The most popular weight-loss drug is even more dangerous than we thought

Don’t look now

If you ever see a magician make a mistake, don’t believe it. That’s a “misdirect.” It’s an intentional ploy to draw your eye away from what the magician doesn’t want you to see.

That’s what I immediately thought of when I checked for side effects on the Alli website.

I can’t say for sure if this misdirect really is intentional. But anyone who takes Alli needs to be aware of it. Because it’s a potential killer.

More dangerous than we thought

Alli, of course, is the wildly popular, over-the-counter weight-loss drug. “Xenical” is the name in prescription strength.

The Alli website boldly owns up to the famous side effect that has a powerful ewwww factor…

If you take Alli, you have to severely restrict fat intake. That’s because Alli blocks fat absorption in your bowels. When excess fat isn’t absorbed… Well, it has to go somewhere. And you’ll have to deal with that significant problem on a moment’s notice, whenever or wherever you might be.

Yeah — ewwww!

But with that side effect addressed, the rest of the Alli site is all about health and weight loss tips and encouragement. Heck, you might easily get the idea that the surprise-fat-ejection is the only side effect to worry about.

Don’t believe it. That’s the misdirect.

If you search the site — and I mean REALLY search it — you’ll find that the FDA has linked Alli to liver failure.

I first told you about this two years ago. At the time, the FDA issued a warning. But of course, the Good Ol’ Boy agency emphasized that the handful of cases were isolated and unconfirmed.

But a couple of years later, everything has changed.

A new study from drug interaction researchers finds that the danger is more serious than we thought. In a press release, they note that there’s been a sharp increase of organ toxicity among Alli users. Reports link Alli to cases of severe liver failure, acute pancreatic failure, and acute kidney failure.

The study also reveals why this happens. Alli inhibits a key enzyme. And here’s a chilling quote from the press release… “The inhibition is irreversible and can be caused by a low level of the drug.”

That alone would be reason enough to start reeling in Alli, coast to coast. But the inhibition also produces two more side effects…

* Alli may reduce the effectiveness of certain cancer drugs

* Alli may increase anti-clotting effects of aspirin, which can increase internal bleeding risk

Suddenly, that ewwww side effect doesn’t seem so bad.

If I were running the FDA, I would insist that every Alli user be briefed immediately about the warning signs for all these side effects.

And what will the Real World FDA do? I predict they’ll downplay the dangers and engage in some misdirection of their own.

Don’t be fooled. It’s their same old trick. Only this time, you could be the one that gets sawed in half.

Sources:
“Carboxylesterase-2 is a highly sensitive target of the antiobesity agent orlistat with profound implications in the activation of anticancer prodrugs” Biochemical Pharmacology, 12/7/12, journals.elsevier.com/biochemical-pharmacology

“Pharmacy researcher finds most popular weight-loss drug strongly alters other drug therapies” University of Rhode Island press release, 12/10/12, uri.edu