Anyone know when xenical or alli will be back in stock ?

Mutly · 08-07-2012 09:54AM #1

Does anyone know whats the story with xenical or Alli ? Hav'nt been able to fill my perscription for 3 months now. None of the pharmacy's have a date when it will be back in stock if at all.

locum-motion · 09-07-2012 11:37AM

Mutly wrote: »

Does anyone know whats the story with xenical or Alli ? Hav'nt been able to fill my perscription for 3 months now. None of the pharmacy's have a date when it will be back in stock if at all.

There is a worldwide shortage of the active ingredient. The manufacturers don't know when they'll have it. That's the only information that is available. It's not your pharmacists fault if they have no more information than that.

RobFowl · 09-07-2012 01:30PM

locum-motion wrote: »

There is a worldwide shortage of the active ingredient. The manufacturers don't know when they'll have it. That's the only information that is available. It's not your pharmacists fault if they have no more information than that.

+1 thats what I've been told as well.

Delancey · 10-07-2012 12:22AM

What are these drugs for , what do they treat ?

Biologic · 10-07-2012 02:11AM

Thy're all the same drug (generic name is orlistat) which helps people lose weight by decreasing fat absorption.

boxercreations · 16-07-2012 07:57PM

locum-motion wrote: »

There is a worldwide shortage of the active ingredient. The manufacturers don't know when they'll have it. That's the only information that is available. It's not your pharmacists fault if they have no more information than that.

There seems to be a lot of back track and mis information about this - if the active ingredient is in shortage, why are Teva in the UK currently producing/distributing it? (Although not distributed in Ireland)
There was an issue with a fit for consumption certificate around April I think, but eventually the FDA came back with the view that the "benefits of xenical currently outweighs the risks" - this does not clearly state that it is safe. Apart from the rather gross side effects of which there are many (20% of users suffer fecal leakage), I've come to the conclusion I'm better off trying to lose the weight on my own rather than be skinny with liver failure. But had it been available when the doctor perscribed it for me, I'd have probably just taken it and never known about all the stuff I do now.

chanste · 16-07-2012 08:37PM

boxercreations wrote: »

Apart from the rather gross side effects of which there are many (20% of users suffer fecal leakage), I've come to the conclusion I'm better off trying to lose the weight on my own rather than be skinny with liver failure...

I wouldn't dispute the fecal leakage bit, but is there any evidence that this is any worse for your liver than say paracetamol (notwithstanding obvious liver implications upon overdose)?

Don't get me wrong, I think due consideration to the side effects should be given before taking any medication, but it just seems to me that people are REALLY quick to dismiss this, and frankly for someone who is severely obese and can manage to control their eating, this could help them improve results and don't underestimate just how important that is.

There are an incredible amount of slimming pills on the internet, and if people tell scarey stories about the only legitimately prescribed weight loss pill, then they may decide to try something else with less evidence and even more side effects.

ceegee · 18-07-2012 12:04AM

boxercreations wrote: »

There seems to be a lot of back track and mis information about this - if the active ingredient is in shortage, why are Teva in the UK currently producing/distributing it? (Although not distributed in Ireland)
There was an issue with a fit for consumption certificate around April I think, but eventually the FDA came back with the view that the "benefits of xenical currently outweighs the risks" - this does not clearly state that it is safe. Apart from the rather gross side effects of which there are many (20% of users suffer fecal leakage), I've come to the conclusion I'm better off trying to lose the weight on my own rather than be skinny with liver failure. But had it been available when the doctor perscribed it for me, I'd have probably just taken it and never known about all the stuff I do now.

Liver failure is not in any way common with orlistat, 6 reported cases out of 40 million patients between 1999 and 2009, of whom 2 died

edit - also in those cases of liver failure, some patients were on other medicines which may have been at fault

Professional Amateur · 18-09-2012 10:35PM

Having worked in a pharmacy I know that there was a major problem with the procurement of Xenical, as medisource (who source difficult to find medicines) could only obtain it from Australia at a ridiculous cost. And i know we had a few people on a waiting list. I havent worked in a pharmacy in 2 weeks so unless the problem has been solved in the meantime I doubt its going to be solved, as the HSE announced that they are no longer paying for Xenical (orlistat) under the medical card scheme. Therefore unfortunately there is no great incentive to obtain the drug...
http://www.rte.ie/news/2012/0830/hse-cuts.html

RobFowl · 18-09-2012 11:48PM

Interesting that the HSE stopped funding this on the grounds that there was little or no proof of long term benefit. That said the (limited) data does seem to show it has a "modest" effect on weight and some reduction of diabetes in high risk patients. No proven beneficial effect on heart disease though.

http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/14651858.CD004094.pub2/abstract

Professional Amateur · 19-09-2012 10:16AM

I think the HSE will take any excuse to cut costs these days...

Anyone know when xenical or alli will be back in stock ?

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