Orlistat

Orlistat is a prescription weight-loss medicine available as 120 mg capsules. It works by reducing the amount of fat your body absorbs from food, allowing around one-third of the fat you eat to pass through your digestive system without being absorbed.

Unlike weight-loss injections that act on appetite, Orlistat works directly on dietary fat. When used alongside a reduced-calorie, lower-fat diet and regular physical activity, it can help eligible adults lose weight.

Orlistat is taken as one 120 mg capsule with each main meal containing fat, up to three times daily. Take it immediately before, during or up to one hour after eating.

If you skip a meal or eat a meal containing no fat, you should skip that dose. Do not take an extra capsule to make up for a missed dose.

For best results, follow a balanced, reduced-calorie diet that is lower in fat. Spreading your daily fat intake across your main meals can also help reduce side effects.

Orlistat can help support gradual weight loss when combined with a reduced-calorie, lower-fat diet and regular physical activity.

Clinical studies have shown that people taking Orlistat 120 mg generally lose more weight than those following lifestyle changes alone. However, results vary depending on your diet, activity levels and individual response to treatment.

Like all medicines, Orlistat can cause side effects, although not everyone experiences them. Most affect digestion and are more likely after eating fatty meals.

Common side effects include:

• Oily or fatty stools.
• Wind, sometimes with oily discharge.
• More frequent or urgent bowel movements.
• Loose stools, stomach pain or discomfort.

How can I manage side effects?

Following a lower-fat diet and spreading your fat intake across meals can help reduce these effects.

When should I seek medical help?

Stop taking Orlistat and seek medical advice promptly if you experience severe stomach pain, yellowing of the skin or eyes, or dark urine.

Seek emergency help if you develop difficulty breathing or swelling of your face, lips or throat.

For further information, refer to the Patient Information Leaflet supplied with your medicine.

Orlistat 120 mg may be prescribed for weight management in adults who meet either of the following criteria:

• BMI of 30 or above, indicating obesity.
• BMI of 28 or above, with at least one weight-related health condition, such as high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes or high cholesterol.

Orlistat is used alongside a reduced-calorie, lower-fat diet and regular physical activity.

Before prescribing, your prescriber will review your medical history, current medications and overall health to determine whether Orlistat is suitable for you.

Orlistat should not be taken if you are allergic to its ingredients, are pregnant or breastfeeding, or have chronic malabsorption syndrome or cholestasis.

Tell your prescriber if you:

• Take ciclosporin, warfarin or other blood-thinning medicines.
• Take medicines for epilepsy, thyroid conditions or HIV.
• Have kidney problems or a history of kidney stones.
• Take any other regular medications.

Orlistat can reduce the absorption of vitamins A, D, E and K. A multivitamin supplement may be recommended, taken at least two hours after Orlistat or at bedtime.

Your prescriber will assess your medical history and medications before deciding whether treatment is suitable.

Orlistat can be used for ongoing weight management, provided it remains effective and suitable for you.

Your prescriber will review your progress after 12 weeks. If you have not lost at least 5% of your starting body weight, treatment will usually be stopped.

If Orlistat is working well and you tolerate it, treatment may continue with regular reviews. Maintaining a balanced diet and regular physical activity is important for long-term weight management.

Orlistat does not directly reduce your appetite or make you feel fuller. Instead, it works by reducing the amount of fat your body absorbs from food.

Around one-third of the fat you eat passes through your digestive system without being absorbed. When combined with a reduced-calorie, lower-fat diet and regular physical activity, this can help support weight loss.