What is orlistat?
Orlistat blocks some of the fat that you eat, keeping it from being absorbed by your body.
Orlistat is used together with a reduced-calorie diet and weight maintenance to treat obesity in
people with certain risk factors (such as diabetes, high blood pressure, and high cholesterol or
triglycerides).
Orlistat may also be used for other purposes not listed in this medication guide.
What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before taking orlistat?
Do not take this medication if you are allergic to orlistat, or if you have:
If you have any of these other conditions, you may need a dose adjustment
or special tests to safely take this medication:
-
an underactive thyroid;
-
a history of gallstones;
-
a history of pancreatitis;
-
type 1 or type 2 diabetes;
-
an eating disorder (anorexia or bulimia); or
-
if you take any other weight-loss medications (prescription
or over-the-counter).
FDA pregnancy category B. This medication is not expected to be
harmful to an unborn baby. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant during
treatment.
Taking orlistat can make it harder for your body to absorb certain vitamins. These vitamins
are important if you are nursing a baby. Do not use this medication without telling your doctor if you
are breast-feeding a baby.
Do not give over-the-counter orlistat (Alli) to a child younger than 18 years old.
Prescription orlistat (Xenical) should not be used by anyone age 12 to 18 without the advice of a
doctor.
Orlistat
should be used only by the person it was prescribed or
recommended for
and should never be shared with another person, especially someone who
has a history of eating disorder. Keep the medication in a secure place where others cannot get to it.
How should I take orlistat?
Take this medication exactly as directed on the label, or as it was prescribed for you. Do not
take the medication in larger amounts, or take it for longer than recommended by your doctor. Follow
the directions on your prescription label.
This medication comes with patient instructions for safe and effective use. Follow these
directions carefully. Ask your doctor or pharmacist if you have any questions.
Orlistat is only part of a complete program of treatment that also includes diet, exercise, and
weight control. Your daily intake of fat, protein, and carbohydrates should be evenly divided over all of
your daily meals. Follow your diet, medication, and exercise routines very closely.
Take this medicine with a full glass of water.
Take orlistat during or within 1 hour after a meal that contains some fat (no more than 30%
of the calories for that meal). Orlistat is usually taken 3 times daily.
If you skip a meal or you eat a meal that does not contain any fat, skip your orlistat dose for that
meal.
The fat content of your daily diet should not be greater than 30% of your total daily caloric
intake. For example, if you eat 1200 calories per day, no more than 360 of those calories should be in
the form of fat.
Read the label of all food items you consume, paying special attention to the number of servings
per container. Your doctor, nutrition counselor, or dietitian can help you develop a healthy eating plan.
Your doctor may recommend you take vitamin and mineral supplements while you are taking
orlistat. This medication can make it harder for your body to absorb fat-soluble vitamins, such as
vitamins A, D, E, and K. Follow your doctor's instructions about the type of multi-vitamin or mineral
supplement to use.
Take the supplement at least 2 hours before or after you take orlistat.
Store orlistat at room temperature away from moisture and heat. Keep the bottle tightly
closed.
Keep track of how many pills have been used from each new bottle of this medicine. Orlistat is
a drug that may be misused as a weight-loss aid, and you should be aware if any person in the
household is using this medicine improperly or without a prescription.
What happens if I miss a dose of orlistat?
Take the missed dose as soon as you remember, but no more than 1 hour after eating a meal.
If it has been more than an hour since your last meal, skip the missed dose and take the medicine at
your next regularly scheduled time.
Do not
take extra medicine to make up the
missed dose.
If you miss a meal, or if you have a meal without fat, you can skip your dose of orlistat for that
meal also.
Where can I get more information about orlistat?
Your pharmacist has information about orlistat written for health professionals that you may read.
What are the possible side effects of orlistat?
Get emergency medical help if you have any of these
signs of an allergic
reaction:
hives; difficulty breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.
Stop taking orlistat and call your doctor at once if you have severe pain in your upper
stomach spreading to your back, nausea and vomiting, and a fast heart rate. These could be signs of
pancreatitis.
The following side effects occur commonly with the use of orlistat. They are the natural effects
of orlistat's fat-blocking action and are actually signs that the medication is working properly. These
side effects are usually temporary and may lessen as you continue treatment with orlistat:
-
oily spotting in your undergarments;
-
oily or fatty stools;
-
orange or brown colored oil in your stool;
-
gas with discharge, an oily discharge;
-
loose stools, or an urgent need to go to the bathroom,
inability to control bowel movements;
-
an increased number of bowel movements; or
-
stomach pain, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, rectal pain.
Other side effects that may occur while taking orlistat include:
-
problems with your teeth or gums;
-
cold symptoms such as stuffy nose, sneezing, cough;
-
fever, chills, sore throat, flu symptoms;
-
headache, back pain; or
-
skin rash or itching.
This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your
doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at
1-800-FDA-1088.
What is the most important information I should know about orlistat?
Do not take this medication if you are allergic to orlistat, or if you have gallbladder
problems, or chronic malabsorption syndrome (an inability to absorb food and nutrients properly).
Before taking orlistat, tell your doctor if you have an underactive thyroid, a history of gallstones
or pancreatitis, type 1 or type 2 diabetes, an eating disorder, or if you take other weight-loss
medications (prescription or over-the-counter).
Do not give over-the-counter orlistat (Alli) to a child younger than 18 years old.
Prescription orlistat (Xenical) should not be used by anyone age 12 to 18 without the advice of a
doctor.
Orlistat
should be used only by the person it was prescribed or
recommended for
and should never be shared with another person, especially someone who
has a history of eating disorder. Keep the medication in a secure place where others cannot get to it.
Orlistat is only part of a complete program of treatment that also includes diet, exercise, and
weight control. Your daily intake of fat, protein, and carbohydrates should be evenly divided over all of
your daily meals. Follow your diet, medication, and exercise routines very closely.
Take orlistat during or within 1 hour after a meal that contains some fat (no more than 30%
of the calories for that meal). Orlistat is usually taken 3 times daily. If you skip a meal or you eat a
meal that does not contain any fat, skip your orlistat dose for that meal.
The fat content of your daily diet should not be greater than 30% of your total daily caloric
intake. Avoid a diet that is high in fat. High-fat meals taken in combination with orlistat can increase
your risk of unpleasant side effects on your stomach or intestines.
Your doctor may recommend you take vitamin and mineral supplements while you are taking
orlistat. Follow your doctor's instructions about the type of multi-vitamin or mineral supplement to use.
Take the supplement at least 2 hours before or after you take orlistat.
What should I avoid while taking orlistat?
Avoid a diet that is high in fat. High-fat meals taken in combination with orlistat can
increase your risk of unpleasant side effects on your stomach or intestines.
What other drugs will affect orlistat?
Tell your doctor about all other medications you use, especially:
-
insulin or diabetes medications you take by mouth;
-
cyclosporine (Gengraf, Neoral, Sandimmune);
-
digoxin (digitalis, Lanoxin, Lanoxicaps);
-
levothyroxine (Synthroid, Levoxyl, Levothroid); or
-
a blood thinner such as warfarin (Coumadin).
This list is not complete and there may be other drugs that can interact with
orlistat. Tell your doctor about all your prescription and over-the-counter medications, vitamins,
minerals, herbal products, and drugs prescribed by other doctors. Do not start a new medication
without telling your doctor.
What happens if I have an overdose of orlistat?
