I started taking alli four days ago.  I am using it along with following the Weight Watchers plan. Today I woke up with pretty uncomfortable flu symptoms.  Overall aches and joint pain.  I found seen numerous boards ( not alli ) with posts about flu symptoms and just found this information on www.drugs.com  site :

Other side effects that may occur while taking Alli include:

• problems with your teeth or gums;

• cold or flu symptoms;

• headache, back pain; or

• skin rash or itching.

As far as I know I haven't seen these things mentioned here.  I had one other reaction similar to this after buying a new foam mattress.  Severe flu symptoms which increased daily, but one night on the couch and they were almost totally gone.  Needless to say I am concerned about this with the alli.  I was very hopeful it could help jump start my weight loss ( I'm 50 ) but need to be able to work daily and am not sure I will be able to with these symptoms.

What can you tell me about alli and flu symptoms?  How long will they last and should I discontinue.

Laurie 

Hi Laurie,

Sorry that you are feeling this way.  

It is not common to experience the side effects you have listed with alli, but they have been reported by people when they have been taking orlistat, the active ingredient in alli.  

Alli is minimally absorbed by the body, about 2% and it is eliminated rather quick, at the most 72 hours after the last dose.  Alli works by inhibiting the fat digesting enzyme lipase and thereby prevent the break down of consumed fat (25%) and its absorption.  Most side effects from this product are dependent upon the amount of fat that has been eaten.

Considering that you have just started taking alli, you may be exhibiting sensitivity to the product.  It would be best to discontinue use of the product until the symptoms go away and then reintroduce the product.  If the flu like symptoms reappear, you have a sensitivity to the ingredients in alli and should  not take the product.  Another cause at this time of the year is seasonal allergies.

Your health comes first. Hope this helps.

Sophia De Monte RPh

Thank you Sophia, 

I did not take any alli yesterday and today felt about 90% better.  I went to my weight watchers meeting today and had lost 3.6 lbs! -  my biggest loss since starting back at WW three weeks ago.  That was after 4 days on alli.   I believe it was due to my use of alli because I followed WW program exactly as I had the prior weeks.  So I started taking the alli again today.  If the flu symptoms return though, I will discontinue as you advise.  I certainly hope they do not -  I think I could continue to get great results combing alli with WW.  Thank you so much for your reply and the information.  

Laurie