Orlistat is a weight loss drug produced by Roche. Its functions are to assist
in weight loss, to maintain weight at a desirable level, and to reduce the risk
of weight gain after a weight loss
Orlistat is marketed under the name of Xenical. It is considered to be of use
to people with a BMI greater than or equal to 30, and also to people with a BMI
of 27 or more and who have other obesity related health conditions such as
hypertension, diabetes or dyslipidemia. It is contraindicated in people with
chronic malabsorption syndrome or cholestasis.
Xenical is designed to be used in conjunction with a calorie reduced diet
(only 30% of the calorific content of the person's meals may be fat) and a
moderate exercise regime.
XENICAL (orlistat) is a lipase inhibitor for obesity management that
acts by inhibiting the absorption of dietary fats.
-- RxList.com
Here's what that means:
When we eat fat, a number of enzymes make things happen to it.
One group of enzymes is called "lipases." It is the lipases' job to
begin the breakdown of fat into glycerol and fatty acids. When Xenical is
present in the gut, the lipases cannot do this job properly and up to 30% of the
the dietary fat consumed remains unbroken-down and so is seen as the body as
rubbish and thrown away.
This "throwing away" can lead to some rather unpleasant side
effects. Listed here are ill-effects some people experienced while taking Xenical.
While not all of the conditions are likely to have been caused by the
medication, it is wise to consider them before deciding to take Xenical
Five percent (or more) of people undergoing double-blind,
placebo-controlled clinical trials of Xenical reported these symptoms:
Gastrointestinal System
Oily Spotting, Flatus with Discharge, Fecal Urgency, Fatty/Oily Stool,
Oily Evacuation, Increased Defecation, Fecal Incontinence
Two percent (or more) of people undergoing double-blind,
placebo-controlled clinical trials of Xenical reported these symptoms:
- Gastrointestinal System
Abdominal Pain/Discomfort, Nausea, Infectious Diarrhea,
Rectal Pain/Discomfort, Tooth Disorder, Gingival Disorder, Vomiting
- Respiratory System
Influenza, Upper Respiratory Infection, Lower
Respiratory Infection
Ear, Nose & Throat Symptoms
- Musculoskeletal System
- Back Pain, Pain Lower Extremities, Arthritis,
Myalgia, Joint Disorder, Tendonitis
- Central Nervous System
- Headache, Dizziness
- Body as a Whole
- Fatigue, Sleep Disorder
- Skin & Appendages
- Rash, Dry Skin
- Reproductive, Female
- Menstrual Irregularity, Vaginitis
- Urinary System
- Urinary Tract Infection
-
- Psychiatric Disorder
- Psychiatric Anxiety, Depression
- Hearing & Vestibular Disorders
- Otitis
Cardiovascular Disorders
Pedal Edema
Orlistat has been found to have no significant effect on the effects of the
following:
Alcohol, Digoxin, Glyburide, Nifedipine (extended-release tablets), Oral
Contraceptives, and Phenytoin
Orlistat has been found to have some significant effect on the
following:
Fat-soluble Vitamin Supplements and Analogues, Pravastatin, and Warfarin
No drug interaction studies have been conducted with Orlistat and
cyclosporine. Since changes in cyclosporine absorption have been reported with
variations in dietary intake, caution is advised in the concomitant use of
XENICAL plus diet in patients receiving cyclosporine therapy.