Orlistat 120 mg Capsules for Weight Loss

Orlistat is a prescription-only weight loss medication that helps with weight loss by working to reduce the amount of fat that is absorbed into your body. It is a generic version of the branded medication Xenical and both medications contain the same active ingredient, orlistat. It is most effective when taken in combination with a low calorie, low fat diet and exercise.

Orlistat can also be taken after you have lost weight to prevent you from putting weight back on.

Orlistat contains the active ingredient orlistat, which works to reduce the amount of fat absorbed into your body. It does this by blocking the enzyme responsible for absorbing fat in the gut. This fat then passes through your body instead and is passed out when you go to the toilet.

Orlistat comes in capsule form and should be swallowed whole with water. It is taken 3 times a day with your meals. To get the best results from orlistat it must be taken alongside a low calorie, low fat diet and exercise.

Orlistat can only be prescribed if you have a BMI over 30, or over 28 if you have certain medical conditions or associated risk factors (such as high blood pressure or type 2 diabetes).

Orlistat is not suitable if you are pregnant or breastfeeding.

You can only get orlistat 120mg capsules from most UK pharmacies if you have a prescription. To get one you can speak with your local GP. Alternatively, you can request orlistat treatment online from trusted services like Asda Online Doctor by starting a consultation, filling out a quick and simple medical questionnaire and paying for your treatment.

If your request is approved, your treatment can be posted directly to you or to an Asda pharmacy for collection.

Can I buy Orlistat over-the-counter?

No, you need a prescription for orlistat. If you are looking for an over-the-counter weight-loss medication, alli is an alternative to orlistat. You can also request alli from Asda Online Doctor by filling in our short medical questionnaire.

Do not take orlistat if you:

• pregnant
• are breastfeeding
• are allergic to orlistat or to any of the other ingredients of Xenical/orlistat
• have chronic malabsorption syndrome (insufficient absorption of nutrients from gastrointestinal tract)
• have cholestasis (liver disorder)

The use of orlistat may sometimes be associated with renal stones in patients suffering from chronic kidney disease. Make sure you inform your doctor if you have problems with your kidney.

If you have any specific concerns about taking orlistat, speak with your doctor.

Just like any medication, orlistat has side effects. Very common side effects (that affects more than 1 in 10 patients) include headache, abdominal pain or discomfort, urgent need to open the bowels, flatulence (wind) with discharge, oily discharge, oily or fatty stools, iquid stools, low blood sugar levels (experienced by people with type 2 diabetes)

Please note that this medication can cause changes in your bowel habits. This is due to how the medication works by eliminating undigested fat in your poo (stools).

For further information on side effects please see the patient information leaflet.

Some medications can react with each other, causing them not to work properly or causing side effects. When approving orlistat treatment a doctor will check what other medications you’re taking to make sure they won’t interact with each other. Tell your doctor if you are taking or have recently taken:

• anticoagulant drugs (e.g. warfarin)
• acarbose (used to treat type 2 diabetes mellitus)
• ciclosporin
• iodine salts and/or levothyroxine (for cases of hypothyroidism)
• amiodarone
• medications to treat HIV
• medication for depression, psychiatric disorders or anxiousness

Xenical

Xenical is the branded form of orlistat. You would need a prescription to take Xenical. Our doctors can review your situation using our brief online questionnaire and see if it is right for you.

alli

alli is an over-the-counter treatment that also contains orlistat, but at a reduced dose (60mg instead of 120mg). It is used to treat adults over 18 years of age with a BMI index of 28 or above. alli can help you lose weight when taken three times a day with meals in combination with a reduced calorie diet and exercise.

Mysimba

Mysimba pills are prescription-only. Mysimba contains 2 active ingredients, naltrexone and bupropion. They work by affecting the part of the brain that controls appetite and energy levels, reducing your appetite and making you feel fuller after eating less. It only works effectively alongside a healthy diet and exercise.

Mounjaro

Mounjaro is a prescription-only treatment for weight loss and type 2 diabetes. It comes as a weekly self-injectable pen and contains the active ingredient tirezepatide. It works by reducing your appetite and slowing down the emptying of the stomach after a meal, aiding weight-loss by keeping you fuller for longer.

Wegovy

Wegovy is a prescription-only weight-loss treatment. It contains the active ingredient semaglutide which is similar to the natural hormone that our bodies produce to make us feel full after eating. You inject Wegovy once a week with or without food and it is recommended that you take it at the same time each week.

If you have questions about the alternatives to orlistat, speak with your doctor.

Looking for online advice on weight loss medications? After a short medical questionnaire, one of our online doctors can assess which treatments are suited to you.