Orlistat
About Orlistat
Orlistat belongs to the class of medication called anti-obesity drugs used to treat obesity and help in weight loss. Orlistat is to be used along with a low-calorie diet and regular physical exercise. Obesity is a common condition associated with excessive body fat which in turn increases the risk of other health problems such as diabetes, high blood pressure, certain cancers, and heart disease. Intake of more calories than you burn by exercise or daily activities results in obesity.
Orlistat contains Orlistat which works in the small intestine and stomach and prevents the action of enzymes that break down fat which is absorbed by the body. Orlistat decreases the absorption of fat from the food you eat. Thus, fat passes through the gut and is excreted in the feces, which makes the body unable to use fat as a source of energy or convert it into fat tissue. Thereby, Orlistat helps in weight loss.
Take Orlistat as prescribed by your doctor. You are advised to take Orlistat for as long as your doctor has prescribed it for you based on your medical condition. Some people may experience soft stools, sudden bowel motions, flatulence (gas) with or without oily spotting, oily or fatty stools, stomach pain, stool incontinence (involuntary leakage of stools), and runny or liquid stools. Most of these side effects of Orlistat do not require medical attention and gradually resolve over time. However, if the side effects persist, please consult your doctor.
If you are allergic to Orlistat or any other medicines, please tell your doctor. Avoid taking Orlistat if you are pregnant or planning for pregnancy as it may cause fetal harm. It is not known whether Orlistat is excreted in human milk. Therefore, please consult a doctor if you are a breastfeeding women. Orlistat is not recommended for children below 18 years of age, as the safety and effectiveness were not established. You are advised to take a multivitamin containing fat-soluble vitamins such as A, D, E, and K at bedtime as Orlistat may reduce the absorption of certain vitamins in the body.
Uses of Orlistat
Medicinal Benefits
Orlistat contains Orlistat, an anti-obesity drug used to treat obesity and help in weight loss. Orlistat works in the small intestine and stomach and prevents the action of enzymes that breakdown fat which is absorbed by the body. Orlistat decreases the absorption of fat from the food you eat. Thus, fat passes through the gut and is excreted in the faeces, making the body unable to use fat as a source of energy or convert it into fat tissue. Thereby, Orlistat helps in weight loss and reduces the risk of serious health problems.
Directions for Use
Storage
Side Effects of Orlistat
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Headache
- Loss of appetite
- Soft stools
- Sudden bowel motions
- Flatulence (gas) with or without oily spotting
- Oily or fatty stools
- Stomach pain
- Stool incontinence (involuntary leakage of stools)
- Runny or liquid stools
- Dark urine
Drug Warnings
If you are allergic to Orlistat or any other medicines, please tell your doctor. If you have cholestasis (bile flow from the liver is blocked), chronic malabsorption syndrome, anorexia or bulimia (eating disorder), thyroid disorder, diabetes or kidney or liver problems, please consult a doctor before taking Orlistat. Avoid taking Orlistat if you are pregnant or planning for pregnancy as it may cause foetal harm. It is not known whether Orlistat is excreted in human milk. Therefore, please consult a doctor if you are breastfeeding women. Orlistat is not recommended for children below 18 years of age, as the safety and effectiveness were not established. Do regular exercise and maintain a low-fat and low-calorie diet along with Orlistat for effective results. If you get severe diarrhoea, the effectiveness of the oral contraceptive pill may reduce when taken with Orlistat. In such cases, use extra contraceptive methods to prevent pregnancy. You are advised to take multivitamin containing fat-soluble vitamins such as A, D, E and K at bedtime as Orlistat may reduce the absorption of certain vitamins in the body.
Drug Interactions
Drug-Drug Interaction: Orlistat may interact with immunosuppressant (ciclosporin), blood thinner (warfarin), antidiabetic drug (acarbose), thyroid medicine (levothyroxine), medicine for heart rhythm problems (amiodarone), anticonvulsants (lamotrigine), HIV/AIDS drug (atazanavir).
Drug-Food Interaction: Avoid high-fat meals that include butter, meat, dark chocolate, olive oil, nuts, and seeds (brazil nuts) with Orlistat as it may increase the risk of adverse effects on the stomach or intestines.
Drug-Disease Interaction: If you have cholestasis (bile flow from the liver is blocked), chronic malabsorption syndrome, anorexia or bulimia (eating disorder), thyroid disorder, diabetes, or kidney or liver problems, please consult a doctor before taking Orlistat.
Drug-Drug Interactions Checker List:
Safety Advice
Alcohol
cautionInteraction of Orlistat with alcohol is unknown. Please consult a doctor before consuming alcohol while using Orlistat.
Pregnancy
unsafeOrlistat is a Category X pregnancy drug and is considered unsafe for pregnant women as it may cause harm to the unborn baby. So, if you are pregnant or planning for pregnancy, please inform your doctor before taking Orlistat.
Breast Feeding
cautionIt is unknown whether Orlistat is excreted in human milk. Therefore, it is given to breastfeeding mothers only if the doctor thinks benefits are greater than risks.
Driving
safe if prescribedOrlistat usually does not affect your ability to drive or operate machinery.
Liver
cautionTake Orlistat with caution, especially if you have a history of Liver diseases/conditions. The dose may be adjusted by your doctor as required.
Kidney
cautionTake Orlistat with caution, especially if you have a history of Kidney diseases/conditions. Orlistat may cause kidney stones in patients suffering from chronic kidney disease. Please consult a doctor if you have kidney problems so that the dose may be adjusted by your doctor as required.
Children
unsafeOrlistat is not recommended for children below 18 years of age, as the safety and effectiveness were not established.
Habit Forming
Diet & Lifestyle Advise
- Maintain a low-fat diet. Prefer skim milk and fat-free or low-fat dairy products.
- Avoid red meat and include lean meat such as salmon and chicken.
- Eat a healthy diet that includes fruits, vegetables, lean protein and whole grains.
- Avoid fried foods, fast food, instant food, pasta, burger, noodles and cookies.
- Limit your sugar intake as excess sugar is stored as fat in the body.
- Do not skip meals for reducing weight but instead take balanced meals.
- Do regular exercise such as swimming, cycling, walking or dancing for a minimum of 20 to 30 minutes every day.
- Avoid alcohol consumption.
Special Advise
- Certain blood tests are recommended while taking Orlistat to monitor kidney and liver functioning.
Patients Concern
Disease/Condition Glossary
Obesity: Obesity is a common condition associated with excessive body fat which in turn increases the risk of other health problems such as diabetes, high blood pressure, certain cancers and heart disease. Intake of more calories than you burn by exercise or daily activities results in obesity. Some common causes of obesity include insufficient sleep, growing older, pregnancy, genetics, hypothyroidism (underactive thyroid gland) or polycystic ovary syndrome (imbalance of female reproductive hormones). Proper diet and exercise are advised, along with medication to treat obesity.
FAQs
Orlistat contains Orlistat that works in the small intestine and stomach and inhibits the action of enzymes that breakdown fat which is absorbed by the body. Orlistat decreases the absorption of fat from the food you eat. Thus, fat passes through the gut and is excreted in the faeces, which makes the body unable to use fat as a source of energy or convert it into fat tissue. Thereby, Orlistat helps in weight loss.
You are not recommended to take Orlistat with ciclosporin (used for organ transplant rejections, severe rheumatoid arthritis) as it may reduce the effectiveness of ciclosporin. However, if you are supposed to take both the medicines, you are advised to take ciclosporin after 3 hours of taking Orlistat. However, please consult a doctor before taking Orlistat with any other medicines.
Orlistat may cause kidney stones in patients suffering from chronic kidney disease. Therefore, if you have any kidney problems, please inform your doctor before taking Orlistat.
Orlistat should be used with caution in diabetic patients as it may increase the risk of low blood sugar levels. Therefore, inform your doctor if you have diabetes before taking Orlistat so that the dose of antidiabetic medicine may be adjusted accordingly.
You are recommended to avoid high fat meals that includes butter, meat, dark chocolate, olive oil, nuts and seeds (brazil nuts) with Orlistat as it may increase the risk of adverse effects on stomach or intestines.
You are recommended to use Orlistat for as long as your doctor has prescribed it. However, avoid taking Orlistat for more than 6 months. If you do not notice weight loss after taking Orlistat for 12 weeks, please consult a doctor.
You are recommended to take multivitamin containing fat-soluble vitamins such as A, D, E and K at bedtime or at least 2 hours after taking Orlistat. Generally, Orlistat may reduce the absorption of certain vitamins in the body. Therefore, your doctor may advise you to take multivitamins.
