Orlistat

Orlistat for Weight Loss

Orlistat is a licensed treatment for obesity. It is often prescribed if changes to diet and lifestyle have not been effective at reducing weight. Orlistat is taken with each main meal of the day and works in the digestive system to block the absorption of fat into the body. This non-absorbed fat is then eliminated from the body through the stools.

Weight loss medication needs to be used in conjunction with eating a balanced diet and regular exercise.

What is Orlistat and how does it work?

Orlistat works by blocking approximately one-third of the fat from the food you eat from being digested. It will attach to the digestive enzymes (gastric and pancreatic lipases) in the digestive system and block them from breaking down some of the fat from your food. Since it cannot be digested, the fat that wasn't digested is eliminated from the body as waste. It reduces approximately 30% of the dietary fat from being absorbed. Orlistat also has a beneficial effect on the carbohydrate metabolism at the recommended dose. 

Orlistat is only intended for use by adults aged 18 and over who are overweight with a body mass index (BMI) of 28 or above.

Is Orlistat right for me?

If you suffer from obesity, Orlistat may be an effective treatment. However, it may not be suitable for you if you have the following:

• If you are allergic to orlistat or any other ingredients in this medicine
• If you have chronic malabsorption syndrome
• If you are pregnant or breastfeeding
• If you have cholestasis
• If you are on anticoagulant drugs
• If you are taking ciclosporin
• If you have diabetes
• If you have liver or kidney disease

All medications can cause potential side effects, below we have listed some potential side effects of Orlistat. However, these do not always occur and are mostly mild in nature. But if you experience any prolonged or worrying side effects of Orlistat, please discontinue the medication immediately and consult your doctor.

Common side effects include:

• Headache
• Upper respiratory tract infection
• Abdominal pain/discomfort
• Urgent or increased need to open the bowels
• Wind
• Wind with discharge
• Oily discharge
• Oily or fatty stools
• Liquid stools
• Increased elimination of stools
• Influenza (flu)
• Low blood sugar levels

To view Orlistat Patient Leaflet click here.

To view PDF patient leaflet click here.

Orlistat is available as a prescription drug and also sold over the counter in some countries. Orlistat is also be known as Xenical.

There are two main forms of orlistat:

The prescription-only form, which is sold under the brand name Xenical. This form of orlistat (120mg) is only available with a doctor's prescription. The over-the-counter form, which is sold under the brand name Alli (60mg). This form of orlistat does not require a prescription but is only approved for use in adults aged 18 years and older who have a body mass index (BMI) of 28 kg/m2 or greater.

Orlistat is generally well-tolerated but can cause some gastrointestinal side effects, such as flatulence and oily stools. It may also interact with certain medications, so it is important to talk to your doctor or pharmacist before starting orlistat if you are taking any other medications.

If you are interested in trying orlistat, talk to your doctor to see if it is right for you.