Xenical Lawsuits

Xenical Lawsuit Information

Xenical is a prescription drug manufactured and marketed by Roche that is designed to assist in weight loss. When taken, the drug works to prevent the absorption of fat into the system. The result is a reduction in calorie intake which contributes to a weight loss program.

The active substance in Xenical is orlistat, also known by the generic name tetrahydrolipstatin. It has been in wide circulation for years as a prescription medication to help with obesity and diet programs. In 2007, another medication called Alli was approved by the FDA for over the counter sale. It is manufactured by GlaxoSmithKline and it, too has orlistat as the active ingredient.

Alli is a lower dose of orlistat than provided by Xenical, which remains a prescription medication. Xenical has been on the market for fifteen years in one form or another, but in the last few years it has become somewhat controversial due to the fact that the FDA has assembled case reports suggesting that liver damage may be associated with the drug.

Thirty cases of acute live distress have been reported, for which all patients were hospitalized and six of which resulted in liver failure. In August of 2009 the FDA announced that it was conducting a safety review of Xenical and other medications with the same active ingredient, to determine just how solid the link between orlistat and liver problems really is.

It is surprising to have a drug like Xenical on the market for over a decade before reports of severe side effects emerge. Perhaps the FDA will uncover additional cases that were not reported or that were misdiagnosed. If you have used Xenical and have suffered liver problems as a result, you should be in touch with an experienced pharmaceutical attorney who can review your case with you and recommend next steps.