All Eyes on Alli vs. Obesity Match-Up – Over-the-Counter Weight Loss Drug That Packs a Punch

The launch of Alli (Orlistat) – the first FDA-approved over-the-counter anti-obesity drug – is exciting news for millions of obese and seriously overweight Americans. Alli, which is expected to hit drugstore shelves this summer, is comprised of a reduced-strength formula of the popular weight-loss drug Xenical (orlistat) and is the only weight-loss drug endorsed by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and made available without a prescription.

Pharmaceutical giant and Alli manufacturer GlaxoSmithKline maintains the product rights to Alli through mutual agreement with Roche, the manufacturer of prescription-only Xenical. Xenical has a steady safety record and has proven to be moderately effective in helping obese individuals lose weight. Studies indicate that when patients take prescription Xenical in combination with a weight-loss program, patients lost an average of 12.4 pounds of weight less in six months — about double the amount lost by patients taking a placebo weight loss drug. Some studies have suggested that Alli, at half the dosage (and approximately one-third the price of prescription Xenical,) is almost as effective.

How it Works

Alli is made of the same chemical structure as Xenical. The drug obstructs dietary fat from being absorbed by the body after food consumption. The undigested fat is then removed from the body as bowel waste. As such, the drug it leads to a reduction in the absorption of fat by as much as 30%.
Alli will be available in 60 milligram capsules, to be taken three times a day with meals that contain fat. Officials at GlaxoSmithKline said that the drug works by “blocking about 25 percent of the fat in food a person eats. Because of the way it works, Alli must be used in conjunction with a reduced-calorie, low-fat diet containing about 15 grams of fat per meal.” GlaxoSmithKline also reported that the drug helps people lose 50 percent more weight than dieting alone. Alli will cost consumers $12 to $25 a week.
“This is the only FDA-approved, over-the-counter weight-loss drug product,” Dr. Charles J. Ganley, the FDA’s director of the Division of Over-The-Counter Drug Products, said during a teleconference. “There are some products, primarily dietary supplements, that make weight-loss claims and those are not FDA-approved, although they are permitted to make these claims.”

Alli vs. The U.S. Obesity Epidemic

The FDA’s approval of the first over-the-counter drug for weight loss comes as the United States and other Western nations are struggling with an unprecedented obesity epidemic. According to the U.S. National Center for Health Statistics, 30 percent of American adults 20 years of age and older — more than 60 million people — are obese. An Additional 36 percent of Americans are considered overweight.

But is Alli the magic diet pill that dieters have been asking for? Maybe not, according to some researchers. Dr. Raj Padwal, an assistant professor of general internal medicine at the University of Alberta, is unsure of about the efficacy of the drug. “People may only lose 1 to 2 kilograms (2.2 to 4.4 pounds) on this half-strength dose [of Xenical]. Whether that is worthwhile is questionable,” said Padwal. “The occasional patient may benefit, but many patients may not. For those patients who need extra incentive to adhere to a low-fat diet, the drug may help.”

Alli is likely to cause very limited direct harm, but may also cause limited good, according to Dr. David L. Katz, an associate professor of public health and director of the Prevention Research Center at the Yale University School of Medicine. “[Alli] is a relatively ineffective weight-loss aid,” he said. “If availability of the drug distracts people from the tried-and-true approach to weight control – eating well and being active – then the FDA decision could prove more harmful than helpful, in spite of good intentions.”

Side Effects

According to research and trials, Alli has very few negative side effects. However, users be warned: eating a meal with too much fat while taking the drug can result in bowel changes such as loose stools, according to the FDA. Side effects typically occur in the first weeks of treatment and can be managed by following the recommended diet of about 15 grams of fat per meal, GlaxoSmithKline said. It is also recommended that users take a multivitamin once a day at bedtime because the drug can interfere with the absorption of some vitamins.
Other side effects may include:

o Oily skin spotting

o Gas with discharge

o Fecal urgency

o Fatty or oily stools

o Frequent bowel movements

Before Taking Alli

Prior consultation with a doctor is recommended before taking Alli. Be sure to:

o Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are allergic to orlistat or any other drugs.

o Tell your doctor or pharmacist what prescription and nonprescription drugs you are taking, especially anticoagulants (”blood thinners”) such as warfarin (Coumadin); medications for diabetes, such as glipizide (Glucotrol), glyburide (DiaBeta, Dynase, Micronase), metformin (Glucophage), and insulin; other medications for weight loss; pravastatin (Pravachol); vitamins such as beta-carotene and vitamins A, E, and K; and herbal products. If you are taking cyclosporine (Neoral, Sandimmune), take it 2 hours before or 2 hours after orlistat.

o Tell your doctor if you have or have ever had anorexia nervosa or bulimia, gallstones, thyroid disease, diabetes, kidney problems, or if you consistently have problems absorbing food (malabsorption syndrome).

o Tell your doctor if you are pregnant, plan to become pregnant, or are breast-feeding.

o Inform your doctor about your medical history including drug or alcohol abuse in order to avert any medical mishap.

Also, people who have had an organ transplant should not take the Alli. Anyone taking blood-thinning medicines or being treated for diabetes or thyroid disease should consult a physician before using the drug, the FDA said.
Is Alli the end-all treatment that will fight the obesity epidemic once and for all? Studies indicate that it may certainly help, yet skeptics are equally as weary about its overall effectiveness. If you are considering taking Alli when it hits the shelves this summer, be sure to consult with your physician first.

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Comparison Between Automotive Oil and Motorcycle Oil

Oil is quite essential for the smooth functioning of engines in both motorcycles and automobiles. However, there are different types of oils which have different types of viscosities and it should be chosen accordingly. In the past, engine oils used in cars and motorcycles varied hugely due to various factors. Nowadays, both cars and motorcycles are manufactured with revving engines that can use automotive oil without any bad effects.

Motorcycle oil Vs Automotive Oil

Although both these can be used in bikes, the engines of both cars and cycles function differently and require oils which are specifically formulated for these engines. Compared to the car engine and bike oils are expensive. Most of the motorcycles include some important factors which enable better performance and durability of the motorcycles. Car oil is quite inexpensive compared to bike. Some of the major differences between these two types is elaborated below.

Viscosity: Compared to the automotive and bike is thinner even though both these oils are classified under the same viscosity. This is made thinner so that it provides better and easier lubrication for small internal parts in the motorbikes.

Price: It is quite expensive compared to car oil as it is highly refined. Bike oil is thoroughly refined so that it provides better lubrication and passes easily through small internal components in the vehicle. As it requires an extended refining process, it is quite expensive than the standard types of engine oil. However, it is important to purchase motorcycle oil for vehicles as it guarantees better performance and higher durability of the engines.

Reduction of heat: In comparison to the automotive oil, this oil is designed to reduce the amount of heat generated in the internal parts of the engine. Moreover, heat is generated in focal points in these engines compared to car engines.

Specifically formulated oil: As compared to cars, bikes require specifically formulated one as oil breaks down faster in bikes due to the continuous meshing of gears. So all the motorcycle oils are designed and formulated specifically for bikes.

Different additives: Automotive do not contain additives which are present in motorcycle oils. Various types of additives such as PTFE or Teflon are included in these to reduce excessive heat and friction. This is coated onto the gears of the vehicle.

Friction: The engine oils used in bikes helps to reduce friction and thereby prevents clutch slippage. It can therefore be used effectively in vehicles with oil-wet clutches. But car engine seldom can be used to reduce slippage or friction.

However, when exposed to extreme pressure and heat, both these types of engine oil breaks down which further causes thinning of the oil. It then fails to lubricate the engines effectively.

Today with technological developments in various fields, different types of engine oils are made available quite easily in most of the online stores. Synthetic oil is another type of automotive oil used in most of the vehicles today.

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