Description
Active Ingredients: Orlistat
Typical Brand Names: Xenical, Orlistat,
Dosage, 2 to 3 pills daily or as directed by your doctor
XENICAL At Work:
If you eat an excessive amount of fat or calories, the excess is stored as fat by the body, resulting in weight gain. When you eat fat, your body breaks it down into its simplest components so that it can be digested.
Unlike other weight-loss drugs you may have heard about that act in the brain or central nervous system to suppress appetite or to speed up metabolism, XENICAL works in your digestive system to block the fat in the food you eat from being digested.
Enzymes in your digestive system, called lipases, help digest (or break down) fat. When taken with meals, XENICAL attaches to the lipases and blocks them from breaking down some of the fat you have eaten.
The undigested fat cannot be absorbed and is eliminated in your bowel movements. By working this way, XENICAL helps block the fat in the foods you eat from being absorbed by your body.
HOW TO USE THIS PRODUCT:
Xenical can be taken up to three times a day. The normal recommended daily dose for Xenical is one 120-mg capsule with each meal that contains fat. You can take Xenical during meals or up to 1 hour after. For best results, take Xenical with a nutritionally balanced meal (no more than 30% of calories coming from fat). If you skip a meal or eat a meal without fat, you can omit your dose and continue with the next scheduled one.
SIDE EFFECTS:
Xenical side effects usually subside within the first few weeks of use. These side effects may include gas with oily discharge, increased number of bowel movements, an urgent need to have them, and an inability to control them. Your chances of experiencing side effects with Xenical are increased with meals containing higher amounts of fat than recommended (more than 30% of your daily calorie intake coming from fat).
PRECAUTIONS:
Before your doctor can prescribe Xenical to you, he or she will need to know your complete medical history. If you have chronic malabsorption syndrome, or gallbladder problems, you may not be able to take Xenical.
DRUG INTERACTIONS:
DO NOT take Xenical without first talking to your doctor if you are taking any of the following medicines: Cyclosporine (Neoral, Sandimmune), or Warfarin (Coumadin). If you are taking medicines to lower your cholesterol or if you are taking fat-soluble vitamins, you may require a dosage adjustment or special monitoring during treatment.
