Fiona, Newcastle
“It feels good to look in the mirror...”
“... and I feel much happier than before. Everything – so life in general – feels better.”
Reduces the amount of fat your body absorbs
47% of people lose at least 5% of their starting weight
Discreet packaging and delivery
Suitability for any medication for this service will be our doctors' medical decision based on your consultation.
alli (orlistat) is a weight loss tablet that is available without a prescription, and works by reducing how much fat your body absorbs from meals. alli can help you lose around 50% more weight than dieting alone.
alli contains 60mg of the active ingredient orlistat, which can also be found in Xenical and generic orlistat tablets, and should only be taken if you have a body mass index (BMI) of 28 or above. It is manufactured by Famar SA.
Pack Size | Price |
---|---|
60 mg - 84 capsule(s) | £129.00 |
60 mg - 168 capsule(s) | £168.00 |
alli is an over-the-counter weight loss treatment containing the active ingredient orlistat. Each alli capsule contains 60 mg of orlistat and should be taken with meals containing fat, alongside a diet and exercise plan.
You’ll need to check your body mass index (BMI) before taking alli weight loss pills, as it must be 28 or above.
alli and generic orlistat tablets contain the same active ingredient (orlistat), but alli is sold under a branded name. Although orlistat requires a prescription, you can buy alli over the counter as each tablet only contains 60 mg of orlistat, which is a lower dose than generic orlistat tablets. Even though you don’t need a doctor’s prescription, a pharmacist or doctor will still check your medical history and BMI before prescribing it.
Studies have found alli to be an effective weight loss treatment, helping people to lose weight 50% faster than with dieting alone. It can also help you lose up to 5% of your initial body weight. For alli to be most effective, you need to take it correctly and follow a diet and exercise plan.
Patients in a study that were given alli tablets alongside following a low-calorie and low-fat diet lost around 5.20 kg, with 54.6% of them losing at least 5% of their start weight after 6 months. Reports from the same clinical research suggest that 'for every 2 kg (4 lb) you lose from dieting alone, alli can help you lose 1 kg (2 lb) more’.
alli pills work by stopping your body from absorbing fats from meals, which instead leave your body as waste to help you lose weight. The active ingredient achieves this because it is a type of lipase inhibitor. Lipase is an enzyme made in the mouth, stomach, and pancreas. It’s used to break down fat from food, which is then absorbed by your intestines.
When you take alli capsules, they stop lipase from activating. This means some of the fat from your meal will not be absorbed. Instead, around a third of the fat will leave your body as waste through bowel movements (poop).
alli stays in your digestive system for around 6 hours. It usually takes 3 to 5 days for alli to fully leave your system. It will become less effective during this time, which means you need to take it with every meal containing fat for it to reach full effect.
alli starts to work within a few hours, but it may take a few weeks for you to see weight loss results.
You can buy alli weight loss pills in the UK from trusted and regulated pharmacies. You can also buy alli online from online doctor services such as ZAVA. Even though alli is an over-the-counter medication, you'll still need to answer some questions about your health before you can buy it, to make sure it’s safe and suitable.
You can buy alli online from our online doctor service. This is a quick and easy way to order alli online and get your prescription delivered to your home, without having to go to a pharmacy.
Complete a short questionnaire about your health, including your BMI, so our doctors can make sure alli is suitable for you. Once prescribed, your alli tablets will be sent to your home, in discreet packaging. If you aren’t sure what your BMI is, you can use our free weight loss calculator.
Yes, alli is an over-the-counter medication, which means it doesn’t require a prescription. However, you’ll still need to answer some questions about your health before you can buy it. This is the case whether you buy it online or from a local pharmacy.
As alli isn’t a prescription medication, you can’t get it on the NHS, although your doctor might recommend it. You can get orlistat on the NHS, which is the prescription-only version of alli and contains a higher dose.
The cost of alli tablets depends on where you get them. You can get alli for £44 from ZAVA along with advice from our doctors and a weight loss support pack. You can also contact a doctor for free from your online account if you have any further questions.
alli is currently rated as 6 out of 10, according to Drugs.com, with 114 reviews. Some of the highest-rated reviews talk about the benefits of using alli while going through menopause, which can sometimes cause weight changes.
In these reviews, the most common side effects reported are loose stools and wind. Some reviewers also recommend eating less fat to reduce unwanted side effects. Most people appear to have had a positive experience while taking alli tablets.
alli diet pills should be taken with meals that contain fat, up to 3 times per day. You can take them before, during, or up to an hour after your meal. Swallow your alli tablet whole and with a glass of water. Never break or crush an alli tablet.
After you’ve taken alli for 12 weeks, you should speak to a doctor or pharmacist if you’ve not lost any weight. You may need to stop taking it. You also shouldn’t use alli for longer than 6 months in total.
You can take alli up to 3 times a day, with 1 pill being taken per meal containing fat. Just because you can take alli up to 3 times a day doesn’t mean you have to. If you only eat 1 or 2 meals containing fat, then you won’t need to take 3 tablets.
If you take more than the maximum dose in a day, speak to a doctor straight away. You should never take more than 1 alli pill with each meal, and never more than 3 in a day. Taking 2 alli pills at once will increase the risk of side effects.
You can take alli before, during, or after your meal.
You can take alli capsules if you’re over 18 and have a BMI over 28. It should be taken alongside a diet and exercise plan if you want to lose weight faster.
You should not take alli if:
Like all medications, alli can have some side effects. Most alli side effects relate to the digestive system and stomach, as this is where it works to prevent fat absorption.
Very common alli side effects include:
Common alli side effects include:
If you get any of the above side effects and they do not go away or get better, speak to your doctor or pharmacist.
“As long as you meet the requirements to take alli, it’s a safe and suitable treatment option. If you get alli at a pharmacy, the pharmacist will ask you a few questions first to make sure it won’t react with any other medications you take or any health conditions you have. You can also speak to your doctor if you want further advice on taking alli tablets or losing weight in general.” – Dr Babak Ashrafi, Clinical Lead for Service Expansion at ZAVA.
alli may cause unpleasant side effects or could react with certain medications. It could also make some medical conditions worse. You should speak to a pharmacist or doctor before taking alli tablets if you have:
If you take an oral contraceptive pill and get diarrhoea or loose stools, it could become less effective, which will increase your chances of becoming pregnant. If you get severe diarrhoea while taking alli, you should use another method of contraception when having sex.
It’s also recommended to take a multivitamin every day while using alli tablets, as it can lower the levels of certain vitamins in your body. This includes vitamins A, D, E, and K. To make sure the vitamins are absorbed, take them at bedtime, at least a few hours after taking your last alli dose.
You should also speak to a doctor or pharmacist before using alli if you take the following medications:
alli should be taken for a maximum of 6 months. If you’ve not reached your weight loss goals after this time, speak to your doctor. They may be able to recommend a different weight loss treatment plan that’s more suitable.
Although alli and Xenical contain the same active ingredient, you shouldn’t take 2 alli pills to make the dose for 1 Xenical tablet. Xenical is a prescription-only medication and taking 2 alli pills at once, or more than 3 in a day, is classed as an overdose.
To take 120 mg of orlistat with each meal, you need a prescription from a doctor who can make sure that this dose is suitable for you. If you’d rather take Xenical than alli, we also stock this.
No, while alli is similar to orlistat generic tablets, there are a few differences when comparing them.
alli tablets don’t require a prescription and only contain 60 mg of orlistat. Generic orlistat requires a prescription, and each capsule contains 120 mg of orlistat.
Aside from Xenical and orlistat, the other weight loss pill on the market is Mysimba. Mysimba tablets work on the part of your brain responsible for appetite to reduce your hunger levels so you feel full after less food, which makes it easier to eat less. Mysimba tablets contain the active ingredients naltrexone hydrochloride and bupropion hydrochloride.
You can also get weight loss injections, but you’ll need a BMI over 30, or a BMI over 28 and have or be at risk of a weight-related medical condition, such as diabetes.
Saxenda, Wegovy, and Mounjaro are the 3 injections currently approved for weight loss in the UK. They all mimic hormones that can help regulate appetite and hunger levels, as well as blood sugar.
Wegovy is a relatively new weight loss injection that’s become very popular. It was adapted from a type 2 diabetes medication called Ozempic. It is a great alternative if you’d rather take a once-weekly injection than take daily alli pills. Wegovy sends signals to your brain that you’ve eaten, as it mimics a hormone called glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1), making it easier to reduce your calorie intake and snacking between meals.
Saxenda contains the active ingredient liraglutide and is taken once a day. You can switch from Saxenda to Wegovy if you’re currently using Saxenda, as it’s currently long-term out of stock.
Mounjaro is the newest weight loss injection and contains tirzepatide. It was also a type 2 diabetes medication but is now approved for weight loss as well. It makes you feel less hungry by affecting the parts of your brain responsible for appetite control, and delays the emptying of your stomach so you can feel fuller for longer. Mounjaro mimics 2 hormones, rather than Wegovy and Saxenda which only mimic 1.
alli is a good medication for weight loss and can help you lose 50% more weight than dieting alone, as long as you follow a healthy diet and exercise plan while taking it. alli only works with meals containing fat and can be taken up to 3 times a day. Certain medications or health conditions may make alli unsuitable for you, but our doctors can check your medical history and BMI before prescribing it.
If alli is not suitable for you or you’d rather take a prescription weight loss medication, we have a range of alli alternatives available too.
alli will work without exercising, although you won’t get the best results from taking it. You can only take alli for 6 months at a time, so you should take alli alongside a diet and exercise regime for maximum effectiveness. This will also reduce the chances of putting weight back on when you stop taking it.
No, you can only take alli if your BMI is 28 or above, which is classed as overweight. It’s not safe to take weight loss medications if you are at a healthy weight on the BMI scale, as this could cause you to become underweight.
You’ll only gain weight after stopping alli if you go back to a high calorie diet. Fad diets only work for a little while, and if you go back to the way you used to eat before, your weight is likely to increase again. That's why patients are advised to follow a healthy diet and exercise plan, as this will help to keep the weight off even after treatment is stopped.
alli will help you lose weight, which may result in less belly fat. However, weight loss can not be targeted to a specific part of the body, so it may not happen right away.
Some people who take alli can get sudden urges to go to the toilet, while others go normally. You may notice that your stools are looser or oily. This is normal and is the unabsorbed fat leaving your body.
If you find that alli is making you pass stools quickly after eating, or a lot more than usual, you can try reducing the amount of fat you eat at each meal, which should reduce this.
For the best weight loss results while taking alli, you should eat a balanced, healthy diet. This includes plenty of fruit and vegetables, proteins, and a small amount of healthy fats. You should also avoid or limit sugary, high-fat, high-processed, and greasy foods. High-calorie drinks, such as fizzy drinks or alcohol should also be limited or avoided.
alli can be taken by men and women, you just need to be over 18 and have a BMI of 28 or over.
We are not aware of a shortage of alli at the moment. If alli is out of stock somewhere, this may just be because the pharmacy or retailer has not restocked it yet.
alli is not hard on the liver, but it can increase your risk of hepatitis, which is an inflammation of the liver. If you’re worried about these side effects, speak to your doctor.
No, you cannot take alli and Saxenda together. You shouldn’t take any 2 weight loss medications together, as this will increase your risk of side effects and may make you lose weight too quickly, which can be dangerous.
Babak studied medicine at King’s College London and graduated in 2003, having also gained a bachelor’s degree in Physiology during his time there. He completed his general practice (GP) training in East London, where he worked for a number of years as a partner at a large inner-city GP practice. He completed the Royal College of GPs membership exam in 2007.
Last reviewed: 29 Feb 2024
BNF (2024). Orlistat: https://bnf.nice.org.uk/drugs/orlistat/, [accessed 09/02/2024]
Drugs.com (2024). alli User Reviews & Ratings: https://www.drugs.com/comments/orlistat/alli.html, [accessed 09/02/2024]
EMC (2023). alli 60 mg hard capsules: https://www.medicines.org.uk/emc/product/6533/pil#about-medicine, [accessed 09/02/2024]
EMC (2023). Xenical 120 mg hard capsules: https://www.medicines.org.uk/emc/product/2592/smpc#gref, [accessed 09/02/2024]
NHS (2023). Obesity treatment: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/obesity/treatment/, [accessed 09/02/2024]
PubMed (2000). Orlistat, a New Lipase Inhibitor for the Management of Obesity: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6145169/, [accessed 09/02/2024]
Fiona, Newcastle
“It feels good to look in the mirror...”
“... and I feel much happier than before. Everything – so life in general – feels better.”
Neil, H., Scotland
“I use the phrase genuinely life changing...”
“... I feel normal again and not embarrassed about my size.”
A. P., London
“At my heaviest, I simply didn't recognise myself...”
“... Today, I feel like my old (youthful) self.”
Anna, Scotland
“I have regained so much more stamina and energy...”
“... since I started taking the medication - the entire experience is definitely worth it!”
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