|
|
|
|
|
|
May 2007 » FDA approves first over-the-counter alli diet pill May 31, 2007 You won't lose weight in your sleep or shed pounds while
eating anything you want — that's the sobering message from the
maker of a weight loss pill poised to hit shelves next month. "We've done everything to go out of our way to be honest," said Steve Burton, vice president of the weight control division at GlaxoSmithKline Consumer Healthcare. "We're taking a very different approach than the fad diets people are constantly exposed to." Omro pharmacist Ken Bressers said diet pills are enormously popular, but he reiterates the philosophy of GlaxoSmithKline. "The problem with diet pills is that no pill will work on its own," he said. "You can't sit in front of the TV every day and lose weight. You've also got to eat a low-calorie, well-balanced diet and get exercise." Bressers said alli is attractive because it doesn't mimic the usual diet pills that are currently on the market that act as stimulants, which can be dangerous for people with certain health conditions. "This can be taken safely," he said. In clinical trials, the FDA says that people using alli lost an additional 2 to 3 pounds for every 5 pounds lost through diet and exercise. The FDA approved alli to be sold over the counter in February. When taken with meals, the drug blocks the absorption of about one-quarter of any fat consumed. That fat — about 150 to 200 calories worth — is passed out of the body, potentially resulting in loose stools. Alli only affects the digestive system, Glaxo says, and is the only safe over-the-counter diet drug that's been shown to work. Renee Neubauer, registered dietitian for Aurora Health Care, said FDA-approval for the drug is a good sign, considering most other diet pills aren't regulated in any way. "Other manufacturers don't have to prove safety or effectiveness to the FDA," Neubauer said. "No studies are done on them, and what manufacturers put in the drug isn't regulated, either." While Neubauer said it's good GlaxoSmithKline is being honest about effectiveness, and that the drug is FDA-approved, she would not recommend diet pills. "I would rather work with someone one-on-one to change some aspects of their diet and help them make realistic changes," she said. "You also want to work exercise in, too." The drug will come in "starter kits" containing a food journal, a healthy eating guide and a fat and calorie reference guide. A 60-capsule kit will cost about $50 while a 90-capsule pack will cost about $60. Recommended usage is one or two pills daily. Labeling indicates alli is appropriate for anybody who is overweight, or has a body mass index of 25 or higher. A body mass index over 30 is considered obese. Bressers said Omro Health Mart will carry the pill, once its released, but does not yet know what it will cost. Eric Schramm, clinical pharmacist for ThedaCare, wouldn't necessarily turn someone away from alli. "If the pill helps give someone a start who might
be having a hard time getting going, I think it'd be a good thing,"
Schramm said. |