When combined with a customised low-calorie, low-fat diet and exercise programme, orlistat (both prescription and over-the-counter) can aid in weight loss. People with obesity who may also have high blood pressure, diabetes, high cholesterol, or heart disease use orlistat on a prescription. Orlistat is also used to assist people in preventing re-gaining lost weight after weight loss. The drug orlistat belongs to the group of drugs known as lipase inhibitors. It operates by stopping a portion of the ingested fat from being absorbed in the intestines. The body then excretes this unabsorbed fat in the form of faeces.

Orlistat is available as both a prescription-free and over-the-counter oral capsule. Typically, three times a day, it is consumed with each large meal that contains fat. Take orlistat with food or up to one hour after eating. You are allowed to skip your dose if a meal is missing or doesn’t contain fat. Ask your doctor or pharmacist to explain any instructions that you do not understand, and carefully follow any instructions listed on the packaging or label for your medication. Follow the orlistat directions exactly. Never take it in larger or less amounts or more frequently than recommended by your doctor or the label on the medication.

If orlistat has been prescribed for you, ask your pharmacist or physician for a copy of the manufacturer’s information for the patient. Visit http://www.MyAlli.com for more details about the non-prescription medication.

Ask your doctor or pharmacist for more details if you’re interested in using this drug for any other conditions.

Before taking orlistat,

• If you have an allergy to orlistat or any other medicine, let your doctor and pharmacist know right away.
• If you are using immunosuppressive drugs like cyclosporine, speak to your doctor (Neoral, Sandimmune). Take cyclosporine (Neoral, Sandimmune) two hours before or two hours after orlistat if you’re taking it.
• Inform your doctor and pharmacist about any prescription and over-the-counter medications, herbal products, nutritional supplements, and vitamins that you are now taking or intend to use. Mention any of the following: blood thinners (anticoagulants) like warfarin (Coumadin); diabetes medications like glipizide (Glucotrol), glyburide (DiaBeta, Dynase, Micronase), metformin (Glucophage), and insulin; blood pressure medications; thyroid disease medications; and any other weight-loss medications.
• Inform your physician if you have undergone an organ transplant, have cholestasis (a condition where the liver’s bile flow is obstructed), or have malabsorption syndrome (problems absorbing food). Most likely, your doctor will advise against using orlistat.
• Inform your doctor if you currently have or previously had an eating disorder such anorexia nervosa or bulimia, diabetes, kidney stones, pancreatitis (inflammation or swelling of the pancreas), gallbladder illness, or thyroid disease.
• Inform your doctor if you are expecting, intend to get pregnant, or are nursing a baby. If you are expecting or nursing, do not use orlistat.

Observe the diet plan that your doctor has recommended. The daily amounts of protein, carbs, and fat should be distributed equally throughout your three main meals. You are more likely to encounter side effects from orlistat if you take it together with a diet that is high in fat (more than 30% of your total daily calories should come from fat), or if you eat one particularly fattening meal.

Foods with more than 30% fat should be avoided when taking orlistat. Read the labels on every food item you purchase. Eat no more than 2 or 3 ounces (55 or 85 grammes) of meat, poultry (chicken), or fish per serving (roughly the size of a deck of cards). Remove the skin from chicken and choose lean cuts of beef. Increase the amount of grains, fruits, and veggies on your plate at each meal. Nonfat or 1% milk and reduced- or low-fat dairy products should be used in place of whole-milk products. Cook with less fat. When cooking, use vegetable oil spray. Most baked goods, prefabricated, processed, and quick foods, along with salad dressings, are rich in fat. Use the nonfat or low-fat varieties of these foods, or reduce serving sizes. When eating out, enquire about the preparation of the dish and urge that there be minimal to no extra fat.

Some fat-soluble vitamins and beta carotene cannot be absorbed by your body as a result of orlistat. As a result, taking a daily multivitamin containing the vitamins A, D, E, K, and beta-carotene is advised when using orlistat. Find a multivitamin product that includes these vitamins by reading the label. Take the multivitamin once daily, either at bedtime or two hours before or after taking orlistat. If you have any concerns about taking a multivitamin while taking orlistat, consult your doctor or pharmacist.

If it hasn’t been more than an hour since your last substantial meal, take the missed dose as soon as you remember. Skip the missed dose and carry on with your regular dosing schedule if it has been more than an hour since your last substantial meal. To make up for a missing dose, do not take a second one.

Orlistat could have negative effects. Changes in BM behaviours are orlistat’s most frequent adverse effect. This typically happens in the first few weeks of treatment, but it can last the entire time you take orlistat. If any of these symptoms are severe or do not go away, let your doctor know right once:

• Oily stains on garments or underwear
• Greasy spotting on gas
• Urgently need to go to the bathroom.
• Weak stools
• Fatty or oily stools
• Greater frequency of bowel motions
• Inability to regulate bowel motions
• Discomfort or pain in the rectum (bottom)
• Abdominal pain
• Irregular intervals of menstruation
• Headache
• Anxiety

Some adverse effects can be very harmful. Call your doctor right away if any of these symptoms occur to you:

• Hives
• Rash
• Itching
• Breathing or swallowing challenges
• Severe or persistent stomach discomfort
• Excessive fatigue or weakened state
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Reduced appetite
• Upper right stomach region discomfort
• Skin or eyes turning yellow
• Urine with a deep colour
• Stools in a light colour

You or your doctor can submit a report to the Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) MedWatch Adverse Event Reporting programme online or by phone if you have a serious side event (1-800-332-1088).

Other negative effects of orlistat may occur. If you experience any odd issues while taking orlistat, contact your doctor right once.

Some orlistat users experienced serious liver damage. There is insufficient data to determine whether orlistat contributed to the liver injury. The dangers of using orlistat should be discussed with your doctor.

Keep this medication tightly closed in the original container and out of the reach of children. Keep it at room temperature and away from sources of extreme heat, moisture, and light (such as the restroom).

Unused prescriptions must be disposed of carefully to prevent pets, kids, and other people from ingesting them. You should not, however, dispose of this medication in the toilet. Instead, utilising a medicine take-back programme is the easiest approach to get rid of your medication. To find out about take-back programmes in your area, speak with your pharmacist or the garbage/recycling department in your city. If you do not have access to a take-back programme, see the FDA’s Safe Disposal of Medicines website at http://goo.gl/c4Rm4p for additional information.

As many containers (such as weekly pill minders and those for eye drops, creams, patches, and inhalers) are not child-resistant and are simple for young children to open, it is crucial to keep all medications out of sight and out of reach of children. Always lock safety caps and promptly stash medication up and away from young children where it is out of their sight and reach to prevent poisoning. http://www.upandaway.org

Call the poison control hotline at 1-800-222-1222 in the event of an overdose. Additionally, information can be found online at https://www.poisonhelp.org/help. Call 911 right once if the person has collapsed, experienced a seizure, is having difficulty breathing, or cannot be roused.

Keep all of your doctor’s appointments.

While using orlistat, you should also maintain a regular exercise or physical activity schedule. However, consult your doctor or other health care provider before beginning any new activity or fitness regimen.

Do not share your prescription drugs with anyone else. Any queries you may have regarding medication refills should be directed to your pharmacist.

You should keep a written record of every medication you take, including any over-the-counter (OTC) items, prescription drugs, and dietary supplements like vitamins and minerals. This list should be brought with you whenever you see a doctor or are admitted to the hospital. You should always have this information with you in case of emergencies.