What is Xenical?
Xenical is a medication taken by people with severe overweight or obesity, who have a hard time losing weight. The tablets help to reduce the fat absorption in the body and are effective only as part of an overall diet program including calculated calorie intake, exercise etc. It can also be useful after you have successfully completed your diet and lost significant weight. One of the big challenges is not to regain weight at this stage and Xenical assists in managing weight. It should only be taken by adults. Pregnant women should not take Xenical.
What is Xenical used for?
Overweight persons with a BMI of ≥30 kg/m2 or ≥27 kg/m2, when there is a significant health risk aligned with the overweight (e.g., hypertension, diabetes, dyslipidemia) can take Xenical to support their low-fat diet. Plan and monitor an evenly divided daily intake of fat, protein and carbohydrates. Be sure to stick closely to your exercise routine, the calorie plan and medication as prescribed.
You can continue taking Xenical after you have lost the amount of weight you planned, as long as you also keep monitoring what you eat closely. The medication can help prevent regaining weight, because it blocks fat absorption in the body,
How does Xenical work?
For the body to be able to absorb dietary fats, these first need to be broken down into small enough bits. The active ingredient in Xenical is Orlistat, which blocks the enzyme that breaks down the fats. Instead of being absorbed, the fats are discharged in the bowel movements.
It is essential to cut down the overall calorie intake because Xenical does not stop the body from absorbing sugar and carbohydrates. Fat intake should be about 30% of the meal. If no fats are consumed in a meal, do not take Xenical.
Xenical and pregnancy
If you are pregnant, do not take Xenical. During pregnancy weight loss is not recommended in any case. Taking the medication during this time can harm the unborn baby. It is not sure whether Xenical enters the mother-milk. It is recommended to wait with the diet until you finish breastfeeding your baby.
How to take Xenical
Xenical is usually taken three times a day. Unless otherwise instructed, take one pill during each fat-containing meal or within an hour of it. Do not take if you skip a meal or the meal does not contain fat. No more than 30% of the calories in your diet should come from fats, and the others should come from protein and carbohydrates.
Do not increase the dosage, as this will not speed up the process, but only increase the risk of side effects. The medication can not be taken by children under the age of 12.
What is the active ingredient in Xenical?
The active ingredient in Xenical is Orlistat, a gastrointestinal lipase inhibitor for obesity management. The substance acts by inhibiting the absorption of dietary fats.
What side effects can Xenical cause?
There are a few serious side effects, which Xenical may cause. Among them severe liver problems, kidney problems or gallbladder problems. Please make sure to read the package leaflet before taking this medicine to know when you need to take action and consult a doctor.
Common side effects of Xenical
The most frequent side effects of this medicine are changes in the bowel movements. This may include oily or fatty stools, more frequent bowel movements accompanied by winds, urgency and stomach pain.
Vitamin intake
Xenical can interfere with the absorption of certain Vitamins. It may, therefore, be useful to take Vitamin supplements as part of the diet plan as well.
When not to take the medication
Xenical should only be taken by adults over the age of 12 years old. Do not take Xenical if you
- are not overweight
- are pregnant
- have gallbladder problems
- have chronic malabsoption syndrome
- are allergic to Orlistat or any of the ingredients in the medication
When you use the online consultation at DoktorABC to obtain a prescription and Xenical tablets, make sure to indicate any other medicines you are taking, so the doctor can check for interactions. Also consult a doctor about any kidney, liver, pancreas, thyroid or gallbladder issues and if you have an eating disorder.
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Leaflet info
The Patient Information Leaflet (PIL) is the leaflet included in the pack with a medicine. It is written for patients and gives information about taking or using a medicine. It is possible that the leaflet in your medicine pack may differ from the PDF-version from this website because it may have been updated since your medicine was packaged or the medicine is from another brand.