Xenical, also known as Orlistat, is a widely used prescription weight loss medication that helps obese individuals lose weight. However, it is important to note that this medication is not a magic pill or a miracle drug. Obesity is a common condition that affects more than 1 in 4 people, and with the increasing prevalence of mental health conditions, it is expected that many people suffering from this condition would become afflicted with more serious issues.
Xenical is used to help in the treatment of obesity. It works by blocking the enzyme lipase, which is the digestive tract of the small intestine that breaks down fat. Xenical reduces fat absorption by inhibiting the action of lipase.
When used along with a reduced-calorie diet, Xenical can be an effective treatment option for obesity. It works by increasing the amount of energy a person is able to receive from eating healthy food. This can help to reduce appetite and improve appetite, which can help to lose weight. Xenical is also helpful in managing diabetes, high blood pressure, and other cardiovascular conditions.
In this section, you will find comprehensive information about Xenical, including its recommended dosage, usage, potential side effects, and drug interactions. It is essential to consult a healthcare professional before starting Xenical, as they can provide guidance on the appropriate dosage and its suitability for specific individuals.
Xenical is usually taken orally with a glass of water. It is important to take this medication exactly as prescribed by your doctor. It is important to follow the dosage instructions provided by your healthcare provider, which will help to ensure that the medication is effective and that you are not tempted to become tempted to lose weight. It is also important to complete the full course of treatment even if you feel better, to prevent the medication from acting on your body inappropriately and to maintain a healthy lifestyle.
Xenical is known for its side effects. These can include abdominal pain, bloating, nausea, and diarrhea. Most people who experience these side effects do not have any serious concerns at all. However, it is important to note that some of these side effects may be temporary and might disappear when your body adjusts to the medication.
In rare cases, Xenical may cause more serious side effects, including:
If you experience any severe or persistent side effects, it is important to contact your healthcare provider immediately. They may be able to provide a temporary resolution or suggest alternative treatment options.
Before starting Xenical, it is important to inform your doctor if you have any liver, kidney, or bowel problems. You must also inform your doctor if you have any heart disease, diabetes, or a history of stroke. It is also important to inform your doctor if you have a history of seizures or other heart-related conditions.
It is also important to inform your doctor if you have:
Before starting Xenical, your healthcare provider will probably need to be aware of any potential side effects.
Orlistat is used to treat obesity and help in weight loss. Orlistat is to be used along with a low-calorie diet and regular physical exercise. Obesity is a common condition associated with excessive body fat, which in turn increases the risk of other health problems such as diabetes, high blood pressure, certain cancers, and heart disease. Intake of more calories than you burn by exercise or daily activities results in obesity.
Orlistat contains Orlistat, which works in the small intestine and stomach and prevents the action of enzymes that break down fat, which is absorbed by the body. Orlistat decreases the absorption of fat from the food you eat. Thus, fat passes through the gut and is excreted in the faeces, which makes the body unable to use fat as a source of energy or convert it into fat tissue. Thereby, Orlistat helps in weight loss.
Take Orlistat as prescribed by your doctor. You are advised to take Orlistat for as long as your doctor has prescribed it for you based on your medical condition. Some people may experience soft stools, sudden bowel motions, flatulence (gas) with or without oily spotting, oily or fatty stools, stomach pain, stool incontinence (involuntary leakage of stools), and runny or liquid stools. Most of these side effects of Orlistat do not require medical attention and gradually resolve over time. However, if the side effects persist, please consult your doctor.
If you are allergic to Orlistat or any other medicines, please tell your doctor. Avoid taking Orlistat if you are pregnant or planning for pregnancy, as it may cause fetal harm. It is not known whether Orlistat is excreted in human milk. Therefore, please consult a doctor if you are a breastfeeding woman. Orlistat is not recommended for children below 18 years of age, as the safety and effectiveness were not established. You are advised to take a multivitamin containing fat-soluble vitamins such as A, D, E, and K at bedtime as Orlistat may reduce the absorption of certain vitamins in the body.
ContraindicationsThe following drugs should not be used with Orlistat:
Omeprazole (Prolixin), Prilosec (Cipro), rabeprazole (AcipHep), emprazole (Accupril), lansoprazole (Prevacid), omeprazole (Prilosec), pantoprazole (Protonix), rabeprazole (Acid), rabeprazole (AcOEv), esomeprazole (Nexium), lansoprazole (Prevacid), omeprazole (Prilosec), pantoprazole (Protonix), rabeprazole (Acid), esomeprazole (Nexium), lansoprazole (Acid), omeprazole (Prilosec), pantoprazole (Acid), rabeprazole (Acid), rabeprazole (Acid), rabeprazole (Acid), lansovidone (Acid), omeprazole (Nexium), pantoprazole (Acid), rabeprazole (Acid), lansovidone (Acid), omeprazole (Nexium), pantoprazole (Acid), lansodipine (Nexz).
This is a product. For a full list of medications, see the information leaflet in the product package.
Orlistat is not recommended for you if:
You have ever had an allergic reaction to Orlistat or to any of the other ingredients in this medication.
Some of the conditions you have include:
Runny or flaky intestinal mucosa
Oily evacuation
Eating a high fat, low-caloric diet
Stopping smoking
Panting on the chest or down the leg
Orlistat may affect the baby. Your doctor will check whether Orlistat is safe for you during pregnancy and breastfeeding. If you are pregnant or breastfeeding, you must not take Orlistat. Therefore, consult your doctor before taking Orlistat.
Background:Obesity is common and often life-long. In the United States, approximately 40 million adults are overweight, with more than one third of the population having a BMI of 30 or more. Obesity is a major risk factor for mortality, cardiovascular disease, and many cancers. This study was conducted to investigate whether the combination of two prescription drugs, orlistat and metformin, would increase the risk of mortality and cardiovascular disease in patients with obesity.
Objective:To compare the effect of the combination of orlistat and metformin on mortality and cardiovascular disease in patients with obesity.
Methods:This was a randomized, controlled trial. The primary endpoint was the incidence of death, which was calculated using the following formula:
Mean Mortality at Time 2 (m) (%)
Secondary Outcome:The incidence of cardiovascular death, heart attack, and stroke was compared between groups by using log-rank test. The secondary endpoints included the composite outcome, including the composite of the following: change from baseline in the International Classification of Diseases and Related Disorders (ICD-9/10) code or score of at least 1 of the International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF), the Global Assessment Question (GAS) score, and the International Index of Body Temperature (IIBT) score.
Results:In the total population of 1,639 patients, the average weight loss was -0.5 mg/kg, with an average weight loss of -0.3 mg/kg and an average weight loss of -0.8 mg/kg, respectively. Patients taking metformin at a dose of 15 mg/kg/day had a lower incidence of death, heart attack, and stroke compared with those on placebo.
Conclusions:The combination of orlistat and metformin was associated with a significantly higher incidence of cardiovascular death, heart attack, and stroke. We conclude that the combination of two prescription drugs, orlistat and metformin, can be considered as an appropriate treatment for patients with obesity.
CitationShen, J., et al. (2017) Combination of two prescription drugs, orlistat and metformin for weight loss.J Clin Med.86: 563-580. DOI:bioinformatics.10.2384/JCML.2017.0079
1. National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute.doi:
2. National Center for Biotechnology Information.10.1355/2018.2017.5.5.63.
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Song, Y. H. and Kim, J. M. (2015)Diabetes Research,11, 1395-1415. doi:10.1355/2017.5.5.63.1. Epub 2017, PubMed1510.2377/1415-8378.https://doi.org/10.2377/1415-8378.4.10.1355/2018.5.5.63.1.19
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You can buy Orlistat (Xenical/Alli) as an over-the-counter alternative to Wegovy in the UK.
However, Orlistat is a very different type of weight-loss medication, and research suggests it’s not as effective as Wegovy in supporting weight loss.
Wegovy and Orlistat are weight-loss medications approved for use in the UK. However, they are different medications with distinct dosing schedules, costs, and mechanisms of action on the body.
Orlistat is a lipase inhibitor. Lipases are gut enzymes that break down fat from food, enabling the gut to transport fat into the body to be burnt for energy or stored in our fat cells for later use.
Orlistat blocks lipases, preventing some of the dietary fat from our meals from being digested. This leads to fewer calories being absorbed, which can support weight loss.
Orlistat is a prescription medication produced by two pharmaceutical companies in the UK:
Wegovy is a weight-loss jab manufactured by Novo Nordisk. It’s a weekly weight-loss injection with semaglutide as the active ingredient.
Semaglutide is a that helps reduce hunger and appetite, allowing you to eat fewer calories, lose weight, and manage your blood sugar levels.
Wegovy is approved in the UK for individuals living with obesity to help them eat fewer calories and lose weight.
The over-the-counter version of Orlistat will cost around £18 a month, so it’s a very affordable medication.
In comparison, buying Wegovy and the injectable pens required for four weeks from Second Nature will cost £229 a month, rising to £299.
Orlistat is an affordable medication that is generally well-tolerated. However, it’s less effective than Wegovy. Wegovy is twice as effective as Orlistat for weight loss after one year.
So, if you’re looking for the most affordable weight-loss pill you can purchase over the counter, then Orlistat could be an option.
However, if you have a higher budget and are looking for the most effective weight-loss injection in the UK, semaglutide is a better choice.
Semaglutide is designed as an additional tool for weight management and, in most cases, shouldn’t be considered a lifelong medication.
Instead, it should be used to help you kickstart your weight loss and healthy journey while you commit to living a healthier lifestyle.
Ideally, we’d be able to lose weight without medication and lifestyle changes would be enough to support weight loss in the long term.
We’d generally recommend trying Second Nature’s before considering a weight-loss jab.
Changing your habits is the most sustainable way to achieve long-term weight loss, and it’s also less expensive.
At Second Nature, we’ve been trusted by the NHS since 2017 to support people with type 2 diabetes and obesity to lose weight, manage their blood sugar levels, and lead healthier lifestyles for the long term.
In 2022, the NHS in the BMJ that compared the weight loss outcomes of five providers in the National Diabetes Prevention Programme.
Second Nature was more than twice as effective at supporting weight loss than the other four providers.
However, if you’ve decided to try semaglutide (when it’s available) but need support in making positive changes to your lifestyle, Second Nature could be an option for you. But it’s worth noting that we have strict eligibility criteria.
Second Nature has been shown in other clinical trials to be relatively affordable. However, it's important to Keep in mind that cost can vary; price can be a factor in the choice of medication.
Stade de France Pharmacy