Alli capsules (orlistat)
- Weight loss medicine
- Reduces the absorption of fat from food
- Capsules for oral use
- Only for people with a BMI of 28 kg/m2 or higher
This medicine is available without a prescription.
Alli (orlistat) is a weight loss product. The active ingredient orlistat prevents part of the fat in your food from being absorbed. Instead of being stored in the body, this undigested fat leaves the body through bowel movements. As a result, your calorie intake will drop, accelerating the process of losing weight.
Alli is intended for adults who have a body mass index (BMI) of 28 or more. When using this product, you should follow a well-balanced, reduced-calorie, low-fat diet. In addition, physical activity is important if you are trying to lose weight or maintain a healthy weight. Getting more physical activity will help you achieve this.
For more information on how Alli works, please see the package leaflet.
The usual dose is three capsules a day. The capsules should be swallowed whole with plenty of water.
Take Alli just before, during or up to one hour after meals. This usually means one capsule at breakfast, lunch and dinner. If you miss a meal, or your meal contains no fat, do not take a capsule. Alli does not work unless there is some fat in the meal.
If you eat a high-fat meal, do not take more than the recommended dose. Taking the capsule with a meal containing too much fat may increase your chance of getting diet-related treatment effects (see section ‘Side effects’). Make every effort to avoid any high-fat meals while taking Alli.
If you take too much Alli
Do not take more than three capsules a day. If you take too many capsules, contact a doctor as soon as possible.
If you forget to take Alli
If you miss taking a capsule:
- If it is less than an hour since your last main meal, take the missed capsule.
- If it is more than an hour since your last main meal, do not take the missed capsule. Wait and take the next capsule around your next main meal as usual.
See the package leaflet for more information on the use Alli (orlistat) 60 mg capsules.
Do not take Alli if:
- You are under 18.
- You are pregnant or breastfeeding.
- You are taking ciclosporin, used after organ transplants, for severe rheumatoid arthritis and some severe skin conditions.
- You are taking warfarin or other medicines used to thin the blood.
- You are allergic (hypersensitive) to orlistat or any of the ingredients of Alli (see ‘What Alli contains’ for further information).
- You have cholestasis (a condition where the flow of bile from the liver is blocked).
- You have problems absorbing food (chronic malabsorption syndrome) diagnosed by a doctor.
Take special care with Alli
- If you have diabetes. Tell your doctor who may need to adjust your anti-diabetic medicine.
- If you have kidney disease. Talk to your doctor before taking Alli if you have problems with your kidneys. The use of orlistat may be associated with kidney stones in patients suffering from chronic kidney disease.
Other medicines and Alli
Alli may affect some medicines you have to take. You should tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking or have recently taken any other medicines, including medicines obtained without a prescription.
Do not take Alli with these medicines:
- Ciclosporin, used after organ transplants, for severe rheumatoid arthritis and some severe skin conditions.
- Warfarin or other medicines used to thin the blood.
The oral contraceptive pill and Alli
- The oral contraceptive pill may be less effective if you get severe diarrhoea. Use an extra method of contraception if you get severe diarrhoea.
Multivitamins and Alli
- You should take a multivitamin, every day. Alli can lower the levels of some vitamins absorbed by your body. The multivitamin 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.
Talk to your doctor before taking Alli if you are taking:
- Amiodarone, used for heart rhythm problems.
- Acarbose, used for diabetes.
- A thyroid medicine (levothyroxine) as it may be necessary to adjust your dose and take your medicines at different times of the day.
- A medicine for epilepsy as any changes in the frequency and severity of your convulsions should be discussed with your doctor.
Talk to your doctor or pharmacist when taking Alli if:
- You are taking a medicine for high blood pressure as it may be necessary to adjust your dose.
Please note:
- Alli should be used along with a reduced calorie, lower-fat diet. Try to start this diet before beginning treatment.
- Alli should not be taken for more than six months.
- If you do not lose weight after taking Alli for 12 weeks, see your doctor or pharmacist for advice. You may need to stop taking Alli.
Alli is an over-the-counter medication. This means you don’t need a doctor’s prescription to buy Alli (orlistat) 60 mg capsules.
Would you like to know what Alli costs? The current price of Alli (orlistat) 60 mg capsules is listed on our order page.
Like all medicines, Alli can cause side effects, although not everybody gets them.
Most of the common side effects related to Alli (e.g., wind with or without oily spotting, sudden or more frequent bowel motions and soft stools) are caused by the way it works. Eat lower-fat meals to help manage these diet-related treatment effects.
Very common side effects
These may affect more than 1 in 10 people taking Alli:
- Wind (flatulence), with or without oily spotting.
- Sudden bowel motions.
- Fatty or oily stools.
- Soft stools.
Tell your doctor or pharmacist if any of these side effects gets severe or troublesome.
Common side effects
These may affect up to 1 in 10 people taking Alli:
- Stomach (abdominal) pain.
- Incontinence (stools).
- Runny/liquid stools.
- More frequent bowel motions.
- Anxiety.
Tell your doctor or pharmacist if any of these side effects gets severe or troublesome.
This list is not exhaustive. For a complete list of side effects, please see the package leaflet. If any of the side effects gets serious, or if you notice any other side effects not
listed in the leaflet, please tell your doctor or pharmacist.The active substance is orlistat. Each hard capsule contains 60 mg of orlistat.
The other ingredients are:
- Capsule filling: microcrystalline cellulose (E460), sodium starch glycolate, povidone (E1201), sodium laurilsulfate, talc.
- Capsule shell: gelatin, indigo carmine (E132), titanium dioxide (E171), sodium laurilsulfate, sorbitan monolaurate, black ink (shellac, iron oxide black (E172), propylene glycol).
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