Discover the Truth About Blue Weight Loss Pills: Ingredients, Benefits, and Shocking Side Effects Revealed!

The pursuit of weight loss has led to the development of various medications and supplements, some of which have gained notoriety for their ingredients and potential side effects. This article delves into the realm of blue weight loss pills, exploring their composition, usage, and associated risks.

Obetrol: A Historical Perspective

One notable example of a blue weight loss pill is Obetrol. Obetrol was the brand name of a drug combining several amphetamine salts indicated for the treatment of exogenous obesity. It was originally sold by the American company Obetrol Pharmaceuticals. Approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on January 19, 1960, under the name Obetrol, it was marketed in 10 mg (blue) and 20 mg (orange) strengths by the Obetrol Pharmaceuticals division of Rexar, an American pharmaceutical company, between 1965 and 1973.

In the 1950s, Obetrol was manufactured by Obetrol Pharmaceuticals in Brooklyn, New York. The company later became a division of Rexar Pharmacal Corporation, also headquartered in Brooklyn. Sometime before 1972, Rexar Pharmacal moved its manufacturing facilities, including its Obetrol Pharmaceutical Division, to Valley Stream, New York. By the 1990s, Obetrol Pharmaceuticals had been wholly absorbed by Rexar Pharmacal and was no longer noted as a division of Rexar.

The ready availability of methamphetamine-based medications in the 1960s led to their use and abuse as recreational drugs. Because FDA considered combinations of amphetamine and dextroamphetamine salt a single entity, Rexar simply reformulated Obetrol to exclude methamphetamine salts and continued to sell this new formulation under the same Obetrol brand name. This new unapproved formulation was later rebranded and sold as Adderall by Richwood after it acquired Rexar resulting in FDA warning in 1994. When Richwood acquired Rexar, the drug's name was changed from Obetrol to Adderall, and the drug was marketed for use in the treatment of Attention Deficit Disorder (in both children and adults). The old Rexar facility underwent extensive renovations and improvements and continued to manufacture the drug for several years. Sometime after 2000, Shire closed the Rexar manufacturing facility, discontinued immediate-release Adderall, and outsourced Adderall XR (extended-release) to a manufacturer in North Carolina.

Orlistat: A Modern Weight Loss Medication

Another medication used for weight loss is Orlistat. Orlistat is used with an individualized low-calorie, low-fat diet and exercise program to help people lose weight. Prescription orlistat is used in overweight people who may also have high blood pressure, diabetes, high cholesterol, or heart disease. Orlistat is also used after weight-loss to help people keep from gaining back that weight.

Read also: Weight Loss Meds & BCBS

Orlistat is in a class of medications called lipase inhibitors. It works by preventing some of the fat in foods eaten from being absorbed in the intestines. This unabsorbed fat is then removed from the body in the stool.

It is commonly used to help people with obesity or people who are overweight lose weight and may also be used for other conditions as determined by your health care provider. Orlistat helps with weight loss by reducing the amount of fat your body absorbs from food.

Dosage and Storage

Orlistat comes as a capsule and a nonprescription capsule to take by mouth. It is usually taken three times a day with each main meal that contains fat. Take orlistat during a meal or up to 1 hour after a meal. If a meal is missed or does not have fat, you may skip your dose. Follow the directions on your prescription label or the package label carefully, and ask your doctor or pharmacist to explain any part you do not understand. Take orlistat exactly as directed. Do not take more or less of it or take it more often than prescribed by your doctor or stated on the package.

Orlistat should be stored tightly closed at room temperature, between 68 F to 77 F (20 C to 25 C). It can be exposed to temperatures between 59 F to 86 F (15 C to 30 C) for shorter periods of time, such as when transporting it. Store in a cool, dry place. Protect from light and moisture.

Side Effects and Precautions

Orlistat may cause side effects. The most common side effect of orlistat is changes in bowel movement (BM) habits. This generally occurs during the first weeks of treatment; however, it may continue throughout your use of orlistat. The most common side effects include gas, oily leakage from the anus, oily poop, increased pooping frequency, and decreased ability to control bowel movements. Eating a meal that has a lot of fat may increase your risk for side effects. Orlistat can decrease the absorption of certain vitamins. Talk to your health care provider about which multivitamin to take while taking orlistat.

Some side effects can be serious. Some people who took orlistat developed severe liver damage. There is not enough information to tell whether the liver damage was caused by orlistat. Talk to your doctor about the risks of taking orlistat. While less common, the most serious side effects of orlistat are described below, along with what to do if they happen.

Liver Damage: Liver damage, also called hepatotoxicity, can happen when taking orlistat. Call your health care provider right away if you have any of the following symptoms of liver damage: nausea or vomiting, stomach or belly pain, fever, weakness or unusual tiredness, itching, loss of appetite, light-colored poop, dark-colored urine (pee), your skin or the whites of your eyes turning yellowish in color (also called jaundice).
Kidney Problems: Orlistat may cause kidney stones and kidney damage that can lead to renal failure. Keep all appointments to have your blood checked. Tell your health care provider right away if you develop any of the following symptoms: decreased or no urine (pee), nausea or vomiting, loss of appetite, pain when you pee, increased need to pee, blood in your pee (pee may look pink, red, or brown), back, belly or groin pain, swelling of your legs or feet.
Gallbladder Problems: Taking orlistat may cause cholelithiasis, also known as gallstones. Call your health care provider right away if you have any of the following symptoms: pain in your upper stomach area, nausea or vomiting.
Severe Allergic Reactions: Orlistat may cause allergic reactions, which can be serious. Stop taking orlistat and get help right away if you have any of the following symptoms of a serious allergic reaction: breathing problems or wheezing, racing heart, fever or general ill feeling, swollen lymph nodes, swelling of the face, lips, mouth, tongue, or throat, trouble swallowing or throat tightness, itching, skin rash, or pale red bumps on the skin called hives, nausea or vomiting, dizziness, feeling lightheaded, or fainting, stomach cramps, joint pain.

Contraindications

People with the following conditions should not use orlistat:

Allergies to orlistat or any of the ingredients in the specific product
Pregnancy
Problems absorbing food (malabsorption syndrome)
Gallbladder problems (cholestasis)

Interactions

Orlistat may interact with other medicines and supplements. Always tell your health care provider about any prescription or over-the-counter (OTC) medicines, vitamins/minerals, herbal products, and other supplements you are using. In particular, make sure that you discuss if you are using any of the following before taking orlistat: cyclosporine, levothyroxine, warfarin, amiodarone, any medicine for seizures, a medicine for HIV or AIDS, or a vitamin or supplement.

Drinking alcohol does not affect how well orlistat works. However, the risk of liver damage may be increased if you drink alcohol while taking this medicine. It is best to limit the amount of alcohol you drink while taking orlistat.

Additional Precautions

Follow the diet program your doctor has given you.
You should evenly divide the amount of daily fat, carbohydrates, and protein you eat over three main meals.
If you take orlistat with a diet high in fat (a diet with more than 30% of the total daily calories from fat), or with one meal very high in fat, you are more likely to experience side effects from the medication.
While you are taking orlistat, you should avoid foods that have more than 30% fat.
Read the labels on all the foods you buy.
When eating meat, poultry (chicken) or fish, eat only 2 or 3 ounces (55 or 85 grams) (about the size of a deck of cards) for a serving.
Choose lean cuts of meat and remove the skin from poultry.
Fill up your meal plate with more grains, fruits, and vegetables.
Replace whole-milk products with nonfat or 1% milk and reduced- or low-fat dairy items.
Cook with less fat.
Use vegetable oil spray when cooking.
Salad dressings; many baked items; and prepackaged, processed, and fast foods are usually high in fat.
Use the low- or nonfat versions of these foods and/or cut back on serving sizes.
When dining out, ask how foods are prepared and request that they be prepared with little or no added fat.

Orlistat blocks your body's absorption of some fat-soluble vitamins and beta carotene. Therefore, when you use orlistat you should take a daily multivitamin that contains vitamins A, D, E, K, and beta-carotene. Read the label to find a multivitamin product that contains these vitamins. Take the multivitamin once a day, 2 hours before or 2 hours after taking orlistat, or take the multivitamin at bedtime. Ask your doctor or pharmacist any questions you might have about taking a multivitamin while you are taking orlistat.

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