Is orlistat safe to take?
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) published a safety review of orlistat in 2010 because of rare reports of serious liver injury in people using it. The FDA found no evidence to confirm that orlistat was the cause of the reported liver injuries.
Who should not use orlistat?
The following people should not take orlistat: Pregnant or breastfeeding women. People under the age of 18 years. People who have a condition where food is not absorbed properly (a malabsorption syndrome).
What is the most likely side effect of orlistat?
General. The most commonly reported adverse events have included oily spotting, flatus with discharge, fecal urgency fatty/oily stool, oily evacuation, increased defecation and fecal incontinence.
What are the side effects of taking orlistat?
Common side effects of Xenical include:
- oily spotting on underwear.
- flatulence.
- urgent bowel movements.
- fatty or oily stools.
- increased number of bowel movements.
- inability to control bowel movements.
- gas with discharge.
- loose stools.
What happens if you take orlistat without food?
If there is no fat in one of your meals, or if you miss a meal, there is no need for you to take a dose of orlistat. Common side-effects include wind, loose stools and back passage (rectal) spotting, particularly at the beginning of treatment. These effects can be reduced by eating less fat in your meals.
How long can you stay on orlistat?
Treatment with orlistat should only continue beyond 3 months if you’ve lost 5% of your body weight. It usually starts to affect how you digest fat within 1 to 2 days. If you have not lost weight after taking orlistat for 3 months, it’s unlikely to be an effective treatment for you.
Does orlistat work if you don’t eat fat?
Dietary fat is high in calories. You will therefore absorb fewer calories from fat whilst taking Orlistat. Orlistat will not stop you absorbing any of the calories from protein, carbohydrates or alcohol. You must continue to eat a healthy, low fat diet and take regular exercise to help you lose weight.
How much weight should you lose a week on orlistat?
This 12-week plan can fit in well with treatment because orlistat is recommended to initially be taken over a 12 week period. During this 12 week treatment period, you should aim to lose about 5% of your body weight.
What is best pill for weight loss?
The table below lists prescription drugs approved by the FDA for weight loss. The FDA has approved five of these drugs—orlistat (Xenical, Alli), phentermine-topiramate (Qsymia), naltrexone-bupropion (Contrave), liraglutide (Saxenda), and semaglutide (Wegovy)—for long-term use.