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Xenical
What is Xenical?
Xenical (orlistat 120 mg) is a prescription weight loss medicine that works by blocking about 30% of the fat you eat from being absorbed in your gut. The undigested fat passes out of the body in your stool, which helps reduce your calorie intake and promotes weight loss when combined with a reduced-calorie, low-fat diet.
How to Use Xenical
- ➤ Take one capsule with each main meal (breakfast, lunch, and dinner), up to three times a day.
- ➤ Swallow the capsule whole with water, during the meal or up to one hour afterwards.
- ➤ If you miss a meal or eat a fat-free meal, you can skip the dose.
- ➤ Follow a low-fat, calorie-controlled diet while taking Xenical to minimise side effects and maximise weight loss.
Who is Xenical Suitable For?
Xenical is for adults aged 18–84 who:
- ➤ Have a BMI of 30 or above
- ➤ Have a BMI of 28 or above with weight-related health conditions such as type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, or high cholesterol
Xenical is not suitable if you:
- ➤ Have chronic malabsorption or cholestasis (a liver condition)
- ➤ Are pregnant or breastfeeding
- ➤ Are under 18 years old
Your prescriber will assess your medical history to ensure Xenical is safe and appropriate for you.
Xenical Dose Guide
- ➤ The recommended dose is one 120 mg capsule, three times a day, taken with your three main meals.
- ➤ Do not exceed three capsules in a day.
- ➤ Take the capsule with meals that contain fat — skipping it if your meal contains no fat.
How to Take Xenical?
- ➤ Take one 120 mg capsule with a drink at each main meal that contains fat, up to a maximum of three per day.
- ➤ Each meal should contain no more than 30% of calories from fat to reduce side effects.
- ➤ Spread your daily fat, carbohydrate, and protein intake evenly across three meals.
- ➤ Take orlistat during meals or up to an hour afterwards.
- ➤ If you miss a meal, or eat a meal without fat, you can skip your dose.
- ➤ Do not take more than three 120 mg capsules a day — higher doses don’t increase weight loss.
- ➤ Because Xenical reduces absorption of fat-soluble vitamins, take a daily multivitamin (A, D, E, K, plus beta carotene) at least two hours before or after Xenical.
How Effective is it?
When used with a low-fat, calorie-controlled diet, Xenical can help you lose around 5–10% of your body weight over 6–12 months.
Clinical studies show it can also improve cholesterol, blood sugar, and blood pressure levels.
Weight Loss Target
- ➤ Target: Lose 5% of your current weight within the first 3 months.
- ➤ If you achieve this, you can continue with treatment for up to 2 years.
- ➤ If your weight increases during any 3-month period, treatment will be stopped.
- ➤ If your BMI drops below 28, orlistat can no longer be supplied.
- ➤ If you don’t lose weight, you can take a 6-month break and retry, or discuss other options with your GP.
Increasing the Dose
You should not increase the dose above 120 mg three times daily. Higher doses do not improve results and may increase side effects. Always stick to the prescribed dose and recommended diet.
Potential Side Effects
Xenical’s side effects are mostly due to its fat-blocking action and are more common if you eat high-fat meals. These usually improve with a low-fat diet.
Common side effects include:
- ➤ Oily or fatty stools
- ➤ Urgent or more frequent bowel movements
- ➤ Flatulence with oily spotting
- ➤ Abdominal discomfort or cramps
Less common but more serious side effects:
- ➤ Severe liver problems (rare — seek medical advice if you develop dark urine, jaundice, or persistent fatigue)
- ➤ Allergic reactions
Your pharmacist or prescriber can advise how to minimise side effects and whether you need a multivitamin, since Xenical may reduce the absorption of vitamins A, D, E, and K.