Xenical capsules for weight loss

Xenical is a weight loss pill that you take up to 3 times a day, at the same time as your main meals. It’s used to treat obesity and can be taken if you have a body mass index (BMI) of:

• 30 kg/m2 or more
• 28 kg/m2 or more and you have other weight-related risk factors, such as type 2 diabetes or hypertension (high blood pressure)

The active ingredient is 120mg of 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 weight loss capsules work 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 stools rather than absorbed. This is because 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.

Xenical capsules only work if you have eaten some fat in your meal. If you miss a meal, or your meal doesn’t contain any fat, there’s no need to take a dose of Xenical.

Xenical capsules have common side effects like oily stools and an increased need to open the bowels. This is normal and is a side effect of the fat being expelled from your body.

How long does Xenical take to work?

It can take up to 12 weeks for Xenical to work. You may notice weight loss before this, but your doctor will recommend taking it for 12 weeks to begin with.

If you have not lost 5% of your body weight after taking Xenical for 12 weeks, your doctor will stop your prescription and may recommend an alternative weight loss treatment.

Xenical (orlistat 120mg) has been studied in clinical trials and was found to be safe to take long-term (up to 4 years). It was also found to help 37% of people lose 5% or more of their starting weight after taking it for 12 weeks, alongside diet and exercise changes.

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

• Take one 120mg capsule with each of your 3 main meals, as long as they contain some fat. Never take more than 3 capsules per day.
• The capsule can be taken just before, during, or up to an hour after you have eaten.
• Swallow the capsule whole, with water.

It’s advised by the manufacturer to eat a well-balanced, calorie-controlled diet with an average of 30% of your calories being from fat which should be split evenly between 3 meals.

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

• avoid eating foods that have a high fat content (such as butter, cheese, chocolate) 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 has been 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 as this could increase the risk of side effects and won’t make you lose more weight.

What should I do if I take too much?

Contact a doctor or pharmacist for advice if you take too much Xenical as you may experience an increased risk of side effects.

How long can I take Xenical for?

You can take Xenical for as long as you need to lose weight unless you don’t lose more than 5% of your body weight after 12 weeks. Your doctor will monitor your progress and can help you get the best results from orlistat treatment.

You can buy Xenical online from online doctor services, such as Asda Online Doctor. You may also get Xenical or generic orlistat from your GP. Either way, you’ll need a doctor’s prescription to buy Xenical from a pharmacy.

Does Xenical need a prescription?

Yes, Xenical is a prescription-only medication as it contains 120mg of orlistat. Most weight loss medications require a prescription, although you can get alli (orlistat 60mg) over the counter, but you can only take it for 6 months.

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 particularly common to experience changes in your bowel movements.

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

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

• more frequent or urgent bowel movements
• an oily discharge from the back passage or fatty poo
• liquid stools
• wind (sometimes with discharge)
• headaches
• stomach pain or discomfort
• low blood sugar levels (in people with type 2 diabetes)

Common side effects of Xenical affect 1 to 10 in 100 people and can include:

• rectal pain or discomfort
• incontinence (stools)
• soft stools
• bloating (in people with type 2 diabetes)
• menstrual cycle irregularities in women
• tiredness
• tooth or gum problems

Other side effects have also been reported but there isn’t enough data to confirm how often they happen and include:

• allergic reactions ranging from mild to severe
• skin blistering (including blisters that burst)
• diverticulitis (inflammation in your diverticula, which are pockets on the inside of your colon)
• bleeding from the back passage and blood in your stools
• an increase in some liver enzymes as shown in blood tests
• hepatitis (inflammation of the liver) – stop Xenical and speak to a doctor straight away if you get symptoms such as yellowing of the skin and eyes, dark-coloured urine, liver tenderness, and loss of appetite
• gallstones
• pancreatitis (inflammation of the pancreas)
• oxalate nephropathy (a build-up of calcium oxalate which can lead to kidney stones)

The following symptoms are signs of a severe allergic reaction to Xenical. Seek medical help immediately by calling 999 or going to A&E if you experience these:

• breathing problems
• swelling of the mouth or throat
• rashes, itching, or blistering of the skin
• reduced consciousness or unconsciousness

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

• allergic to orlistat or any of the ingredients in Xenical
• chronic malabsorption syndrome
• a type of liver disorder called cholestasis
• breastfeeding or pregnant
• under 18

Let your doctor know if you have any other health conditions before taking Xenical capsules. Patients with chronic kidney disease or other kidney problems should take extra care, as Xenical use may be associated with an increased risk of kidney stones.

Women taking oral contraceptives, such as the combined or mini pill: The use of an additional contraceptive method, such as a condom, is recommended. This is because oral contraception may be less effective in the case of severe diarrhoea or vomiting, especially if you vomit straight after taking your pill. If you don’t get these side effects, Xenical should not affect your contraception.

Xenical can reduce the absorption of some fat-soluble nutrients, such as vitamin E and beta-carotene. It’s important to follow a well-balanced diet, rich in fruit and vegetables. Your doctor may also suggest taking a multivitamin supplement.

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, especially acarbose
• ciclosporin
• amiodarone
• iodine salts and/or levothyroxine

More information on Xenical interactions with other medications is available in the patient information leaflet.

If Xenical isn’t the right treatment for you, or you want to know more about other weight loss treatments before making up your mind, you can find a list of Xenical alternatives that can be prescribed by our doctors below.

Weight loss tablets and capsules

• Orlistat – A generic, prescription-only version of Xenical containing the same dose of 120mg of orlistat. Also taken a maximum of 3 times per day, with meals containing fat. Works in the same way as Xenical, the main differences are the manufacturer (as it’s unbranded) and the price.
• alli – An over-the-counter, branded version of Xenical, in a lower dose of 60mg of orlistat per capsule. Works in the same way and can be taken up to 3 times a day with meals containing fat. Even though you don’t need a prescription, you’ll still need to meet the requirements for taking it.
• Mysimba – A branded, prescription-only tablet that contains 2 active ingredients called naltrexone and bupropion hydrochloride. It can reduce your appetite and energy levels by affecting the parts of your brain responsible for these. Has a maximum daily dose of 4 tablets per day.

Weight loss injections

• Mounjaro – A branded, prescription-only weight loss pen that’s injected once per week and contains the active ingredient tirzepatide. Mimics two hormones that affect the parts of your brain that control appetite and hunger levels, so you feel less hungry.
• Wegovy – A branded, prescription-only injectable pen that’s taken once per week and contains the active ingredient semaglutide. Mimics a hormone that affects the parts of your brain that control appetite and hunger levels, helping you to feel fuller.

All the weight loss medications above should be taken while following a diet and exercise plan, and as guided by a doctor or pharmacist.

There’s also a weight loss injection called Saxenda that contains the active ingredient liraglutide, which works like Mounjaro and Wegovy to reduce appetite. Although Saxenda is currently long-term out of stock, there’s set to be a generic liraglutide injection released in the UK later this year.