weight loss information
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Use of Lipase Inhibitor Orlistat/Xenical for Treatment of Obese PatientsXenical Weight Loss PillsQuestions
About Obesity Medications
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Xenical Weight Loss Pills - How They WorkXenical (Orlistat) works in the gut (not in the brain) to prevent your intestines from absorbing some of the fat from the food you eat. When taken 3 times a day, Xenical weight loss pills block about one-third of the fat you eat from being absorbed. Instead, this fat passes through your intestines and is excreted. By absorbing less fat, you take in fewer calories, which causes weight loss. Xenical Weight Loss Pills - Do They Work |
Most people lose weight when they take Xenical and follow a calorie-reduced diet.
Obese people who followed a reduced-calorie diet and took Xenical for 12 months lost an average of 8.5 percent of their body weight. Obese people who followed the same diet but did not take Xenical lost an average of 5.4 percent of their body weight.
An analysis of 5 studies found that Xenical combined with a reduced-calorie diet resulted in weight loss of 13.4 lb (6.1 kg) over 1 to 2 years. If the diet alone was followed, weight loss was 5.7 lb (2.6 kg). About 20 percent of those using Xenical plus a reduced-calorie diet lost more than 10 percent of their body weight, compared to 8.3 percent of those who used only the diet.
An analysis of 2 studies found that 28.2 percent to 33 percent of those using Xenical and a reduced-calorie diet the first year and a weight-management diet the second year were able to maintain their weight loss for 2 years, compared to 6.6 percent to 18.6 percent of those who followed the diets but did not take Xenical.
The side effects of Xenical are all related to your intestines or bowels. Only very small amounts of Xenical are absorbed into the bloodstream, so it has little effect on other body systems.
Side effects include:
Note: Some people have these side effects only in the first few weeks of use. Most people have fewer side effects after 1 year of use. Others have them as long as they take Xenical. Most people find these side effects unacceptable if they do not go away in a few weeks. Not being able to tolerate these side effects is the most common reason people stop using this medication.
Xenical interferes with your body's absorption of some fat-soluble vitamins. When you use Xenical, you should take a daily multivitamin supplement that contains vitamins A, D, E, and K and beta-carotene. Take the multivitamin once a day at least 2 hours before or after taking Xenical, such as at bedtime.
The side effects increase when you eat more fat and decrease when you eat less fat. People using Xenical are advised to eat foods with no more than 30 percent fat.
The manufacturer of Xenical provides a free support program (XeniCare) with your prescription to help you customize your weight-loss plan so that it fits your life. The program mails you personalized information (for example, recipes, exercise suggestions, and help with reading labels) and provides access to a support phone line staffed by nurses.
Health Note: Treatment with Xenical may lower the level of total cholesterol and triglycerides (fats) in the blood, thus it may lower your risk of heart disease. It may also have a positive effect on levels of blood sugar and insulin, which may lower your risk of developing type 2 diabetes.
Sources include:
Arterburn D, Noel PH (2001). Obesity. Clinical Evidence, 6: 463–470.
Finer N, et al. (2000). One-year treatment of obesity: A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, multicentre study of Xenical, a gastrointestinal lipase inhibitor. International Journal of Obesity, 24: 306–313.
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