Alli and constipation????

I am asking this question in all seriousness.  Alli the new weightloss over the counter drug is basicall xennical, the prescription drug, with a reformulation.  It is supposed to block about 25% of fat from being absorbed. This fat has to come out the other end right. So I have heard about people having accidents and needing to change their pants because they at to much fat in a meal. It is actually happening so often they have coined the term "Alli Oops"  So what about us WLS people have have constipation from the iron pills and carb diet. I am wondering if adding this may help to not be so constipated.  Has anyone tried this?  Im not sure about the price tag, I can get it on post, I may even be able to get a prescription from my surgeon so it would only cost 3.00 for me. Any one with experience with this please let me know what you thought about it. Thanks Mechelle

Hello, if you do not follow the Alli Diet to the T you'll end up the in the bathroom My mother has been using Alli pill since last Oct. she lost 80 lbs from using this Alli pill, plus exercised twice a day for 45 minutes and sometimes more..... ALONG she ate a 1300 - 1400 diet plan. and followed the Alli diet to the T...... AND sometimes she ate alittle to much of fat and that send her to the bathroom for a while.... just like us WLS patients.... if we eat something that we shouldn't or cheat -  our WLS will let us have it! We'll also be in the bathroom for a while :-) haha .... it doesn't pay to cheat .... lol no way jose!!! We WLS patients ...already have THIS  * Alli tool*  built in  to our stomachs/digestive system to make us use the bathroom and explode!!!!!!! So with that being said ........... i absolutely do not suggest or recommend us WLS people using Alli diet pill for anything.... you may need to speak to your surgeon/nutritionist about this problem you are having. best wishes to you please update us when you can. hugss Lizzy

I would check with your dr and see what they say, my says no diet pills after WLS. You might try added some natural things to your diet to help with that. I take 2 iron pills a day, and with those I take flax seed oil (comes in jell caps, liquid or powder). As long as I have that in my diet it helps keep me regular.

First I believe it warns against WLS patients taking it. RNYers already malabsorb fat, and fat is needed in the diet, so we really dont need the additional malabsorption. The alli oops you refer to happens when somebody eats too much fat, since it blocks the fat absorption they basically 'leak' it out... so no, it wouldnt help with constipation... it doesnt make you have a 'normal' BM..... Also with the RNY post-op diet it should be low fat in the first place, so you really shouldnt even 'suffer' the side effect of alli.

Not sure it would be a good idea after WLS BUT I can say that after being on xneical myself there is NOWAY that you could be constipated.

It's a horrible idea. You are malabsorptive already as a result of your surgery - and ALLI increases malabsorption which means you will not absorb critical nutrients that your body needs. Have you tried to increase the fiber in your diet - beans!, complex carbs - flax seed - I don't do well with animal protein so I have to get my dietary protein from plant sources and I've never been constipated one day since surgery. I understand the question and why you asked - but it's not at all safe to do after an RNY. Every once in a while somebody wants to speed up their weightloss and asks if they should ad it - I mentioned it to my surgeon early out and his comment was - "that person's surgeon failed to educate them about what this surgery does to their body. It's a terrible idea!" Susan

I srongly urge against any WLS patient taking Alli.  If constipation is your issue go for Miralax.  Best Regards, Maxine

I took Xenical prior to WLS, and it did nothing for me. It got to the point, where I could go to Morton's steakhouse, pig out, and have no ill effects at all. I WANTED the oops for the behavior modification aspect, and it never happened.

I add a combo stool softener/laxative to my daily vitamin intake, and that helps a bunch.

Low carbs and high protein often result in constipation. But I'm more in favor of using natural products to resolve the problem.  A well balanced diet that includes sufficient COMPLEX carbs from fruits, vegetables and whole grains, and sufficient good fats/oils from olive, safflower and canola oil as well as fatty fish such as salmon can usually resolve constipation issues.  Sufficient hydration and simple walking also help resolve constipation. If you haven't tried these things, ultimately I would think it's the healthier route to go. Ann