Weight loss aid- Orlistat 120mg
Clinical trial data found that approximately 67% of patients who took Orlistat lost a minimum of 5% of their body weight after only 12 weeks , provided that they followed a low carb diet.
62% of which went on to continue to lose greater than 10% of their body weight after just one year.
Orlistat 120mg is a prescription-only weight loss aid for adult patients with a BMI over 30 or for those with associated risk factors as such:
It is currently the only approved weight loss medication in the UK and combined with a healthy lower-calorie, reduced-fat diet and exercise, it may help you lose more weight.
Orlistat is the generic name for the active ingredient orlistat at a dose of 120mg.
The treatment helps reduce the amount of fat absorbed by your body from your food.
This active ingredient orlistat is known as a dietary fat binder. Contrary to popular belief, it does not bind to the fat in the food, rather it binds to the enzymes in your stomach that break down fats.
Orlistat attaches to the stomach enzyme lipase, and prevents it from breaking down and digesting some fat molecules. This allows approximately one third of the fat in the meal not to be absorbed and pass through your system.
Orlistat is approved for sale in the UK as a weight loss treatment. It was originally approved on prescription only as Xenical. The 60mg version was approved for sale without prescription by the European Medicines Agency on the 21st of January 2009.
Orlistat works by blocking the enzyme that breaks down fat in the stomach. This means that fat in the diet cannot be fully absorbed, therefore assisting in weight loss.
When used correctly, clinical studies have found that it can achieve 50% more weight loss compared to dieting alone. Results are also seen quickly, with it increasing fat excretion from the body within 24-48 hours of starting the medication.
Orlistat may be suitable for you if you have a body mass index (BMI) of 30 kg/m² or above; or a BMI of above 28 kg/m² with risk factors such as high blood pressure, cholesterol or diabetes.
The tablets of 120mg orlistat are for those who are medically obese, that is, with a BMI of 30 and above.
This medication is suitable for those who suffer from a chronic disease such as:
You should not take this medication if you are pregnant. We advise you to consult with your GP to see if this medication is suitable.
Take a pill whole with water three times a day, either before, during or up to one hour after meals.
It is not recommended that you take the medicine for more than 6 months. Discontinue the medication if there are no results after 3 months. You should not take a slimming capsule if you skip a meal or if you eat a meal deficient in fat.
Taking Orlistat makes it more difficult for your body to absorb certain vitamins such as vitamin A, D, E and K, as a result these should be supplemented daily. We advise you to consult with your GP if you are taking this medication, to see to it that the supplements you needed are met.
Orlistat starts working immediately. With a healthy diet and an exercise regime, Orlistat can help you lose 5% of your initial body weight after three months of treatment.
It begins to work as soon as you take it and you can see results depending on your lifestyle changes.
Orlistat prevents your body from absorbing approximately a quarter of the fat molecules from your diet. Without this extra fat, your body will utilise the stored fat to obtain energy for daily activity.
Orlistat should be taken as a weight loss aid, not as the centre of a weight loss regime.
It still takes a healthy diet, exercise and self motivation to achieve the goals possible while taking this medication.
It is recommended to avoid a high fat diet when taking Orlistat as it can increase your risk of unwanted side effects.
If taken as recommended by the manufacturer, you should be able to lose an extra 50% on top of your current weight loss.
Orlistat is the unbranded version of Xenical.
Xenical is the branded version of our generic Orlistat and is more expensive. They are medically equivalent and interchangeable.
Alli is another brand of medication which contains the active ingredient of orlistat, however it only contains 60mg of orlistat in each capsule. This lower dose of orlistat may be preferred as it can to reduce the likelihood of experiencing side effects.
However, we advise you to consult your GP to see which medication works best for you.
Yes, if you are having a meal that contains very low or zero fat such as a green salad without dressing, you should skip your Orlistat capsule. If your diet is very low on fat already, you may only need to take one or two capsules per day.
It is recommended to take Orlistat with meals that contain fat.
We advise you to firstly consult with your GP about your potential diet while taking this medication.
Not to worry, weight loss is a slow gradual process. Missing one capsule will not harm your weight loss program as each capsule affects only the meal that it is taken before. This means that missing one will not have any effects for continuing the treatment.
Orlistat does not directly interact with alcohol, so it is not dangerous to drink alcohol when taking Orlistat.
It is however, very important to note that alcohol contains a high volume of calories and will negatively impact your weight loss regime if not moderated. The effects of alcohol can also affect your decision making when eating and snacking.
We advise you to consult with your GP before taking this medication to see if it is suitable for you.
The main side effects of Orlistat include:
You may likely experience side effects that are usually mild, occur at the beginning of treatment, and particularly after high fat meals.These symptoms will subside as you continue treatment and follow your recommended diet.
The most common side effects:
Always read the patient information leaflet before commencing treatment.
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