The following information is a summary about
Xenical (Orlistat). It is not intended to replace a doctor's
instructions.
(ORLISTAT - ORAL)
USES
XENICAL is a prescription weight-control med useful for
the long-term treatment of significant obesity.
XENICAL can
also help to reduce risk factors, such as high blood
pressure, high cholesterol and high blood sugar which,
if not treated, could lead to other diseases such as
hypertension and diabetes. Each Xenical (Orlistat) capsule
contains 120 mg of the active substance orlistat, which
acts as a lipase inhibitor.
XENICAL is a
weight loss med that targets the absorption of fat in
your body rather than suppressing your appetite. It is
useful for long term use and has been shown to be effective
for 1-2 years. Dietary fats are inhibited from being
absorbed and this allows about 30% of the fat eaten in
the mealb to pass through the gut undigested. This helps
you to reduce and maintain your weight, as well as to
minimize any weight regain.
PRECAUTIONS
Xenical (Orlistat) can cause changes in your bowel habits,
such as fatty or oily stools, due to the elimination
of undigested fat in your stool. XENICAL reduces the
absorption of supplements of some fat soluble nutrients,
particularly beta-carotene and vitamin E. You should
therefore follow your doctor's advice in taking a well
balanced diet rich in fruit and vegetables. XENICAL
should not be used if you have an allergy to it or
suffer from chronic malabsorption syndromes such as
sprue or steatorrhea. It is also not intended for use
with children or pregnant or nursing women.
DIRECTIONS
XENICAL is taken with each meal (three times daily).
Your daily fat intake should be divided equally between
these three meals so you will benefit from XENICAL's
actions. Your medicine should be swallowed with water.
SIDE EFFECTS
Side effects include loose stools and increased gas or
flatulence. These symptoms are generally mild, occur
at the beginning of treatment, go away after a short
period of time and are usually experienced after meals
containing high levels of fat. Normally, these symptoms
disappear if you continue treatment and keep to your
recommended diet.
For more information on XENICAL, you can
visit http://www.xenical.com.
