FDA Probes Liver Damage With Weight Loss Pill

FDA investigating reports of liver damage in patients taking alli, the only nonprescription weight loss drug approved by the agency.

By: Christian Stapleton | WKRG-TV
Published: August 25, 2009

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WASHINGTON (AP) - The Food and Drug Administration is
investigating reports of liver damage in patients taking alli, the
only nonprescription weight loss drug approved by the agency.
Regulators say they have received more than 30 reports of liver
damage in patients taking alli and Xenical, the prescription
version of the drug. Twenty-seven patients had to be hospitalized,
and six suffered liver failure.
Alli and Xenical are both marketed by British drugmaker
GlaxoSmithKline, though Xenical is manufactured by Swiss firm
Roche.
The FDA says it has not established a definitive relationship
between the weight loss drugs and liver injury.
The agency says patients should continue using the drugs as
directed.