The weight loss drug Alli also called Xenical, bounded onto the weight loss drug market being touted as the "miracle drug" of all weight loss drugs. It was the first of its kind to be marketed over the counter, that doesn't require a prescription. Alli earned major buzz in the media, received a star's sendoff, with an advertising budget well in excess of $125 million, and racked up an estimated $250 million in sales, in its first year, alone.

But something happened to Alli. Sales of this miracle drug have been plummeting every month since its huge release party, back in 2007. And the reason is very clear- Alli isn't the miracle drug it was originally touted. Alli causes many side effects that can interfere with your life. Alli's average weight loss every month is only on average of one pound. You can lose one pound a month, just by cutting back on calorie consumption. Plus, Alli comes with a host of nasty side effects. This drug can cause flatulence that is wet. It also causes diarrhea, anal leakage, abdominal pain, urgent bowel movements, and can increase the risk of contracting kidney stones.

And once you quit taking the drug, you can gain all that weight back.

Alli works by absorbing fats and carries them out of your system, so that they can't be digested. At the same time it also blocks all the essential fat, as well as the bad fat in your body. Some of the fat that your body really does need is carried out also. Those acids include omega-3 fatty acids. This means that Alli is actually blocking your body from absorbing the essential vitamins and nutrients it needs to maintain itself. Taking this a step further means that fat-soluble vitamins such as vitamin D, vitamin E and vitamin A are taken out of your body.

Deficiency in vitamin D has an abundance of ill effects such as gum disease, depression, diabetes, breast cancer, and osteoporosis.

For people who eat a lot of high fatty foods, the results are even worse while taking this drug. It means that it is carrying many of the good things you need to maintain a healthy body, as well as carrying out the necessary fat and even the bad.

It makes one really think if it is worth taking a drug that takes necessary nutrients from your body. It also makes one re-think buying this "miracle diet drug", due to the fact that you would have to wear adult diapers when taking it. It's very much like having the stomach flu, or a disease where you can't control your bowel movements.

In the first three days Alli was on the market in 2007, 12 million dollars was dropped on this drug. In the first month alone, Glaxo- Smith- Kline made 32 million dollars from Alli sales. In the meantime though profits from this drug have stalled, as initial excitement has dropped.

Maybe that's due to having no control over bowel movements. People are also saying that the more fattening foods that a person eats, the more they have go to the bathroom.

With all the unpleasant side effects related to taking the weight lose drug Alli, and the high cost of a month's supply, taking Alli is only worth it for people who have a lot of weight to lose. It is worth it for people who have major health risks, and need to lose weight to avoid major health problems later on. For people who just want to lose a few pounds, it is more advisable to scale back on food portions, eat healthier, and cut the fat out of your diet in the first place.