Orlistat taken before test

Hi doctor

I recently had a 28 day duo test , it was taken at 27 days though i miscalculated.

Approximately 1 week before i had the test i stopped taking alli weight-loss tablets (ORLISTAT) , i was only on them for about 1 week anyway.

After looking at the box it says it can effect blood tests.

* Increased in the levels of some liver enzymes
* Effects on blood clotting in people warfarin of other blood-thinning (anti-coagulant) medicines.
(It is not known how frequently these effects occurr)


Also i found online it says it shouldnt be taken with cyclosporin (immunosuppresive drug) , and can affect people who are antiarrhythmic , amiodarone.

Also in a F&Q i found this
Q: How long does alli remain in my body?

Since the time it takes people to digest food varies, the active ingredient in alli can remain in your body for up to 48 to 72 hours, mainly because the time taken for food to pass through the digestive system varies from person to person. However, it only affects the fat absorption of meals that are eaten within a short time of taking the capsule.Only a very small amount of orlistat is absorbed into the bloodstream.


So how long do you think it takes for orlistat to leave my bloodstream and do you think it could of affected my test , my exposure was deemed low-risk , i work in a stock room and pricked myself with a security pin and was worried incase the person at the depot who sends our stock tagged hurt therself with it (comes in tagged , item gets sold , tags and pins on the item come through to stock room for us to use)

I am really worried now that this may of affected my test and do i neet to test again at 6 months , I know people who would need tested again at 6 months are people who are on chemotherapy, immunosuppressive drugs (e.g. transplant patients), or chronic IV drugdrug abusers. but i dont fall into that category because of a weight loss pill do i ? , would a 3 month test be conclusive still in my sitatution

[Dr Sean Cummings]

Hi Dino,

I appreciate the concern but it really is not valid. Your doctor is correct. Alli will not have any effect at all on the validity of the test and will not alter or effect it in the slightest.

Best wishes, Sean

[thedino]

also forgot to add that it was my thumb i pricked and when i squeezed it a small bit of blood came out

[thedino]

I spoke to my doctor who i did the hiv test with and she said that it wouldnt affect the test or the way the antibodies work if there where HIV . She also said that alli isnt a immunosuppressive drug and wont weaken my immune system .

Do you agree doctor

[thedino]

Thanks Dr Cummings  


I think you realise i am the same guy who you answered the other day on an other site, so thanks for reassuring me that this alli tablets wont effect or alter my test result in the slightest . On wiki it says the bilological half-life is 1-2 hours so would you assume that the alli would of been out of my system anyway.

thanks

[Dr Sean Cummings]

Hi Again Dino,

It really doesn't matter how long its in your system. It has no effect on the test - thats the crucial bit.

With different drugs there are all sorts of subleties that might be relevant in terms of absorption etc and Alli may affect those aspects, but it has no effect whatever on HIV testing.

Yes, I did suspect!

best wishes, Sean