I have been using Alli for about two weeks now.  I have not had any treatment effects up to now with the exception of a little more gas than usual.  I was wondering, though, if your menstrual cycle can affect the Alli plan and the treatment effects.  I stopped taking Alli for about a day and a half during the first part of my cycle.  I normally have intense cramping which will usually will affect my intestines somewhat.  However, this time, I was woken up in the middle of the night with intestinal cramping and had to run to the bathroom.  I had not gone over the recommended 15g of fat per meal when eating that day.  The cramping contined into morning until (I felt) there was nothing left in me to be excreted.  I stopped taking the Alli just to help my system out a little.  I feel fine this morning...no cramping or loose stools...and have gone back to taking the capsules.  I was just curious if my mentrual cycle could have caused this as I had not had difficulty before this.  Thank you.

Elaine

 Hi Elaine. Your menstrual cycle can certainly affect your bowel movements, causing cramping and loose stools. Treatment effects from alli usually occur as loose, oily stools. Was there oil in your stool that morning? Treatment effects are almost always caused by eating too much fat - the more fat you eat, the more treatment effects you get. It could be possible that the combination of getting your period with the alli may have caused it - but you say that you stopped the alli for a day and a half. Was that before you had the cramping and diarrhea? It is tough to pinpoint it for sure, other than to watch how your body reacts to the plan when you do not have your period. If you continue to handle it fine as you had before, and it happens again at your next menstruation, you know it was hormonal.

Hope this helps!

 Yes, this helps greatly.  I have not had any treatment effects since I started to take the capsules again.  I do believe this was primarily caused by the menstrual cramps.  I did not notice oil in my stool that morning but the first occurance was in the middle of the night and I was too sleepy to notice then.  Thanks for your quick response.  I will continue to monitor what I eat and if there are any further occurances.  I will also pay attention to what happens next month.