Diet Drug to be Sold over the Counter in the US

A weight loss drug which goes by the name of Xenical or Orlistat has been approved by the FDA in the US for sale over the counter.

Although it has been available on prescription for years, lower doses of the drug will be on sale from June for about $50 for 30 days supply (90 capsules).

The drug prevents the absorption of a percentage of fat (about 25%) from meals and so reduces the calories which are available for use by the body.

Unfortunately if you eat too much fat when taking it, the drug has less interesting side effects - mainly the need to get to the bathroom - fast. For excess fat passes quickly through the body.

It seems to me that if you can reduce your fat intake to avoid the embarrassing problems you might as well just reduce it a bit more anyway and avoid having to take a diet pill at all.

I'm never very fond of unnecessary taking of any drug - prescription or otherwise - and that includes this one.

technorati tags:Xenical, Orlistat, weight+loss+drugs, diet+pills, lose+weight, eating+fat