1st post/ xenical

November 27, 2001

Hi Mylene,

The only side effect that i have heard of is a deficiency in fat soluble

vitamins such as vitamins A, D, E and K. This is similar to what's seen in

people using cholesterol-lowering drugs. As long as you take supplemental

vitamins at least 4 hours away from taking xenical you should be ok.

November 27, 2001

Hi,

Have been reading for a while but this is my 1st post. I just want to thank the

group for helping me in my decision not to go thru the RAI. I was scheduled to

have one last June but I backed out after some research on the net and finding

this group. There was no problem with my endo bec. she said there maybe

different schools of thought on this. The American and Canadian doctors will go

for RAI (maybe this is the most cost-effective for their health system) but the

Japanese doctors are wary of anything nuclear (World War experience?) that they

will recommend extended period(even up to 5 yrs.) of treatment with ATDs. I'm in

the Philippines and there is no difficulty and no long waits to get dr's

appointments, so that's a plus in treatment w/ ATDs.

Thank you Jody for your graphic description of your RAI experience. I read it

after I decided against the tx and I was so glad I made that decision.

Has anybody heard of any side effects in taking Xenical(Orlistat), the

anti-obesity drug? I have been taking it for 4 months and I've lost 15 lbs. I

want to stop taking it soon.

best regards to all,

Mylene

__________________________________

www.edsamail.com

November 27, 2001

Hi Mylene,

Welcome to the group as a new poster!!! It will be interesting to hear

about how your treatment goes in the Philippines. Have you talked with your

endo about using the BRT (block and replace therapy) on you? It is widely

used in many European Countries and Japan with much success. Had I to do it

over again, I would find an endo in the states who would use this. There

are more and more looking into this treatment. It does take about 5 years

if I am remembering right. You could do a search in the archives for it.

Type in or _A I think. She is from Spain and she spent a good

bit of time on the topic for me after introducing the concept to this group.

I am glad my post helped you to decide not to do RAI...it is wrong, and one

day the powers that be in countries that, for now, continue to push and use

this are going to have to admit it. Probably not in my lifetime but one

day...in the mean time, we can all work on educating all we can reach on

alternatives to this archaic process.

Take care and please, keep posting and let us learn from you as you move

forward in all of this.

Jody

PS I have heard of the xenical but the side effects they advertise with the

drug scared me too much Make sure to find out if you need to wean off of

it slowly before you just stop it.

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November 28, 2001

Hi Mylene-

I looked in the PDR and it said other causes of obesity should be ruled out

(it specifically mentioned hypothyroidism) before administering Xenical.

Since you're on ATDs, this is definitely something to consider. Many

patients on ATDs become hypothyroid even though their TSH levels are

suppressed. It just happened in Holly's case. She was probably hypothyroid

for a while before her TSH came up.

The side effect that was most common was gastrointestinal upset. The other,

less common side effects, reported were itching, rash, hives, swelling due

to a disorder of the nerves that control dilation/constriction of blood

vessels and anaphylaxis.

Take care,

> Hi,

>

> Have been reading for a while but this is my 1st post. I just want to

thank the group for helping me in my decision not to go thru the RAI. I was

scheduled to have one last June but I backed out after some research on the

net and finding this group. There was no problem with my endo bec. she said

there maybe different schools of thought on this. The American and Canadian

doctors will go for RAI (maybe this is the most cost-effective for their

health system) but the Japanese doctors are wary of anything nuclear (World

War experience?) that they will recommend extended period(even up to 5 yrs.)

of treatment with ATDs. I'm in the Philippines and there is no difficulty

and no long waits to get dr's appointments, so that's a plus in treatment w/

ATDs.

>

> Thank you Jody for your graphic description of your RAI experience. I read

it after I decided against the tx and I was so glad I made that decision.

>

> Has anybody heard of any side effects in taking Xenical(Orlistat), the

anti-obesity drug? I have been taking it for 4 months and I've lost 15 lbs.

I want to stop taking it soon.

>

> best regards to all,

> Mylene

>

> __________________________________

> www.edsamail.com

>

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November 28, 2001

P.S. The PDR also mentioned a problem with fat soluble vitamins that Elaine

already talked about.