Alli: Drug Marketing Goes Viral
Alli (pronounced Ally) is the brand name for over-the-counter Xenical. While not yet approved - it may be very close. The brand is owned by GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) who paid over $100 million for the US rights to Alli (the prescription version of Xenical is made by Roche).
The US diet industry is huge and the marketing for Alli has begun.
Alli will be a lower dosage (60mg) form of Xenical (Orlistat). The fat-blocking drug has it's supporters - as well as many anecdotal stories of "rear-end" problems (see the Xenical debate here).
GlaxoSmithKline is already using the viral marketing technique. Like so many other big brands, they have setup a seemingly innocuous website - QuestionEverything.com.
From the 'about' page:
QuestionEverything.com also supplies you with helpful insights and information on physical activity, fad diets, weight loss supplements, the internal and external challenges of dieting and healthy eating. Plus, you can take a break and play fun games designed to entertain and give you some food for thought.I'm sure many Xenical users have felt a 'rumbling beneath the surface' when they've eaten a fatty meal. But seriously, the website is nothing less than a vehicle for selling Alli.Can you feel a revolution coming? Feel it rumbling beneath the surface? The buzz is growing. People are talking about getting back to the basics of weight loss.
According the The Independent:
This (the GSK website) currently provides information and invites discussion on healthy lifestyles and existing dieting techniques, but when regulators give Alli the go-ahead, it will certainly start guiding them towards considering the product.
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At the end of the day, you will see that Diet and Exercise will be the only factors that will make you loose weigh.... So, save your $60 and get and change you lifestyle habits!
More about Alli here:
http://www.themorbidme.com/2007/06/alli-the-new-we.html
ReplyHey All, in addition to eating less and working out more I starte taking Alli. The results were TERRIFFIC! But You HAVE to eat less and exercise and your results will be great. I lost 15 pounds in 2 months. If I can do it, anyone can. I have looked at many places to get Alli, and the cheapest is www.wholesalealli.com or you can always get it from CVS or Rite Aid, as it is OTC. Good Luck!
ReplyMichelle
Hey All, in addition to eating less and working out more I starte taking Alli. The results were TERRIFFIC! But You HAVE to eat less and exercise and your results will be great. I lost 15 pounds in 2 months. If I can do it, anyone can. I have looked at many places to get Alli, and the cheapest is www.wholesalealli.com or you can always get it from CVS or Rite Aid, as it is OTC. Good Luck!
ReplyMichelle
I'm on ALLI since June 15th. No side effects. NONE!!!!
ReplyResults?....To soon to say anything.
Ew! I want to lose weight and everything but who could feel sexy while worrying about grease coming out your you know what!
ReplyI've asked doctors about the fat soluable vitamins being absorbed. Both that I asked said the same thing. These vitamins are absorbed way before the lower intestines (where alli blocks the fat) and since only a percentage of the fat is blocked it wont affect these vitamins anyway. Your body will still absorb some of the fat you take in. The good thing is, the excess fat that would go to your reserves (right to my gut in my case) will be reduced. Of course there is always a chance for long-term side affects. I just want to be around for the long term to find out. If I continue down the path I'm on now the side affect could be massive coronary distress. I'll try the pill for awhile.
Replyi have been on this pill for about two and a half weeks. I bought it right when it became available at the drug store and let me say with very little exercise and a good diet i have already lost 12 pounds though i feel as if I have lost 25. i dont know if i was bloaded or full of water or even "****" but it all left my body. i used to look like i was pregnant and and seems like overnight practically all the bloat went away. i only had one incident like the ones i read about and although unfortunate in some sense i was lucky i was in my car. yes it is true if you feel you need to pass gas please reconsider where you do it, if near a restroom you will be thankful later if you take precaution. truly a miracle pill for those who committ.
Replyive been taking this pill for about 2 weeks and i lost 5 pounds and i went over my sister house and ate somethings i shouldnt have and had very bad stomach pains and chest pains and felt like vomting
ReplyI tried Alli and after 3 days I experienced an Allergic Reaction of itching all over. There is not enough information on the bottle to tell you what the allergic reactions can be, it only states "Do not use if your allergic to any of the ingredients in Orlistat capsules". But if you didn't have a computer you wouldn't know what is in Orlistat. The bottle doesn't have any ingredients on it. Your supposed to contact Glaxo if your experiencing problems.
This is what I found out about some other side effects on Orlistat. (Get emergency medical help if you have any of these signs of an allergic reaction: hives; difficulty breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat). Once I stopped using it, the itching stopped and I don't take any other medicines and have not changed anything in my daily life (detergent etc) for me to have this. Some people on the message boards were having hives. I would like to get my money back if possible $60.00,so do your research and if you need more info check out this site before purchasing it: http://www.drugs.com/Orlistat.html.
ReplyJust posted my Sep 2007 "field report" on Alli's marketing push, the "Alli Tour" (yes, that's really what they're calling it. Huge banners hanging from the mall rafters, a large booth handing out info...I'd love to know the budget for this.
It's at our website (see above link if the blog link is removed from this post).
http://www.radialgroup.com/wellness_blog/2007/09/with_allies_like_this_who_need.html#more
ReplyWe have been taking alli since july 7th and I have lost 31 pounds. I have not had any of the horrible side effects that people criticize the drug for. I think it has helped to change my diet. My husband has lost 24 pounds and his last blood work check-up was absolutely wonderful. (Cholesterol) I would recommend this product to anyone that is truly committed to losing weight. Buy and read the book they have out- we did!! THANKS ALLI!!!
ReplyMy mother is wanting to start Alli but she is concern that it might affect her liver, she has heard that it can, is that true? Please clarify this for us because I too would like to start taking it. Thank you for your time and hope to hear from someone soon.
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I think it is better then phentermine ...
ReplyAll the best with trying it ...
Started taking Alli about 2.5 weeks ago. About 4 days ago, started experiencing pain in my lower jaw near the gum line. Around 48 hours ago, noticed that my right nostril was sensitive and painful to the touch. Last night, felt aches and pains all over and had a brief bout with the "chills". Felt as if I had a terrible flu but my temperature was normal. There was swelling on the inside of my right nostril. Woke up this morning and it looks like someone punched me in the nose. The right side of my nose is swollen and painful. Called the Alli consumer number to report these things and the person I spoke to said that these are NOT typical side effects of Alli; however, I found numerous medical websites that state that side effects could be swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat, problems with your teeth and gums, and cold or flu symptoms. When I mentioned this to the Alli rep, she said that she could not comment on information on other web sites and that the Alli literature that came with the pills doesn't mention these side effects. She took down my information so that it could be reported to the FDA but that sure isn't helping me. I have an appointment with the doctor in a few hours and will get stuck with that bill, other costs related to solving this negative reaction, and the $60+ I spent for the Alli. Any potential users of Alli should be wary and do thorough research on this medication prior to taking it. I'm extremely upset that the Alli literature does not mention these side effects and that I had to go to other web sites to get the necessary information.
ReplyI tried this pill a few months ago. I did as a way to control my fooding. I had no problems with the side effects. and would suggest it to anyone trying to lose weight or even just to control it.
ReplyHi, well I tried the Alli pills and I will not continue! I found a good gum that stops me feeling hungry from a company called www.good-diets.com its cheap and I have lost 55Lb now, I wont go back to the Alli pills due to the toilet problems.
Reply