The truth about weight loss drugs

Are you taking a weight loss drug? Like Xenical, Orlistat? You may be damaging your liver in the process.

U.S. health officials are reviewing reports of liver injury in people who took Roche Holding AG’s weight loss drug Xenical or the over-the-counter version sold by GlaxoSmithKline.

On Monday, the FDA said it had received 32 reports between 1999 and 2008 of serious liver injury in patients taking the drug, which is known generically as orlistat. Twenty-seven patients were hospitalized, and six cases resulted in liver failure, the FDA said.

The company, predictably, says “just because some people who take our drug also get liver damage (and failure!!) doesn’t mean it couldn’t have arisen by some other means.”

They are right in this, but what do WE do? If you are taking one of the diet drugs, you should seriously consider some other alternative until the science sorts itself out. Your liver will thank you!!