Xenical

Xenical is a weight loss pill that you take three times a day at the same time as your main meals to help with weight loss. The active ingredient is orlistat, which can help you lose weight by changing how your body absorbs fat.

You can buy orlistat both as Xenical (the brand name) and as a generic medicine.

Xenical helps weight loss by stopping around a third of the fat in the food you eat from being digested. This fat is then expelled from your body in your poo rather than absorbed.

Xenical works by attaching itself to the enzymes in your digestive system and blocking them from breaking down some of the fat you have eaten.

Always follow your doctor’s instructions about how to take Xenical:

• take one 120mg tablet with each of your three main meals
• the tablet can be taken just before, during or up to an hour after you have eaten
• swallow the tablet whole with water

Take Xenical as part of a balanced and calorie controlled diet that contains an average of 30% calories from fat and is rich in fruit and vegetables.

Xenical works in the presence of dietary fat. This means you should:

• avoid eating foods that have a high fat content between meals; this is because you will not have taken Xenical in these periods, so all the fat in the food you eat will be absorbed into your body
• not take Xenical if you skip a meal or eat a meal with no fat in it; this is because there will be no fat in your system for Xenical to work on

What should I do if I forget a dose?

If it is less than an hour since you ate, take your dose when you remember.

If it has been more than an hour, wait until your next meal and take your dose as usual. Do not take a double dose.

What should I do if I take too much?

Contact a doctor or pharmacist for advice if you take too much Xenical.

As with all medication, there can be side effects from taking Xenical. As your body is working to get rid of undigested fat, it is common to experience changes to your bowel movements.

Most side effects settle down once your body has adjusted to the medicine. If they do not, get worse or are impacting your life, you should talk to your doctor.

Very common side effects of Xenical affect more than 1 in 10 people and can include:

• more frequent bowel movements or urination
• an oily discharge or fatty poo
• wind, bloating or stomach pain
• headaches

Other side effects are less common and can include:

• changes to your menstrual cycle
• tooth and gum disorders
• rectal pain
• tiredness

The following symptoms are signs of an allergic reaction to Xenical. Seek medical help immediately if you experience these:

• breathing problems
• rashes, itching or blistering of the skin
• blood in your poo or bleeding from your rectum
• vomiting

You should not take Xenical if the following apply to you:

• allergic to orlistat or any of the ingredients in Xenical
• chronic malabsorption syndrome
• liver disorder (cholestasis)
• breast feeding or pregnant
• under 18

Talk to your doctor if you are taking any of the following medications as Xenical may make these drugs less effective:

• anticoagulant drugs such as warfarin
• medicines to treat HIV
• medicines to treat depression, anxiety or psychiatric disorders
• medicines to treat epilepsy
• medicines to treat diabetes
• ciclosporin
• amiodarone
• iodine salts and/or levothyroxine

More information is available in the patient information leaflet.

If you are prescribed Xenical by a regulated doctor, like Asda Online Doctor, it is safe to take. You must follow your doctor’s instructions about how to take it.

Always buy medication from a licensed site. Use the UK Government’s Fake Meds Campaign to learn more about buying pills online.

Saxenda is a weight loss injection that contains the active ingredient liraglutide and works by suppressing your appetite.

Bariatric surgery (weight loss surgery) is also an option for severely obese people who meet a specific set of criteria.

The best way to achieve sustained and healthy weight loss is through a combination of what you eat (your diet) and moving your body (exercise). While dieting helps you lose weight, physical activity helps maintain a healthy weight.

For advice and tools to help you, visit the NHS’s Live Well website or talk to your doctor.