Orlistat (By mouth)
OR-li-stat
Helps you reach and maintain a healthy weight.
Drug classes
Dietary Fat Absorption Inhibitor (About this – PubMed Health)
Uses
Uses of This Medicine
Orlistat is used together with a reduced-calorie diet to help you lose weight and to help keep the lost weight from returning. It is also used in overweight people who may also have diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, or heart disease.
Orlistat works by keeping your intestines from absorbing some of the fats from the food that you eat. The undigested fat goes out of your body in your bowel movements.
This medicine is available both over-the-counter (OTC) and with your doctor’s prescription.
Other uses (PubMed Health)
How To Use
Capsule
Follow the instructions on the medicine label if you are using this medicine without a prescription.
Take this medicine during each main meal or up to 1 hour after a meal.
This medicine works by keeping your body from absorbing some of the fat in your meal. If you skip a meal or eat a meal that does not contain any fat, do not take the medicine. It will not do anything.
Eat a well-balanced, reduced-calorie meal plan. Divide the amount of protein, fats, and carbohydrates evenly among your 3 daily meals.
Read and follow the patient instructions that come with this medicine. Talk to your doctor or pharmacist if you have any questions.
Missed dose: You may take this medicine up to 1 hour after the meal. If more than 1 hour has passed, skip your dose and just take your next dose with your next meal. Do not use extra medicine to make up for a missed dose.
Store the medicine in a closed container at room temperature, away from heat, moisture, and direct light.
Drugs and Foods to Avoid
Ask your doctor or pharmacist before using any other medicine, including over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products.
Some foods and medicines can affect how orlistat works. Tell your doctor if you use medicine to treat diabetes (such as insulin), medicine to treat seizures, or a blood thinner (such as warfarin).
Cyclosporine: Take at least 3 hours after you take orlistat.
Levothyroxine: Take at least 4 hours before or after you take orlistat.
Multivitamin supplement: Take at least 2 hours before or after you take orlistat, such as at bedtime.
When Not To Use
This medicine is not right for everyone. Do not use this medicine if you had an allergic reaction to orlistat or if you are pregnant.
Warnings
It is not safe to take this medicine during pregnancy. It could harm an unborn baby. Tell your doctor right away if you become pregnant.
Tell your doctor if you are breastfeeding, or if you have kidney disease, liver disease, digestion problems, diabetes, seizures, underactive thyroid, or an eating disorder (such as anorexia or bulimia).
This medicine may cause the following problems:
Liver damage Higher risk of kidney stones Gallbladder or bile flow problems, gallstonesBowel side effects can be worse if you eat a meal that is more than 30% fat. The undigested fat comes out in your bowel movements. To reduce side effects, divide your daily intake of fat evenly over your 3 main meals each day.
Take a multivitamin supplement that contains vitamins A, D, E, and K with beta carotene. Orlistat keeps your body from absorbing some of the vitamins from food.
Keep all medicine out of the reach of children. Never share your medicine with anyone.
Possible side effects
Summary More details
Call your doctor right away if you notice any of these side effects:
Allergic reaction: Itching or hives, swelling in your face or hands, swelling or tingling in your mouth or throat, chest tightness, trouble breathing
Dark urine or pale stools, nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite, stomach pain, yellow skin or eyes
Decrease in how much or how often you urinate, sharp back pain just below the ribs, or painful urination
Severe diarrhea
Severe stomach pain with nausea and vomiting
If you notice these less serious side effects, talk with your doctor:
Fever, chills, cough, runny or stuffy nose, sore throat, and body aches
Increases in bowel movements, loss of bowel control, or the need to have a bowel movement right away
Passing gas with oily discharge
Passing oil or fat with your bowel movements or between bowel movements
If you notice other side effects that you think are caused by this medicine, tell your doctor.
Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.
More side effects of this drug
Brand names include
Alli, Xenical
There may be other brand names for this medicine.