Alli Lawsuit

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The popular over-the-counter weight loss drug Alli (orlistat) has been linked to a number of severe, life-threatening side effects including kidney damage, liver damage, pancreas damage and pancreatitis and death.

FDA Issues Alli Liver Damage Warning Brian Williams with MSNBC reports that, “The Food and Drug Administration is putting a new warning on the diet drug Xenical and its over-the-counter version, Alli , based on reports of liver damage by some users. FDA says two people died, three needed liver transplants after using the drugs, which have been used by 40 million people worldwide just since 1999.”

Alli Lawsuit Updates

August 24, 2009 – the U.S.Food & Drug Administration (FDA) announced that they were reviewing new safety information regarding the popular weight loss drug Alli (Orlistat) due to reports of serious liver injury and liver failure.

May 26, 2010 – the FDA issued the following, “Completed safety review of Xenical/Alli (orlistat) and severe liver injury.” In the report the FDA states, “[FDA]has approved a revised label for Xenical to include new safety information about cases of severe liver injury that have been reported rarely with the use of this medication. The agency is also adding a new warning about rare reports of severe liver injury to the OTC Drug Facts label for Alli and is working with the manufacturer to ensure that consumers can understand this new warning.

April 14, 2011 – Canadian researchers published an article titled, “Diet Drug Orlistat Linked to Kidney, Pancreas Injuries.” The researchers reviewed patients taking orlistat (Alli / Xenical) over a seven year period and found that there was a 2% increase in acute kidney injures within one year of starting the drug.

April 14, 2011 - Public Citizen petitioned the U.S. Food & Drug Administration to immediately ban both the prescription drug, Xenical (orlistat; Hoffman-La-Roche), and the over-the-counter (OTC) drug, Alli (orlistat; GlaxoSmithKline), because they expose patients to an increased risk of:

• Severe liver injury, which can lead to liver failure, need for liver transplantation, and death;
• Acute pancreatitis, which frequently results in hospitalization and can lead to death; and
• Acute renal failure secondary to acute oxalate nephropathy, and calcium oxalate nephrolithiasis (kidney stones).

Free Confidential Alli Lawsuit Review: The Defective Drug Litigation Group at our law firm is an experienced team of trial lawyers that focus exclusively on the representation of plaintiffs in drug injury lawsuits. Our law firm represents a number of consumers nationwide that suffered serious side effects after taking Alli and is currently accepting new Alli, Orlistat and Xenical cases in all 50 states.
If you or a loved one have taken the Alli weight loss product and suffered from a serious side effect, you should contact our law firm immediately. You may be entitled to compensation for your injuries by filing a Alli lawsuit and we can help.

What is Alli?

Manufactured and marketed by GlaxoSmithKline (GSK), Alli (orlistat 60 mg) is an over-the-counter medication intended for use by adults in conjunction with a healthy diet and exercise to lose weight. Alli is designed to promote weight loss by preventing the digestion and absorption of fat in food. In the intestine, an enzyme called lipase breaks apart fat in food so that it can be absorbed into the body. Alli blocks the action of lipase, thereby preventing absorption of fat in a meal, and instead excretes it into the stool. Alli was approved for use by the U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) in 2007.

What’s the problem with Alli?

Between 1999 and October 2008, the FDA received 32 reports of serious liver injury, including 6 cases of liver failure, in patients using Orlistat (also known as Alli). Hospitalization was reported in 27 of the 32 cases.

The most commonly reported side effects described in the 32 reports of serious liver injury were jaundice, weakness, and abdominal pain. Furthermore, the FDA has found 47 cases of acute pancreatitis and 73 cases of kidney stones in patients taking Xenical or Alli.

Canadian researchers have recently indicated (see link above) in their findings that about 1 in 50 users of Xenical could be expected to be hospitalized for kidney problems.  This finding may also raise concerns for consumers who are taking the over-the-counter version called Alli.

Signs & Symptoms of Liver Failure

Signs and symptoms of acute liver failure may include:

• A yellowing of your skin and eyeballs (jaundice)
• Pain in the upper right area of your abdomen
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• A general sense of not feeling well
• Difficulty concentrating
• Disorientation or confusion
• Sleepiness

Signs & Symptoms of Kidney Failure

Signs and symptoms of acute kidney failure may include:

• Decreased urine output, although occasionally urine output remains normal
• Fluid retention, causing swelling in your legs, ankles or feet
• Drowsiness
• Shortness of breath
• Fatigue
• Confusion
• Nausea
• Seizures or coma in severe cases
• Chest pain or pressure

Signs & Symptoms of Pancreatitis

Signs and symptoms of pancreatitis may vary, depending on which type you experience.

Acute pancreatitis signs and symptoms include:

• Upper abdominal pain
• Abdominal pain that radiates to your back
• Abdominal pain that feels worse after eating
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Tenderness when touching the abdomen

Chronic pancreatitis signs and symptoms include:

• Upper abdominal pain
• Indigestion
• Losing weight without trying
• Oily, smelly stools (steatorrhea)

Do I Have an Alli Lawsuit?

The Defective Drug Litigation Group at our law firm is an experienced team of trial lawyers that focus exclusively on the representation of plaintiffs in drug injury lawsuits. Our law firm represents a number of consumers nationwide that suffered serious side effects after taking Alli and is currently accepting new Alli, Orlistat and Xenical cases in all 50 states.

If you or a loved one have taken the Alli weight loss product and suffered from a serious side effect, you should contact our law firm immediately. You may be entitled to compensation for your injuries by filing a Alli lawsuit and we can help.