Problems have been exposed with over-the-counter sales of the slimming pill Alli after a Which? magazine investigation discovered that it was possible for thin women to persuade pharmacists to sell it to them.
In May the consumer magazine sent 7 undercover mystery shoppers into 32 outlets selling the drug, including popular pharmacy chains like Boots and Lloyds. Problems were noted in 50% of the independant pharmacies and 13% of the chains. Analysing the visits, an academic and pharmacists said they were appalled that 4 times, slim researchers were able to purchase the medication.
Orlistat, the medical name for Alli and its stronger-dose, prescription-only counterpart Xenical, is only meant to be used by people who are clinically obese. Misuse can lead to dangerous side effects, the most well –known of which is flatulence and uncontrollable bowel movements.
However in all cases where the patient was the required weight, key safety questions about the patient’s medical history were asked, excepting one instance in an independant pharmacy. Three times, shoppers were not permitted to buy the slimming pill though they fulfilled the criteria.
The senior researcher who organised the study, Joanna Pearl, said that though they had expected to see excellent results after the training and guidance given to pharmacies about the sales of the drug, it was clear that independant pharmacies were still having problems.
GlaxoSmithKline, who make the medication, said that they believed pharmacists were “ideally placed” to provide customers with weight loss advice and pointed out that they had put an “extensive” training program into place to help them decide whether to make a sale or not. They added that they were committed to providing further training.