Xenical orlistat is a weight loss drug for obesity management and helps in weight loss when used in adjunct to a reduced-calorie diet. Orlistat is a dark-blue, hard-gelatine capsule containing powder. Active ingredient of Xenical is orlistat.
How does orlistat help?
Orlistat helps in reduction of the risk for weight regain after prior weight loss. Only obese patients can take orlistat, with an initial body mass index (BMI) ≥30 kg/m2 or ≥27 kg/m2 in the presence of other risk factors (e.g., hypertension, diabetes, and dyslipidaemia) can take orlistat to lose at least 5% to 10% of their baseline body weight.
What is BMI?
BMI is your body mass index and can determine whether orlistat would be helpful to you. Only if you know your BMI you can know whether you are obese/overweight or healthy. BMI is calculated by dividing weight by height in meters squared. For example, a person who weighs 180 lbs and is 5’5” would have a BMI of 30 and would be obese and suitable for orlistat.
Can I take orlistat?
If you are obese or overweight with associated risk factors, you can take orlistat. However, only a doctor can decide if orlistat will be safe and effective for you or not.
How is orlistat used?
The recommended dose of orlistat is one 120-mg capsule thrice a day with each main meal containing fat (during or up to an hour after the meal). If you take more than 120-mg dosage of orlistat then it is not going to yield more benefits. You should take a nutritionally balanced, reduced-calorie diet that contains approximately 30% of calories from fat when you take orlistat.
Do I have to plan my meals around orlistat?
You have to a balanced meal when you take orlistat. Your daily intake of fats, carbohydrates, and proteins should be distributed over three main meals with orlistat. If a meal is missed or contains no fat, the dose of orlistat should be omitted.
Do I have to take multi-vitamins with orlistat?
Orlistat reduces the absorption of some fat-soluble vitamins and beta-carotene. This may cheat your body of essential vitamins. Therefore, you should take multivitamin tablets containing fat-soluble vitamins and ensure adequate nutrition to replace those which orlistat removes. Take you vitamin tablets at least 2 hours before or after taking orlistat, such as at bedtime or immediately after rising in the morning.
How is orlistat different from other weight loss drugs?
Unlike Orlistat, most of the weight loss drugs currently in the market work by affecting the central nervous system or the brain. This method of weight loss may lead to many serious side effects which orlistat does not have. Orlistat in Xenical works in the intestinal tract in the body and though its side effects can be embarrassing, it is less serious.
What are the side effects of orlistat?
As all prescription treatments cause some side effects, orlistat also causes few side effects. Some of the side effects of orlistat are oily stools, flatulence and more frequent bowel movements. These side effects are temporary in nature and mostly go away within few days of taking orlistat as your body adjusts to the medicine.
When will I see the results of orlistat?
This is the most important question for every person who takes orlistat. You might see results in two weeks after taking orlistat and weight loss may continue for six months to a year, weight loss may stop but orlistat may help you to maintain weight. Safety of orlistat is not measured beyond two years.
