Orlistat 120mg is a prescription-only weight loss aid for adult patients with a BMI over 30 or for those with associated risk factors (such as diabetes, heart disease, high blood pressure or high cholesterol) and a BMI above 28. It is currently the only approved weight loss medication in the UK and combined with a healthy lower-calorie, reduced-fat diet and exercise it can help you lose more weight than by dieting alone.
If you eat an excessive amount of fat or calories, the excess is stored as fat by the body, resulting in weight gain. When you eat fat, your body breaks it down into its simplest components so that it can be digested. Unlike an appetite suppressant, Orlistat reduces the amount of fat absorbed by your body from your food. This active ingredient is what's known as a dietary fat binder.
Contrary to popular belief, it does not bind to the fat in the food, rather it binds to the enzymes in your stomach that break down fats. Orlistat attaches to the stomach enzyme lipase, effectively blocking it from breaking down and digesting some fat molecules. The outcome is approximately a third of the fat in your diet passing through the digestive system without being absorbed. Less fat being processed in the body, coupled with a reduction in total calories absorbed, can lead to weight loss when coupled with a healthy and active lifestyle.
When used correctly, clinical studies have found that it can achieve 50% more weight loss compared to dieting alone. So if you could lose 6 kg on a regular diet, you could lose up to 9 kg with Orlistat. Results are also seen quickly, with it increasing fat excretion from the body within 24-48 hours of starting the medication.
The usual dose of Xenical is one 120 mg capsule taken with each of the three main meals per day. It can be taken immediately before, during a meal or up to one hour after a meal. The capsule should be swallowed with water. Orlistat only works in the presence of dietary fat. If you miss a main meal or if you have a meal containing no fat, Orlistat does not need to be taken. It is not recommended you take the medicine for more than 6 months and if you don’t see any results after 3 months, discontinue the treatment. If, after 12 weeks of taking orlistat, you have lost at least 5% of your starting weight, you can continue taking orlistat for as long as you need.
Orlistat can take around 24-48 hours to start working when you first start taking it. You should start to see weight loss results within a few weeks of taking orlistat, as long as you take it properly.
Xenical can hinder the absorption of fat-soluble vitamins (A, D, E and K). Patients are advised to take a daily multivitamin as part of their diet. The multivitamin should be taken at least 2 hours after taking Orlistat or before going to bed.
Always use this medication exactly as your clinician has told you. Check with our clinical team or your GP or pharmacist if you are not sure.
Medicines and their possible side effects can affect individual people in different ways. The following are some of the side effects that are known to be associated with this medicine. Just because a side effect is stated here, it does not mean that all people using this medicine will experience that or any side effect.
The majority of the common side effects experienced with Orlistat are related to the way it works in your digestive system. These side effects are usually mild, occur at the beginning of treatment, and particularly after high fat meals. Normally these symptoms will subside as you continue treatment and follow your recommended diet. Such diet-related treatment effects may be a signal that you have eaten more fat than you should have done.
The main side effects of Orlistat include:
● oily rectal discharge
● passing gas with oily discharge
● abdominal pain
● low blood sugar
● urgent need to have a bowel movement
● liquid oily or fatty stools
● increased number of bowel movements
● being unable to control your bowel movements
● Headache
Keeping a food diary is an invaluable tool to help you recognise which foods can lead to diet-related treatment effects.
For full information on side effects and correct use, see the patient information leaflet. If any side effects concern you, or you are experiencing any of the side effects mentioned in the patient information leaflet whilst taking this medication, please contact our clinical team or speak to your GP.
Orlistat is not suitable and should not be taken if:
● are under 18
● are pregnant
● are breastfeeding
● have cholestasis, which is a liver disorder
● have problems absorbing nutrients, known as chronic malabsorption syndrome
● are allergic to orlistat or any other ingredients in the capsules
Orlistat should be taken with caution in people with:
● Chronic kidney disease (CKD) and/or volume depletion — the use of orlistat may be associated with hyperoxaluria and oxalate nephropathy leading sometimes to renal failure. This risk is increased in people with underlying CKD and/or volume depletion
Get emergency medical help if you have signs of an allergic reaction to this medication. These include:
● Hives
● Dizziness
● Fast or pounding heartbeats
● Wheezing
● Difficult breathing
● Swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.
It is important that you let us know which prescription, over-the-counter medicines and recreational drugs you are currently taking. You must also tell us about any other medical conditions that you currently have (or had in the past). This will help us ensure the prescribed medication is safe and appropriate for you to take.
For full information on warnings, medication interactions and contraindications, refer to the Patient Information Leaflet. Please read all packaging and the Patient Information Leaflet before taking any new medicine and inform our clinical team or your GP of medicines you are taking or intend to take.
