Hello!

My beginning of my Alli program seems to be coinciding with some intense dizziness.  I don't see any indication on the product that dizziness could be a side effect.  Is it possible there is no connection?  Or have other users reported dizziness as a side effect?

 Thanks!

Hi kecamageo,

Orlistat, the active ingredient in alli, is not associated with dizziness.  It is minimally absorbed into the blood and is non-systemically acting , which means it has no effect on the central nervous system or on the heart or the brain.  Some people can have any type of reaction when starting something new.

Have you made any other changes in addition to starting alli?  It is common to feel dizzy when incorporating a new diet whether it is too much of a reduction in calories or withdrawal type symptoms coming from the elimination  of sugar and/or caffeine, as well as not being adequately hydrated.   If the dizziness continues for more than a week you would need to check it out with you doctor.

Hope this helps.

Sophia De Monte RPh

This is my first day on Alli and I also feel a bit lightheaded and a mild headache.  I realize that it could be the drastic change in my diet so I'll give it a few more days.  Thanks.

 I have been eating healthy for a while now, and when I started with Alli, I was having dizzy spells, after a about a week they seemed to have gone away.

Hello. I know there has been some discussion about dizziness here and I wanted to comment. As stated before, alli is very minimally absorbed and dizziness has not been commonly reported. And diet changes and fluid intake changes can affect you as well, but I wanted to just check if anyone here happened to also take some sort of weight loss supplement when they started the program. I have found this to be common when people start diet plans, including the alli plan, although we do not recommend it. ANY weight loss supplement on the market  most likely contains stimulants or caffeine and these types of products can cause the symptoms you describe.

I know no one mentioned it, but I thought I would ask since it is common and may be something you did not think of as a cause of the dizziness.

Best of health!

Maria Marzella Sulli, Pharm.D.

I did not take any diet supplements before starting alli, in fact, I had started Weight Watchers about 2 weeks before taking it, so I don't know why the dizziness. But since I haven't taken the pill, I haven't been dizzy at all. I also had been getting some dull headaches while taking it.

Hi kerrerik,

How long had you been taking alli?  Some individuals are more sensitive to medications than others and can be more prone to headaches as well as dizziness when starting a new product, but if these symptoms persist or become more severe you need to discontinue use of the product.  It is not uncommon though to feel dizzy and get a dull headache with a reduction of calories or elimination of certain foods that contain sugar or caffeine.

Hope this helps.

Sophia De Monte RPh

Hello, I, too, have been experiencing a little dizziness when I first wake up in the mornings.  I'm a caffeine addict, so it might just be my 'needing' coffee.  Also, cutting back on my calories and fat might very well be making the caffeine more noticeable, too.  As for headaches, strange thing for me is, I used to get a headache nearly every evening, but since Alli, not even a sign of a headache.  Not that I'm saying this is why, but it feels really odd not to have one of my regular 'bothers' as I've had in the past.

 Also, not having a gall bladder, I've had eternal stomach problems with my food digesting far too fast for years since having it removed.  Now that I'm taking Alli, I'm having quite normal bathroom visits, which this is definitely something to take note of.  My surgery was in '85, and not one normal bowel movement since then....until the Alli...there has to be something to that, but I'll not press my luck, because it feels great.

I had been taking Alli for about a week. But, I am also 4' 11'', does that make a difference in how much Alli to take? Should I have maybe only taken 2 capsules a day? I have about 25 pounds to lose. Thank you for any insight you may have.

HI kerrerik,

The alli dose in not based upon height.  You would find your BMI based upon weight and height, which then indicates if you qualify to use alli.  The dosage is the same for everyone, and the amount of fat you eat per meal determines whether you take it 2 or 3 thimes a day (many individuals skip the breakfast dose).

Hope this helps.

Sophia De Monte RPh

Laying down is also when I experienced the worst dizziness.  I would roll over in bed and the room would start spinning so much that my stomach would turn as if I was on an amusement park ride.  I had taken no other supplements or medication that would account for it.  Since stopping the pill, the dizziness has decreased significantly.

Hi kecamageo,

If the dizziness persists you need to check it out with your physician because what you describe is not common.  You say that is has decreased significantly since stopping alli, but it still is there.

Best of health.

Sophia De Monte RPh

My first day on my way to my new Healthy Eating Program.  Dizzy?  Yes, I felt dizzy.  I react to medications.  So, I am going to give this at least a week to see if the Dizzy goes away.  I already know most of us do not drink enough WATER.  I know for sure that I do not.  I believe it is absolutely necessary for this type of pill.  I will do this first before stopping and program that I believe can work.

Are you drinking plenty of water?  (64 oz +1 oz/minute of cardio exercise)  I know a lot of people stop drinking coffee and sodas, but don't start drinking water and herbal teas to replace that liquid.  Dehydration sounds like a little thing, but it can lead to headaches, dizziness, nausea, fatigue, spikes and rapid dips in blood sugar (water is part of the chemical reaction that digests your food, and without it, it does create energy), alternating fever and chills (because your body is desperately trying to regulate it's temperature - needs water for that, too).

 Try drinking 1-2 extra glasses of water a day, and ramp it up if that helps.  If you aren't a big water drinker yet, try adding lemon/lime juice, a teensy bit of orange, grape or cranberry juice, a little bit of Crystal Light-type drinks, etc.  It's not ideal, but it's worth a couple of extra calories if it tricks you into drinking your water.  Drinking enough water and getting sufficient sleep are often-overlooked parts of weight loss.