What does xenical do

Talk to your doctor or pharmacist about taking a multivitamin supplement. If you are already on a multivitamin, take it at least 2 hours before or after taking orlistat, or take it at bedtime.

Pregnancy: Orlistat has not been adequately studied in pregnant women. This medication should not be used during pregnancy unless the benefits outweigh the risks. If you become pregnant while taking this medication, contact your doctor immediately.

Breast-feeding: It is not known if orlistat passes into breast milk. If you are a breast-feeding mother and taking this medication, it may affect your baby. Talk to your doctor about whether you should continue breast-feeding. Children: The safety and effectiveness of orlistat have not been established for use in children less than 12 years of age.

If you are taking any of these medications, speak with your doctor or pharmacist. Depending on your specific circumstances, your doctor may want you to:. An interaction between two medications does not always mean that you must stop taking one of them. Speak to your doctor about how any drug interactions are being managed or should be managed. Medications other than those listed above may interact with this medication.

Tell your doctor or prescriber about all prescription, over-the-counter non-prescription and herbal medications you are taking. Also tell them about any supplements you take. Since caffeine, alcohol, the nicotine from cigarettes, or street drugs can affect the action of many medications, you should let your prescriber know if you use them. All material copyright MediResource Inc. Terms and conditions of use. The contents herein are for informational purposes only. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.

Source: www. About this Medication. If any of the following happen, tell your doctor immediately or go to Accident and Emergency at your nearest hospital:. The above list includes very serious side effects. You may need urgent medical attention or hospitalisation. These side effects are very rare if consistent with the frequencies in the PI. View more information about myVMC.

Please be aware that we do not give advice on your individual medical condition, if you want advice please see your treating physician. Parenting information is available at Parenthub. Are you a Health Professional?

Jump over to the doctors only platform. Click Here. Generic Name: orlistat Product Name: Xenical Indication: What Xenical is used for Xenical is used to treat people who are obese BMI 30 or higher or overweight BMI 27 or higher with other risk factors eg high blood pressure , high cholesterol , high blood lipid profile. Ask your pharmacist or doctor if you have any questions about obesity-related risk factors. Xenical is not addictive. Action: How Xenical works Xenical contains the active ingredient orlistat.

Xenical belongs to a group of medicines called lipase inhibitors. Each Xenical capsule contains mg orlistat. The capsule shell contains gelatin, indigo carmine [], and titanium dioxide []. The printing ink contains shellac, lecithin [], dimethicone , and iron oxide black []. Xenical does not contain sucrose, gluten, tartrazine or any other azo dyes.

Dose advice: How to use Xenical Before you take Xenical When you must not take it Do not take Xenical if: You have had an allergic reaction to Xenical orlistat or any ingredients listed here; Your body does not absorb essential nutrients as well as it should. This is called chronic malabsorption syndrome; You have certain pancreatic problems; You have had recent major surgery to your stomach or intestines; You have a blockage of your bile duct gallstones ; If the packaging is torn or shows signs of tampering or the capsules do not look quite right; If the expiry date EXP printed on the pack has passed.

If you take this medicine after the expiry date has passed, it may not work as well. If you are not sure if you should be taking Xenical, talk to your pharmacist or doctor. Do not give Xenical to children or adolescents under 18 years of age. The safety and effectiveness in children have not been established. Before you start to take it Tell your pharmacist or doctor if: You are pregnant or plan to become pregnant.

It is not known whether Xenical is harmful to an unborn baby when taken by a pregnant woman. It is not generally recommended for use in pregnant women unless the benefits of treatment outweigh the risk to the unborn baby; You are breastfeeding or intend to breastfeed. It is not known whether Xenical passes into breast milk. You should not breast-feed while taking Xenical; You have vitamin deficiencies; You have kidney stones; You have any allergies to any other substances, such as foods, preservatives or dyes; You have peptic stomach ulcer disease; You receive long-term treatment for mental or nerve disorders; You have symptomatic cholelithiasis painful gallstones ; You have post-surgical adhesions; You have an eating disorder; You take large doses of laxatives; You have epilepsy or suffer from fits; You have significant heart, kidney, liver, gastrointestinal or endocrine disorders; You have any other health problems.

Taking other medicines Because weight loss has many beneficial effects, it may also affect the dose of medication taken for conditions such as high cholesterol or diabetes. These include: Cyclosporin, a transplant rejection drug; Amiodarone, a medicine used to treat irregular heartbeat; Warfarin or other anticoagulants, medicines that prevent blood clots; Acarbose, a medicine used to treat diabetes; Medicines used to treat epilepsy or fits; Other weight-loss medicines; Some vitamin supplements.

These medicines may be affected by Xenical. Your pharmacist or doctor will advise you. Ask your pharmacist or doctor if you are not sure about this list of medicines. How to take Xenical How much to take Follow all directions given to you by your pharmacist and doctor carefully. They may differ from the information contained here. Take Xenical exactly as your pharmacist or doctor has prescribed.

Taking more than the recommended dose will not provide an additional benefit. Use by people under 18 years of age is not recommended except on medical advice. Xenical is taken when you're eating fatty food, so you'll usually take a capsule with each of the three main meals a day unless you know the meal you're eating contains no fat. You must limit the fat that you eat in a day to less than 12g in each meal, and no more than 40g per day.

A really fatty meal can result in some unpleasant side effects. A clinical trial has found that participants who took Xenical three times a day lost an average of 4. A longer term study over four years showed a weight loss of 5. Because you don't absorb all the fat you eat when taking Xenical, the most common side effects are gastro-intestinal problems, including:.

Xenical also affects the amount of fat-soluble vitamins and beta-carotene you absorb, so a vitamin supplement taken at least two hours before or after a dose of Xenical may be needed. Xenical isn't currently recommended for children or teenagers under 18 years or adults over 74 years of age.

Xenical is available from pharmacies. You don't need a prescription , but before it can be sold pharmacists are supposed to assess you for suitability. They're expected to check:. If Xenical is dispensed, pharmacists should then give counselling on points including dosage, side effects and lifestyle modifications required including diet and exercise. However, we recommend seeing your doctor before getting Xenical. It's always sensible to be fully checked out before trying any new medication — your GP is the best person to advise you on your situation and help you decide on the best and safest way to tackle your problem.

Originally when it went on sale in Australia, Xenical was a schedule 4 S4, "prescription only" drug. But in October it was granted schedule 3 S3, "pharmacist only" status, which meant it no longer requires a prescription.

Xenical has an important place in helping people who are obese or who are overweight with obesity-related health problems. But we're concerned that its S3 status means that Xenical is too easily accessed by people who shouldn't be taking it. The active ingredient in Alli, orlistat, causes gastrointestinal side effects related to undigested fats passing through your digestive system. They generally subside over time and with appropriate use of the medication. These side effects include:. Before taking Alli, talk with your doctor about possible interactions with other medications, particularly if you take medications for any of the following conditions:.

A weight-loss plan with diet, exercise and drug therapy is generally considered successful if you lose about 1 pound 0. If the treatment is successful, you are more likely to keep weight off or lose more weight if you continue with the diet, exercise and drug treatment plan.

Most weight loss with the medication occurs within the first few months. If you have adhered to the diet and exercise plan and have not lost at least 5 percent of your initial body weight within a few months, continuing the medication may be of little benefit. If you haven't lost 5 percent of your body weight within a year on the plan, discontinuing the drug would be a reasonable choice.

The risks, side effects and cost associated with taking the medication likely override any potential benefit. Alli isn't an easy answer to weight loss.

Losing weight and keeping it off require a commitment to eat a healthy diet and get regular physical activity. Work with your doctor to evaluate the potential benefits and risks of Alli or any other weight-loss drugs. As a team, you and your doctor can create the right weight-loss plan for you. There is a problem with information submitted for this request. Sign up for free, and stay up-to-date on research advancements, health tips and current health topics, like COVID, plus expert advice on managing your health.

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