Xenical Over the Counter: Big Mistake?

Jim - only just blogged on this myself. I am pretty concerned about it, particularly as from what you have said, the target audience seems to be the people who 'cant lose the last 10 pounds'.

I can forsee this product being jumped on by people who are looking for a quick fix, and at the cost of them altering their diet or nutrition - and at the cost of them starting to make exercise a part of their life.

I am also worried that mild addiction could form as people may not alter their diet, meaning that when they take the pill - they lose weight and when they dont take the pill they dont lose weight. This could lead to people using this long term, which again is worrying.

Could this not have implications for those who are susceptible to eating disorders.

Maybe I am jumping the gun a little, but this type of drug makes me nervous, and lets face it - the pharmaceutical firms do not have a history of altruism...

What worries me is the fact that this will "supposedly" make them look great by losing the weight, but without proper eating habits, the internals are going to be clogged still. People will look great on the outside, but the internal system is ready for a shut down. Need to get people off these "quick fix" ideas and onto an exercise and balanced nutrition schedule. Mickey D's and BK aren't going to be leading that road :(

I'm really concerned about this as well. I agree with Ross and Chris...people will take this as a "quick fix" and not really improve their health habits at all. The target audience, those people wanting to lose that last 10 lbs, is also dangerous since those are the people who usually want to lose weight for vanity's sake and not for health reasons. I hope that the horrific side effects ("oily spotting"? GROSS!!) will at least deter people from rushing out and buying it.

My roommate in college had an incident with Xenical in high school. She took her mom's pills and for a while it worked but then one day she went out for pizza without thinking. She told me that the next day she literally had to stay near a bathroom at all times and wear a pantiliner just in case of leaking. That was enough to get her to stop sneaking it and start trying to get healthy.

I took xenical as a written script by my physician and had no problems. As for eating the right foods while using it thats a choice made by the individual taking the medication. We all know the negatives if we eat extra fatty foods and the embarrassment of leaking so we have to take the necessary precautions to deal with it. My end result was that I lost the needed weight required so that I could have a surgery safely.

In addition to reinforcing the quick fix mentality thee is another danger to this. Many people deliberately overeat and take this drug to mitigate the effects of dietary excess. We have to remember these drugs are about profit for the drug companies – they are not about helping people loose weight.

http://www.antiagingatlanta.com

My question is; "What is worse, unhealthy weight or leaking?" I have a few health problems that could be null if I could lose the excess weight and I believe this would be a big help in my achieving that. As with any drug you have to consider the good and the bad, then decide if you want to continue or back out.

Xenical over the counter in the USA is a good idea. Obesity is a huge problem here. However, as a prescriber, I understand the side effects and am sure that the package labeling will warn those who have colitis, or other bowel problems about the risks of diarrhea and to consult their physicians.

As for fat consumption, that is not always the problem. Certain studies in type II diabetics have shown that their insulin resistance is reduced and sometimes reversed with Xenical, whether it is the lower level of absorbed triglycerides or the weight loss. This makes their diabetes more controllable, and all of the side effects that go with it. It can also lower their triglycerides and cholesterol due to the lack of absorption. The only risk is fat - absorbed vitamin deficiencies, so the package labeling will also state that you should take a multivitamin at bedtime. For people who are diabetic, overweight, or have heart problems, this is their answer. It is not an appetitie suppressant and has no affects on blood pressure, pulse rate, etc. For the rest of us, we can work out.

It is not a quick fix, and Xenical packaging actually has a web site with information on diet, exercise, and lifestyle changes. I have used their information and diet fat wheel for teaching to patients with high cholesterol. The tools are free. Also, the prescribed dose of Xenical is 150 mg per meal, but the over the counter medications are usually one half a prescription dose by law, i.e. MOtrin 200 mg instead of 800mg. This helps prevent overdose.

Hope this helps.

R.Cailor, FNP-C, Assistant Professore
University of Southern Nevada

I just have a nagging picture in my head of 11 year-old girls starting to take this drug and continuing on until suffering the as-yet-unknown long-term side-effects.

I may sound like I'm blowing things out of proportion, but I have two teenage daughters and it is amazing how many of their friends have/are suffering from eating disorders or a poor body image.

I have 2 Xenical stories. My former boss used to take it. Let me tell you, it is not just about having the runs or leaking: when you go poop, it will smell so foul people anywhere close to the bathroom, with the door closed, are gonna gag. We had 2 bathrooms and 12 people in the office, and when he went, nobody else would go into that bathroom. In fact it was one bathroom for 11 people, one bathroom just for him, and we'd have to take our break when he went cause we couldn't sit near the bathroom with the door closed (stalls and bathroom itself). A girl sitting at the desk closest to it once barfed on her computer keyboard from the smell. The cleaning lady, going in the bathroom several hours after he'd been in there, would barf so often she'd take a bin with her when she entered. We used to be able to use the same bathroom until he started on Xenical, so this wasn't specific to him, but to the drug.

Second, the ads for Xenical here in Brazil are a bunch of women with the question "What would you do if you lost a few pounds?" and ALL the answers are veiled ways to say "have sex". None of the women shown in the ad are overweight (for comparison, they are not the size of the largest women in the Dove ads, and even they are not fat for starters). They all just look like size 8 and 10 35-55 women. So it is offensive because it is saying that until you are no longer the "unacceptable" sizes 8 and 10 you can't have sex, but also because since they are normal sized women, but just aren't young (yeah, 35 is old nowadays - don't get me started on that), that the only way to "make up" for their horrible flaw of being "old" is to be skinny. The ads make me so angry.

The good thing about Xenical is that it "just" blocks fat. I have worked in a diet clinic before, and to be able to take something to "aid" in weight loss that does not give you the side effects of drugs like phentermine etc.. is great. The added benefit of helping the disgestive system eliminate fat will also help people that struggle with constipation. Please remember that just because someone has a need to lose excess fat does not mean that the person is "eating "alot of extra fat. Many people have affected metabolisms that do not burn fat as they should. I agree that losing weight should not be about being more "sexxy" etc.. My interest is my health, and I believe that is the concern of most sincere people that are looking forward to Xenical being available over the counter. We should not be denied access.

This is an interesting thread. These fat blockers are rarely 'useful' with the exception of persons such as Dawn as it seemed to help her loose quickly for an upcoming surgery. I see the potential for carelessness because of the pharma/food industries hype about 'dangersous fat' that most people buy into the lies and actually believe no fat/low fat as a permanent lifestyle is healthier. On top of this, take a fat blocker that further denies the body essential fats and it will not take long for nutrient deficiency problems will arise.

The problem is not fat, but excess amounts of it, and the wrong types. The greater problem is the industry propaganda surrounding it, encouraging consumers to buy their artifical products (plastic 'fats', dangerous hydrogenated vegetable fats such as margarine). Enjoy the real stuff (butter, olive, grapeseed oil etc) but in small quantities and leave the rubbish. Cheaper, healthier and wiser choices.

As we all know but what many have problems incorporating is a shift to a better lifestyle and not a magic pill or patch that is either useless (except to the companies producing) or dangerous on the long run.

This is response to Rebecca -

You said you are a prescriber? Does this mean that you are a doctor?

If so, you just proved my point in avoiding traditional medicine and doctors! You're all too quick to jump to medicating! Its scary actually!

This is response to Rebecca -

You said you are a prescriber? Does this mean that you are a doctor?

If so, you just proved my point in avoiding traditional medicine and doctors! You're all too quick to jump to medicating! Its scary actually!

Oh, also, if you're a doctor who much of a kick back do you get when you prescribe it to a patient?

Patricia, if you are overweight at all, you are not "denied access". Doctors love to prescribe stuff, I'm sure the next time you went to your gyn/ob and said "So how about that Xenical?" you'd walk out with a prescription for it. If you are currently "denied access", then you must have a pretty low BMI already.

I don't eat much fat so I've never seen the point of this medication. I recommend having gallstones for anyone who wants to reduce fat in their diet. Even after having my gallbladder removed, the sight of fat makes me sick. I can't even be around people eating pizza anymore, cause seeing melted cheese is too much.

If they invent a carb absorber, then I wanna know more about it. Unfortunately, the sight of boiled potatoes does not make me sick. ;)

As a prescriber, I am not a doctor, but a Nurse Practitioner, and a teacher of Nursing. There are no kickbacks for prescriber's in this country, and actually any kind of kick-back. i.e. gifts, are against the law. Not every patient is appropriate for Xenical, and I do not prescribe it all that often. However, as I pointed out, there is a population with what is called Syndrome X, or metabolic syndrome, which has been helped by this drug. Please do not slam all medical professionals, as Nurse practititoners are also patient advocates, trained in herbolgy and other holistic medical therapies. We look at drugs as a last resort.
Thanks
Rebecca

I am looking forward to trying xenical as soon as it is made available o.t.c. Because of a sports injury, I've experienced significant weight gain and am now able to exercise but need aid getting rid of approx. 20lbs. I now suffer from high blood pressure since gaining weight, so xenical appears to be the safest route. Of course there is always the risks of abuse by some but thats no reason to make it let accessible. I agree with rebecca for the most part, and urge all adults with ll year old daughters to be responsible with all things meant for adult consumption wether that be medication or whatever. Its about being accountable people!

Rebecca, there are ways around kickbacks. Remember the Synthroid scandal? The doctors who were the biggest prescribers got "research grants", only they didn't have to do any research, until one doctor blew the whistle and it stopped their little scheme.

But I don't think that buying stuff off the net, like the people who are defending the Brazilian diet pills are doing, is a way around financial interest - those companies that sell illegal drugs are making tons, probably a higher percentage than the pharmaceuticals even.

I was very excited at first about the news of buying Xenical over the counter. However, after reading the info on Xenical's website I can't see at all what the hype is all about. It said something like after 52 weeks, patients on a restricted calorie diet taking Xenical lost an average of 10 to 15 pounds. If you can manage to do that for a year why even bother taking the pills. I might be wrong but anyone that reduces their caloric intake even slightly should see huge results in a year. Either way I guess now I'll be heading back to Weight Watchers this week instead of the local drug store.

Sharon, you are right. I lost weight really slowly, cause I have thyroid disease and PCOS, and I was eating around 1,800 calories a day (so not really "low-calorie", just eating healthy foods) and I lost 115lb in around 80lb. So taking a pill to lose 10lb in 52 weeks is crazy talk.

Sharon, you are right. I lost weight really slowly, cause I have thyroid disease and PCOS, and I was eating around 1,800 calories a day (so not really "low-calorie", just eating healthy foods) and I lost 115lb in around 80 weeks. So taking a pill to lose 10lb in 52 weeks is crazy talk.

My wife used xenical for just a month and lost 8 lbs
and I took some during christmas time with all these family meal and normally each yeear I gain almost 10 lbs because of those big meals and this year I gainned 0 because of xenical, I know 3 people that used xenical and its more like 5 lbs per month than 15 per year it all depend on how much fat you normally eat in you meals.

Someone that gain weigh because thay eat too much fat will see better result then people who just eat tons of sugar and just dont do any execises to burn it up.

Anyway, we got good result with this and wish to be able to buy it without prescription.

and for those overdosing on it well that their own decision they just have to deal with the incontrolable bowel movement and oily underwears !

PS: sorry for my bad english

I took xenical and lost 20lbs, although I have now gained it back. I experienced all the side effects, but it was not that bothersome. It was very expensive. So I was wondering what the cost will be?

Here is some helpful info. regarding xenical. I took xenical a little over a year ago and within 6 months lost 45 pounds. At first I did not change my diet too much and still saw results. However, the worse I ate meaning FAT of course the more side effects I encountered. But soon this turned into a good thing. I didnt want to eat all those fattening things. Why? Because not only did I not want to suffer from the side effects, I didnt want to put this horrible stuff into my body anymore. I finally began to realize and care about what I ate. I not only lost that weight but went from a size 22-24 to a 9-10 and was working on losing more. I kept the weight off and the inches. However I was diagnosed with a medical condition and had to go on prednisone--yuk and gained the weight back. However, I feel confident that with my second round of xenical--yes I am going on it again, that I will lose the weight and keep it off-without a doubt. I truly hope that others will benefit from this drug. Yes it has not so pleasant side effects but we can control that to a degree with what we eat. But this drug does work for most-like life nothing works for everyone. But I recommend giving it a try if you can. I can only recommend to be strict with your fat intake. You will lose faster and suffer less. If you read anything about xenical you will know that besides losing weight it helps blood pressure, sugar levels, and helps you to keep weight off. Good luck to all out there trying it. I had success with it and wish the same to everyone else. My email address is toniklingbeil@yahoo.com if anyone has questions. I am not an medical professional--I am a survivor of obesity and ready to conquer the statistics. God Bless!

Xenical does cause a mild dumping if you overeat fat, which is something like gastric by-pass. I don't believe it will become addictive because people will get tired of the oily stools. There is a book out that tells everything about the effects of Xenical. Personally, I tried it and liked it because I didn't get the jittery feeling that most diet pills cause. There is a couple of mineral suppliments that should be taken with Xenical. I hope it does become available otc.

I tried xenical when it first came out. Ilost 60 pounds in about 7 months. I gained it back eventually, but it was not an overnight thing.
I am on xenical now, and have lost 20 pounds in 4 months. I hope that it becomes available over the counter and will be cheaper. My insurance company does not pay for it, and it is very expensive. i reccomend Xenical to anyone wanting to lose weight.

I have been taking xenicalfor five days,and i have lost 5lbs. You shouldnt believe everything you read. Xenical does work,but dont eat high fat foods! When i ate something with a lot of fat igot bad gas, when i went to pass it i had an accident.However it is still worth it to me ,i need to lose about 90 lbs.

Hi, I've been taking Xenical since 2002. I'm 5'3 approx 125lbs, but have taken it to maintain this weight. I used to be 145lbs five or so years ago and take it to make sure i dont get back up there. I have taken it nearly every single day for the last years.. and decided my New Years resolution was to 'give it up'.

Unfortunately, thats easier said than done.. whenever i eat anything fattening, its such a habit to 'pop the xenical'.. but i have stuck to my guns after my doctor told me that this long-term use really could be affecting my liver and kidneys. I panicked, as i'm only 28 and .. want a long life.

To the person who said 'it wont be addictive because people will tire of the oily stools'.

Let me just say.. the desire to maintain thinness (or get thin) overrides any temporary discomfort. Its really not that bad anyway, i guess different for different people. If i eat something extremely fattening like pizza, then it wont be pretty. I've probably only had 3 or 4 instances of 'situations' in 4 years. Small price to pay for eating whatever i want and maintaining my weight. If it wasn't for my fear of long-term damage, i would stay on it definitely.

Its also made me eat healthier, because i havn't stressed about my weight so much and the stability of my weight has allowed me to introduce more fruits and veggies because i dont really think about calories anymore and dont feel so deflated by weight gain.

Xenical...over the counter...? What an absolute dream! I am by no means overweight but take Xenical at least once a day. However, by prescription i pay over $200 each month. Xenical is not covered under any insurance or formulary. I am 5'4" and weight 115. Xenical is great for me and it has worked for years with very few side effects. Really. I am contributing my weigt to Xenical and it should be something that we all use. Most Americans are grossly obese anyway and it is disgusting!

"I am by no means overweight but take Xenical at least once a day"

You are every pharmaceutical company's dream.

Hi April,

I'm like you, a long-term user.. are you not worried about long-term effects?
My doctor told me to watch out for damage to my liver and kidneys.

Xenical is already over the counter in Australia, its no cheaper though, $180 per box (they come in boxes there). The pharmacists give you huge lectures though, and tell you that you arn't overweight enough etc and that its purely for obese people.

Have read all the comments and can see all sides I think. However, my husband has had open heart surgery, 2 stents and had ongoing angina attacks. His cholesterol stayed high, his blood pressure fluctuated drastically and was often in the dangerous range. He followed all of the Dr's orders such as exercise, low fat diet, small frequent meals, etc. Nothing helped and every problem was still there. In fact, he gained weight with the low fat, small meals 5-6x day. His MD decided to try Xenical and advised us to be sure and add a little more of the fatty foods to avoid nutritional problems. My husbands heart, cholesterol, high B/P problems were due in large part to his heredity. He has two cousins that currently have had to have heart transplants. Anyway, since taking the Xenical responsibly, his cholesterol went down 54 points with the bad cholesterol headed down and the good up. We have had to cut way back on the medication for his b/p and it is now controlled in the range that is most optimal for him.
The MD also put me on it for chronic constipation that had always been a problem for me and had become worse due to my profession. I was laxative dependent---believe me I tried high water intake, fruit, fiber, everything without success. This has really helped me and reduced the problems that chronic constipation trigger. For the past 2 years or so, we have had to pay a whopping price to get relief from very real medical problems just because the insurance companies won't recognize that Xenical really does address and help these conditions. I pray that they put it OTC. I caution everyone not to try to treat themselves with this med. Work with your MD if possible and be responsible about all medications. You know even things like St. John's Wort can bring great harm when mixed with some other meds. Everything you take can be harmful to some. The fewer meds you take the better it is. This med has helped by husband and me to reduce the number of meds we take--------so I say, put that drug out there. Everyone is responsible for what goes in their mouth, whether it is food or pills.

June, sounds like its really helped out.

I'm still hoping somebody out there can tell me whether they have heard it damages kidneys/liver over long-term.

I have about 20lbs to lose but I dont really eat much fat in my diet anyway so will i work for me?

In regard to liver, kidney, organ damage. Our MD does lab work that pinpoints all of those possible problems, on a regular basis. When I asked about possible side effects short and long term, he said that any and all medications CAN have adverse reactions, but it is doubtful with Xenical. In point of reference, you must do lab work for kidney and liver damage for many meds; anti-depressants, meds to reduce cholesterol, and so many others. When meds are advertised on TV, by the end of the ad you wonder who could possibly take that medication. Be responsible by working with your MD and being proactive in learning about your medical conditions and the medicines that you take. Be aware by being knowlegeable and alert.

June,

Thank you for your feedback, i really appreciate it.

I wonder if you wouldn't mind me asking for further elaboration on what your MD said, did he expand on why he 'doubts' there would be long-term affects?.. I understand that with every med there is potential risk, i'm just fact-finding as to whether Xenical is as risky or riskier.

I have just moved abroad and am yet to find a good MD, so in the interim i'm carrying out online research on Xenical and its effects.

Thx

Thx,

My Doc says that Xenical is one of the safest meds there is. Except for the messy side effects already listed here that you can basically avoid, there is little to no downside. I've been taking it for 2-3 years and my lab work is excellent. All meds are filterd through the body by some method----kidney and liver being prominent. If you don't have an MD yet, ask around, check them out and go and interview them. Remember, you are the client and they are working for you---------who has to pay and who gets the money? Employee v/s employer.

I have been on Xenical before, and it really helped me lose 10 lbs. The side effects aren't the most pleasant, but with all medications come side effects. My question is when will Xenical become over the counter?

Well, allow me to "weigh in" here. I am a handicapped guy with minor arrhythmias and unable to do vigorous exercise (right now anyway) to burn fat. Since I first started taking Xenical between the changes that I made in my diet and the Xenical I have lost 110 pounds, my cholesterol has been reduced by nearly 50 points (It varies now between 145 and 170) and my mobility has GREATLY increased allowing me to get some exercise such as walking without causing more damage to my hip, ankles... etc.

There is no such thing as a "magic pill" Xenical is intended to be just part of your strategy towards attaining your goals. It has taken me over 2 years of dieting and food habit changes to lose over 110 pounds. I have about another 40 to go to be at my ideal weight. This medication is NOT intended for people who are not severely or morbidly obese. You do run a higher risk of developing gallstones on this medication. To take this or any other medication unnecessarily is not wise. To lose a simple 20 pounds you don't risk ruining your gall bladder, it makes no sense! However, a morbidly obese person most likely has gallstones anyway.

Xenical is a good, safe medication when used as prescribed, by those of us who need it, Xenical is not intended to be a crutch or a free pass to scarf down the megasized banana split at the DQ!

I sincerely hope there will be no negative long-term side effects after using this medication. It's a bit late for me to worry about that now if that is the case. You have to temper the worries about the unknown with the KNOWN risks of long-term obesity, higher blood pressure, high cholesterol, Type II Diabetes and the added strain on your heart, bones and other organs if you don't at least attempt to take some positive action to attack the problem. God, Xenical and behavior modification have helped me considerably over the last few years tackling this problem, I hope the same for all of you.

Good luck!

:::stepping off my soapbox:::