Be VERY careful with these pills trust me!

sinnocence

Member
I was posting here last year and was losing weight at a good rate, the pills do work but they are so dangerous.

Last summer I started having agonising pains assumed to be bad panic attacks, various trips to hospital later due to these attacks it was discovered I had gallstones, I got these gallstones because I was not eating much fat and my gallbladder became sluggish and gallstones developed, the pains I experienced were due to stones escaping and irritating various organs in my body, mainly my liver.

Soon after I turned yellow, dropped to the ground and stopped breathing, turns out I had pancratitis due to these gallstones, I very very nearly died. Ofcourse afterwards I had my gallbladder removed but I still have horrid pains nearly a year down the line and the only diet I can stomach is bland horrid low fat stuff like I was eating on this diet, I'm told gallstones is a rather common side effect of these pills, NOT EATING FAT IS NOT GOOD FOR YOU.

Please use these pills sparingly!

Sarah x
 
While I can appreciate you wanting to inform others that gasll stones are a side effect of Xenical, gall stones are a side effect of any diet that causes rapid weight loss, Xenical or not.
I've just stopped taking Xenical, not because of anything to do with any side effects, just that my BMI is now low enough, and in all the time I was on the tabs ( about 3 years), I not once had any side effect. I ate a low fat ( not no fat) diet, which I continue now with the exception of 2 portions of oily fish a week.
Like any diet, there is good and bad in all.
x
 
  • Weight. A large clinical study showed that being even moderately overweight increases the risk for developing gallstones. The most likely reason is that the amount of bile salts in bile is reduced, resulting in more cholesterol. Increased cholesterol reduces gallbladder emptying. Obesity is a major risk factor for gallstones, especially in women.
  • Diet. Diets high in fat and cholesterol and low in fiber increase the risk of gallstones due to increased cholesterol in the bile and reduced gallbladder emptying.
  • Rapid weight loss. As the body metabolizes fat during prolonged fasting and rapid weight loss—such as “crash diets”—the liver secretes extra cholesterol into bile, which can cause gallstones. In addition, the gallbladder does not empty properly.
this information is taken from an article on gallstones, even been overweight in the first place can contribute to developing gallstones as can having a diet high in fats, as with any medication there is a risk of side effects but that doesn't make the medication dangerous, ways to reduce the risks when taking a medication is to be assessed by your gp before embarking on taking them as opposed to buying them from another source. I am very sorry you had the reaction that you did but can not directly blame the medication and it would be insensible to do so given that the medication as helped so many people to lose weight, people who would have been in danger of heart disease, diabetes, arthritis and many other weight related disorders had they not recieved the help of a little blue pill
 
There are many causes of gallstones, being over weight, eating too much fat in your diet, pregnancy, losing weight too fast plus many many more, i have had gall stones which i was extremely ill with, but i had mine before the xenical and probably from eating too much fat :( So i wouldnt say out right that these tablets cause gallstones, there are many things to factor into it!! So sorry you suffered so much though, i honestly know how you feel, i also went yellow after suffering for 5 years!! Finally got my gallbladder removed at that point!!
 
There are health problems whatever you do....been overweight is a problem in itself !!

If you look at the information given with all medication, you wouldn't actually use any of these if you were to look at side affects.....

Gallstones can be caused by also dropping below a 1200 calorie diet and not eating any fat at all..........My Father had gallstones and he was overweight and not on Xenical !!
 
I had gallstones that were so painful I thought I was dying at one point,had my gallbladder removed very quickly after being diagnosed.All way before starting these pills.
I also have IBS which has actually improved since starting a low fat diet and again the pills so whilst yes it has some side effects (all pills do) it can also really help with other things.
 
I have a hyetas hernia and was on the maximum dosage of tablets for it, but still was suffering and in a lot of pain....

Since taking Xenical I haven't touched a tablet and I have had no problems with my hernia

So like everything in life ....what side affects some people have , others don't have :)
 
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