How long should I use Xenical?
The effectiveness of Xenical has been tested for up to two years or a BMI of 25, which ever comes first. The majority of weight loss that will occur over this two year period will happen in the first 6-12 months, however it is important to continue taking this treatment even when weight loss has slowed down as it will be much easier to keep the weight off.
How much weight should I expect to lose?
Clinical studies have indicated that patients can expect to loose as much as 5-10% of their body weight within the first 12 months of using this treatment. However, for this weight loss to be achieved patients must stick to a low calorie diet which consists of no more than 30% of calories from fat.
What are the most common side effects of Xenical?
Xenical is a very safe drug as it only works within the intestinal tract and therefore does not have too many possible side effects, unlike the other obesity treatments currently available. However, as with all treatments there are some side effects, although these are temporary and should pass within the first few days of taking this treatment. These side effects include oily stools, flatulence and more frequent bowel movements.
How do I lose the fat on my body, if Xenical only works on the fat in the foods I've eaten?
By reducing your calorie intake to below that of the recommended daily intake, which is 2500 for men and around 1950 for women, your body will have to tap into its own fat stores to make up for the missing calories. As long as a patient does follow some form of diet to reduce their calorie intake they will steadily lose weight.
How soon after starting Xenical should I expect to start losing weight?
Typically patients will start to lose weight within the first two weeks of taking this treatment and will continue to do so for approximately 6-12 months. After this point the rate at which weight is lost will slow down but this does not mean that Xenical is not working. You should still continue with your treatment as this will make it far easier to keep off the weight that you have lost whilst taking this treatment during your first 12 months without Xenical.
What is the difference between Xenical and other weight-loss medications?
Xenical, unlike the other oral medications currently available for weight loss, does not work on the mind to achieve its results. Instead this treatment works within the intestinal tract to prevent up to a third of the fat that you consume in your diet from being absorbed by your body. The benefit of this is that there are very few side effects in comparison to the alternative treatments out there which can alter mood and in rare cases cause anxiety and depression.
For more information about the differences between the three available oral obesity treatments click here for our obesity treatment comparison table. |