Xenical Lawsuits

The prescription weight loss drug Xenical, which contains orlistat, has been linked to reports of liver injury, which could be serious and potentially life-threatening. In May 2010, the FDA required a new warning about the risk of Xenical liver problems after identifying multiple reports of liver failure, liver transplant and death among users of the drug.

XENICAL LAWSUIT STATUS: Product liability lawyers are monitoring information about the risk of liver injury from orlistat to determine whether users who have experienced problems may be entitled to compensation through an Xenical liver damage lawsuit.

MANUFACTURER: Roche

OVERVIEW: Xenical (orlistat 60mg) is a weight loss drug approved by the FDA in 1999. It is available as a prescription for obesity management in conjunction with a reduced calorie diet and to reduce the risk of weight gain after prior weight loss.

In 2008, Xenical generated sales of $30 million. A lower dose, over-the-counter version is marketed as Alli (orlistat 60mg). Known side effects of Xenical include oily and loose stools, fecal incontinence, frequent or urgent bowel movements and flatulence, which tend to be most severe when the treatment is started and may decrease with time.

XENICAL LIVER SIDE EFFECTS: In August 2009, the FDA issued an early communication indicating that they were reviewing the risk of liver problems associated with Xenical side effects after receiving multiple reports of liver injury.

On May 26, 2010, the FDA announced that it had found at least 12 instances of Xenical liver injury worldwide, with some resulting in death or the need for a liver transplant. The agency added new warnings to the label about the rare reports of severe liver damage with Xenical.

The most commonly reported side effects were a yellowing of the skin or whites of the eyes, known as jaundice, weakness and abdominal pain. The FDA has not determined that there is a definite association between liver injury and Xenical or other orlistat drugs, but users of Xenical should contact their health care professional if they experience symptoms of liver injury, including:

• Weakness or fatigue
• Fever
• Jaundice
• Brown Urine