Orlistat 120mg

Orlistat has been clinically proven to help you on your weight loss journey when used in conjunction with diet and exercise. It can help you achieve 50% more weight loss than you would get from dieting alone. For every 2lb you manage to lose through a healthy life style, Orlistat can boost your weight loss by another 1lb.

Orlistat, the generic form of Xenical, works by reducing the amount of fat absorbed from your diet; it is not an appetite suppressant.

When fat enters the body, it is broken down by enzymes called lipases, so that the body can digest it. Orlistat attaches itself to the enzymes in the body so that they cannot break down the fat, which stops about one third of the fat from your meal from being absorbed, so that your body passes the fat rather than storing it.

The undigested fat is then passed through your digestive system with no unwanted effects on your heart rate or sleeping pattern. Orlistat has been tested in hundreds of clinical studies and has proven to be very safe, yet very efficient.

Orlistat should only be used by those who are medically obese; those with a BMI of 30 or more or a BMI of 28 or more in those with other risk factors such as diabetes or hypertension.  

• One 120mg capsule can be taken up to three times per day - just before, with a meal or up to an hour afterwards.
• Do not take more than three capsules a day
• Each capsule should be swallowed whole, with water.
• A multivitamin should be taken a couple of hours after taking Orlistat, or at bedtime to ensure your body retains its necessary levels of vitamins A, D, E and K. Orlistat can lower the absorption of these fat soluble vitamins.
• It should not be taken with a meal that does not contain any fat and if a meal is missed then Orlistat should not be taken.  
• You should see a reduction of around 5% of your body weight within the first twelve weeks; if you have not seen any results in this time, Orlistat may not be the weight loss aid for you. Orlistat should only be used until you reach a BMI of 28.
• Your results can be greatly enhanced  by following a calorie controlled diet and taking regular exercise. It  should be taken with a nutritionally balanced, low calorie diet that has no more than about 30% of calories from fat. Taking Orlistat with any meal high in fat (more than 30% fat) may make the potential side effects worse.
  

The side-effects are usually mild and don't affect everybody, but could include:

• Headaches
• Low blood sugar
• Stomach pain / trapped wind
• Increase in regularity of bowel movements
• Oily or loose stools
• Oily discharge

These side-effects can be reduced by eating lower fat meals.

For more information, support and motivation, visit www.nhs.uk/weightloss

Generic forms any branded medication contain the same active ingredient and are quality controlled to the same standards as the brand name versions. Generic manufacturers have to prove that they are medically identical to the branded product;they are just as safe and effective but usually cost much less.

Patient Information Leaflet for Orlistat