Belviq vs. Alli

• Are Belviq and Alli the Same Thing?
• What Are Possible Side Effects of Belviq?
• What Are Possible Side Effects of Alli?
• What Is Belviq?
• What Is Alli?
• What Drugs Interact with Belviq?
• What Drugs Interact with Alli?
• How Should Belviq Be Taken?
• How Should Alli Be Taken?

Belviq (lorcaserin hydrochloride) and Alli (orlistat) are indicated for the treatment of chronic weight management in adults with a body mass index (BMI) of 30 or greater (obese) as an addition to a reduced-calorie diet and exercise.

Belviq is also approved for use by adults with a BMI of 27 or greater (overweight) and who have at least one weight-related condition such as high blood pressure (hypertension), type 2 diabetes, or high cholesterol (dyslipidemia).

Belviq and Alli belong to different drug classes. Belviq is a serotonin 2C receptor agonist and Alli is a lipase inhibitor.

Side effects of Belviq and Alli that are similar include nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea.

Side effects of Belviq that are different from Alli include low blood sugar (hypoglycemia), mental problems, slow heartbeat, headache, dizziness, drowsiness, feeling tired, fatigue, dry mouth, cough, back pain, constipation, painful erections, upper respiratory tract infection, runny or stuffy nose, urinary tract infection, muscle pain, sore throat, or rash.

Side effects of Alli that are different from Belviq include changes in your bowel function because of the unabsorbed fat, fatty/oily stool, oily spotting in your undergarments, orange or brown colored oil in your stool, intestinal gas with discharge, loose stools, a feeling of needing to have a bowel movement right away, increased number of bowel movements, poor bowel control, stomach pain, or rectal pain.

Common side effects of Belviq include:

• low blood sugar (hypoglycemia),
• mental problems,
• slow heartbeat,
• headache,
• dizziness,
• drowsiness,
• feeling tired,
• fatigue,
• nausea,
• dry mouth,
• cough,
• back pain,
• constipation,
• painful erections,
• diarrhea,
• vomiting,
• upper respiratory tract infection,
• runny or stuffy nose,
• urinary tract infection,
• muscle pain,
• sore throat, or
• rash.

Common side effects of Alli include:

• changes in your bowel function because of the unabsorbed fat,
• fatty/oily stool,
• oily spotting in your undergarments,
• orange or brown colored oil in your stool,
• intestinal gas with discharge,
• loose stools,
• a feeling of needing to have a bowel movement right away,
• increased number of bowel movements,
• poor bowel control,
• stomach pain,
• nausea,
• vomiting,
• diarrhea, or
• rectal pain.

These side effects of Alli may worsen if you eat more fat than you should. Other side effects of Alli include:

• weakness,
• dark urine,
• clay-colored stools,
• itching,
• loss of appetite,
• jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes),
• problems with your teeth or gums,
• cold symptoms (stuffy nose, sneezing, cough),
• fever,
• chills,
• sore throat,
• flu symptoms,
• headache,
• back pain, or
• skin rash.

Stop taking Alli and tell your doctor if you have rare but serious side effects including:

• symptoms of liver disease (such as persistent nausea and vomiting, severe stomach or abdominal pain, dark urine, yellowing eyes or skin), or
• symptoms of kidney stones (such as back pain, pain when urinating, pink or bloody urine).

Belviq (lorcaserin hydrochloride) is a serotonin 2C receptor agonist indicated for the treatment of chronic weight management in adults with a body mass index (BMI) of 30 or greater (obese) as an addition to a reduced-calorie diet and exercise. Belviq is also approved for use by adults with a BMI of 27 or greater (overweight) and who have at least one weight-related condition such as high blood pressure (hypertension), type 2 diabetes, or high cholesterol (dyslipidemia).

Alli (orlistat) Capsules works by blocking absorption of 25% of the fat in a meal and is used for weight loss in overweight adults, 18 years and older, when used along with a reduced-calorie and low-fat diet.

Belviq may interact with antidepressants, including selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs), monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs), triptans, bupropion, dextromethorphan, or St. John's Wort. Tell your doctor all medications you use.

Alli may interact with warfarin, cyclosporine and medicines for thyroid disease. Tell your doctor all prescription and over-the-counter medications and supplements you use.

Belviq is taken orally. The recommended dosage of Belviq is one 10mg tablets taken twice per day. Belviq should be discontinued if 5% weight loss is not achieved by week 12 of therapy.

The recommended dose of Alli for overweight adults 18 years and older is 1 60-mg capsule with each meal containing fat, not to exceed 3 capsules daily. Use with a reduced-calorie, low-fat diet.