Consumer watchdog group Public Citizen has called for the Food and Drug Administration to ban weight-loss drugs Xenical and Lee because of their links to kidney stones, pancreatitis and liver damage.
This is not the first time that Public Citizen has called on the federal agency to ban these drugs. In fact, it’s the group’s second petition in less than five years against the continued approval of this class of drugs. Back in 2006, Public Citizen had petitioned the Food and Drug Administration to ban the drugs. Then, Public Citizen had cited a preliminary study conducted in rats that suggested that the use of these medications causes precancerous lesions. That petition had been rejected.
Xenical and Alli belong to a class of drugs known as Orlistat. These are the only class of weight-loss drugs that are approved by the Food and Drug Administration. According to Public Citizen, Orlistat has the potential to cause severe damage to multiple organs. It’s not even as if these drugs are particularly effective in weight loss. In fact, they have been shown to have meager benefits in obese patients.
California Pharmaceutical Injury AttorneyXenical and Alli have been extremely popular, and more than 50 million patients worldwide have been prescribed these drugs over the last decade. Xenical was introduced back in 1999, and was approved in 2007 by the Food and Drug Administration as an over-the-counter drug. California pharmaceutical injury lawyers have been aware of studies that prove that these drugs only help people lose about 4 to 6 pounds more than they would under a diet and exercise program.
Some common side effects of these drugs include diarrhea and stool leakage. However, the Food and Drug Administration has received more serious reports of side effects, including pancreatitis, kidney stones and liver disorders. Overall, the Food and Drug Administration has received approximately 47 reports of acute pancreatitis, and 73 reports of kidney stones from the use of the medications.