I have been using Alli since August. I don't over use Alli, only take it when I eat out or have a big amount of fat at home. I eat properly, take a multivitamin made for hair, skin and nail support, plus and extra Biotin supplement. I am careful to take the vitamins a minimum of 3 hours after Alli.

I am a 31 year old female, and am having an extreme amount of hair loss. My hair has noticable thinned out. I had my blood work done at my doctors office, but everything was normal.

 Is there ANY chance Alli could be causeing the hair loss?

p.s. I am not under stress and my hormones are normal.  

I don't know that there is any connection between the Alli capsules and hair loss.  I suggest that you post this on the pharmacist message board - since they're the experts - or call the customer service number listed on the home page of the message board and talk to them about it.

I hope this helps.

Pat Baird, MA, RD, registered dietitian

Hi. I too am experiencing a huge amount of hair loss. I have lost half of my hair since October, and have had to get a medicated shampoo in hopes it will stop it from falling out. My hair was long and thick, almost waist length, and it was falling out at such a fast rate that I had to get a bunch cut off in hopes the weight would be lighter and it would slow the falling out down. I too wonder if the Alli has this side effect and how long does Alli stay in your system?

 I have called the consumer line and they don't have documentation that Alli can cause hair loss. I really didn't believe that Alli was causing the hair loss, but after reading a few other posts, I'm starting to really wonder.

 My hair has thinned out so much that when used to take a pony tail holder two wraps now takes three wraps to hold my hair. I hope that now that I have quit taking Alli, it will slow down the hair loss. I just hope it grows back!!!

Anyone else losing hair? 

I'm glad you took the time to call customer service and speak to them.  I would suggest that you  see a dermatologist to determine what do do about further hair loss.

Pat 

 I have been taking Alli for about a year now.  I don't take it every day but most days.  I pretty much only take it when I eat out or splurge because all my other meals are pretty low in fat.  I have been experiencing major hair loss.  I am only 32 and I do have a under active thyroid but have had it tested to make sure my meds are working properly and my THS is fine.  I am wondering if the Alli has anything to do w/ my hair loss.  I don't want to give my Alli up but will if it is the cause of my hair loss.  I am so uset about this.    

I went to my doctor and had blood drawn to find out why my hair was falling out. He examined my scalp and took blood for my thyroid and for my horomone levels, and all were normal. It baffled him and me. I haven't been taking the Alli as much lately and now my hair loss is slowly declining. I have also been taking Vitamin E, Zinc, A multivitamin, and a Skin Hair and Nails formula to try and get some nutrients to stay in my body. I am wondering if perhaps our hair falling out has to do with the Alli absorbing too many nutrients?

I really hope the hair loss is not an effect from Alli. I have very very thin hair as it is. I'm going to watch everyone's posts on this topic because I can not afford to lose any more hair. My hair started thinning the last 2-3 years of my marriage. Now I'm divorced, but it was a very messy divorce, and I'm on edge all the time. I started with Alli almost a week ago. I have had a hard time sleeping since, and I wake up with swollen hands and fingers. It seems to start a couple hours after taking the Alli. I've lost almost 7lbs since last Tuesday so I can deal with swollen hands lol.

 My hair is falling out to because of Alli i did have long hair now it's thin what is going on. I'm really upset about this i will be calling customer service line tomorrow morning. I know Alli is the problem noting is wrong with me i'm in good health. leslie

 HI-  I have been taking Alli on and off for several months.  I only take it occassionally when I get off track.  I had been concerned about my hair falling out a lot lately.  I did not connect with the Ali because I was not taking that much.  My mom called me the other day and asked if I was still taking it?/ I told her occasionally. 

She told me that my sister in law 's friend ( only 34 ) had been taking it and her hair started falling out drastically and went to the Droctor.   She ended having to get her Gall Bladder removed and lost 30 % of her hair because of the side effects.

I am very upset about this and my hair feels soo much thinner than just a few months ago.  I am 37 and healthy.  Now I am going to get my hair looked at because I can not wear it long anymore.

 I've been on alli off and on since January 1, 2008. I am also losing lots of hair.  At first I thought it was because of hormones (I quit breastfeeding about 2 weeks before I started alli.) But that was 8 months ago, and it's still falling out.  I am a healthy 36 year old.  I wasn't doing as well taking my vitamins for a few weeks there, but I'm working on it and setting a reminder on my phone so I won't forget. I had to get 4" cut off of my hair last week, because I was hoping it would help it not fall out if it was shorter and less prone to tangles. So far it's still falling out. I'm really close to my goal weight, but I'm going to lay off the alli for a while and see if anything changes.  I want to be thin, but I don't want to be bald! I'll keep following the plan and checking in, etc.

 Resding all these messages about hair loss,  I don't think I will be taking

Alli,  I just bought it yesterday......and losing my hair isn't the weight I want to

lose.  What is the policy about getting your money back do you know?

Thanks, NHdragonfly

 nhdragonfly - You may not want to throw in the towel just yet. There are thousands of people on alli and only probably a dozen on this thread.  Truth is, our hair loss may have absolutely nothing to do w/alli.  I have lost some hair, but I've only been on alli off and on (it has taken me 8 months to go through 2 bottles.) I definitely think alli is worth a shot.  I've lost 47 pounds and over 30 inches.  Even if you decide not to take the pills, the alli plan is a good one that promotes healthy, well-balanced eating and regular exercise. It's really the only healthy way to lose weight and keep it off.  Good luck to you in whatever you decide to do.

This is a good comment, dvokm5, and actually millions of people have taken alli since it launched on June 14, 2007.  alli is the safest weight loss drug ever with an excellent safety profile and over 100 research studies.  Keep in mind that the capsules work only in the gut to block 25% of the fat in the meal in which it's taken.  It's doesn't enter the bloodstream or have action anywhere else in the body.

Hair loss can be caused by a number of factors including (but not limited to) thyroid problems, lack of fat in the diet, hormonal changes, etc.

It's important to have a well-rounded and healthy diet that promotes good skin, hair, etc.  The alli diet is based on 30% total daily calories from fat, 20% protein and 50% carbohydrate -- the same as the American Heart Association, the Dietary Guidelines for Americans and other healthcare organizations.

I hope this helps.

Pat

 This is a good point. In the past I did Nutri System and I experienced hair loss, I am thinking that when you loose weight your body reacts. I am not a doctor but I have tried every diet and Alli is working for me. I am having a small amount of hair loss but not dramatic. I am taking extra biotene and collagen because of other meds I take. At night I take a packet of Dr Taub's vitamins, I don't think that Centrum is the best you can do.

            Good Luck to everyone!