used to thin the blood; people who are allergic to orlistat or any of the ingredients of alli; people who have cholestasis; chronic malabsorption syndrome (people who have problems absorbing food); pregnant or breast-feeding women.
Talk to your doctor or pharmacist before taking alli if you are taking amiodarone or a medicine for diabetes. Talk to your doctor or pharmacist when taking alli if you are taking a medicine for high blood pressure or high cholesterol. The oral contraceptive pill may be less effective if you get severe diarrhea, so use an extra method of contraception if this happens.
It is important to read the label before purchasing alli.
3For how long can I take the alli capsules?
Treatment should not exceed six months. If you do not lose weight after taking the capsules for 12 weeks, see your pharmacist or doctor for advice. You may need to stop taking the capsules. You should maintain your healthy eating and lifestyle changes after you stop taking the capsules.
4How many capsules do I take a day?
The dose is a maximum of 3 capsules a day.
5When should I take the capsules?
Take a capsule just before or during a meal, or up to one hour before or after the meal. If you are eating a meal that does not contain fat, do not take a capsule.
6Can I take 6 alli capsules a day to get the same dose of orlistat as with Xenical®?
No. Do not take more than 3 alli capsules a day. alli and Xenical contain the same active ingredient (orlistat), but there are important differences. Each alli capsule contains 60 mg of orlistat, while Xenical capsule contains 120 mg. of Orlistat.
7If I eat a high-fat meal, should I take two capsules?
No. You should never take more than the recommended dose of a medicine. Take one alli capsule at mealtimes, three times a day. This usually means one capsule at breakfast, lunch and dinner. Make every effort to avoid high-fat meals while on the alli program. Taking the capsule with a meal containing more fat than your recommended target, may increase the chances of diet-related treatment effects.
8Can I take two capsules with a meal to help me lose weight quicker?
No. You should never take more than the recommended dose of a medicine. Take one alli capsule after meals, three times a day. This usually means one capsule after breakfast, lunch and dinner.
9I don’t like swallowing tablets or capsules. Can I open the capsule and sprinkle the contents of the capsule on my food?
No. You should swallow the capsule whole with water. You should not break the capsule open.
10Should I take an alli capsule if I know I’m going to eat a ‘high-fat’ meal?
If you have a special occasion and know you are going to be eating a high-fat meal, do not take a capsule with that meal. Taking the capsule with a meal containing more fat than your recommended target, may increase the chances of diet-related treatment effects.
11What if I miss taking a capsule?
If you forget to take the capsule and more than an hour has passed since your meal, do not take a capsule. Just wait until your next meal and take a capsule then. Never take two capsules at the same time.
12What if I eat more than three meals a day? Should I still take a capsule with each meal?
No, take no more than 3 capsules a day. Just choose three meals that contain about 15 grams* of fat and take your capsule with those meals.
* Based on a 1400 calorie diet per day.
13If alli capsules only work on the fat in my food, how do I lose the fat in my body?
As you eat fewer calories on a reduced calorie, lower-fat diet — and use alli to prevent absorption of some of the fat you eat — your body will automatically tap into its fat stores and use them for the energy it needs. This leads to weight loss.
14What happens if alli is taken with a fat-free meal?
Nothing, because there’s no fat for alli to work on. Don’t take a capsule if you’re going to eat a meal that doesn’t contain fat.
15How long does alli remain in my body?
Since the time it takes people to digest food varies, the active ingredient in alli can actually remain in your body for up to 48 to 72 hours, mainly because the time taken for food to pass through the digestive system varies from person to person. However, it only affects the fat absorption of meals that are eaten within a couple of hours of taking a capsule.
Only a very small amount of orlistat is absorbed into the bloodstream.
16Why should I take a multivitamin when I’m taking the capsules?
You should take a multivitamin every day because alli can lower the levels of some vitamins absorbed by your body. The multivitamins should contain vitamins A, D, E and K. You should take the multivitamin at bedtime, when you will not be taking alli, to help ensure that the vitamins are absorbed.
17Why should I take the multivitamin at bedtime?
If you take the multivitamin with a meal, at the same time that you take the capsule, then the capsule could cause some of those vitamins to be lost. So it’s best to take the multivitamin at a time when you won’t be taking an alli capsule, such as bedtime.
18Where can I buy the alli capsules?
alli is only available in pharmacies. You will find alli behind the pharmacy counter, so you should ask you pharmacist for alli.
19What sizes do the alli packs come in?
alli is only available in pack of 21 capsules
