Xenical (Orlistat)

What is Orlistat?

Orlistat, licensed under the brand name Xenical, is a weight loss drug that can help you lose 5% of your body weight in 12 weeks. It is available on prescription as a 120 mg dose (orlistat and Xenical) or over-the-counter under the brand name Alli, which contains 60 mg of the active ingredient.

How does Orlistat work?

The active ingredient, orlistat, works by reducing the amount of fat your body absorbs from your diet. It does this by blocking the action of lipase, the enzyme responsible for breaking down dietary fat. So, your body absorbs less fat and naturally excretes it in waste.

Orlistat can block up to 30% of the fat you eat from being absorbed. By blocking fat absorption and causing it to be eliminated from the body as waste, it aids in weight loss. Orlistat, and its branded equivalents Xenical and Alli, are intended to treat obesity when taken with a calorie-controlled diet.

How to take Orlistat

You should only take orlistat as your healthcare provider has instructed.

Generally, you should take orlistat with each of the three main meals a day. You can choose to take it before, during, or up to one hour after a meal that contains fat. You’ll need to swallow the orlistat capsule whole with water.

Orlistat only works when there is fat in your meal. So, if you skip a meal or the meal does not contain any fat, there is no need to take a pill.

Orlistat dosage

Each orlistat capsule contains 120 mg of orlistat. The usual dose is one 120 mg orlistat capsule with each of the three main meals per day (breakfast, lunch, dinner).

What if I miss an orlistat dose?

If you forget to take your usual orlistat dose, take it as soon as you remember, as long as it is within one hour of your last meal, then continue taking it as usual. Never take a double dose.

If you continue to forget to take orlistat, consult your clinician for advice.

How much weight can you lose with Orlistat?

In clinical trials, 37 to 60% of people given orlistat lost at least 5% of their body weight after 12 weeks compared to 19 to 35% of people given a placebo. When you are prescribed orlistat, if you haven’t lost at least 5% of your starting body weight in 3 months, your clinician will likely stop your treatment and discuss other options with you.

Where can I buy Orlistat?

Orlistat (Xenical) is available on private prescription from Prescription Doctor.

To buy orlistat online:

• Complete an online consultation with one of our clinicians and select your preferred treatment.
• One of our registered clinicians will review your request.
• If approved, orlistat (Xenical) capsules will be delivered to you in discreet packaging, to your address.
• If your order is not approved by our clinicians, you will receive a full refund as part of Prescription Doctor’s money-back guarantee.

How much does Orlistat cost?

We offer Orlistat (generic prescription-only), Xenical (prescription-only) and Alli (over-the-counter).

Orlistat side effects

Common side effects of Orlistat are primarily gastrointestinal, resulting from its mechanism of blocking fat absorption. These include:

• Oily or fatty stools
• Increased bowel movements
• Urgency to have a bowel movement
• Gas with oily discharge
• Abdominal pain or discomfort
• Diarrhoea

Is Orlistat right for you?

Orlistat is suitable for you if you have a body mass index (BMI) of:

• 30 or more
• 28 or more, and you have obesity-related health conditions, including type 2 diabetes or high blood pressure

Do not take orlistat if you:

• Are allergic to any of its ingredients
• Have chronic malabsorption syndrome
• Have a liver disorder called cholestasis
• Are pregnant or breastfeeding
• Are under 18

Orlistat warnings

Before taking orlistat, let your clinician know if you:

• Are taking any other medications, including over-the-counter or herbal remedies
• Are taking the oral contraceptive pill, as you may need a second method of contraception
• Have kidney problems

Weight loss alternatives

Orlistat isn’t the only weight-loss treatment available. You can also buy Alli, an over-the-counter version of Orlistat. It contains 60 mg of its active ingredient and works in the same way as orlistat (Xenical), but you don’t need a prescription to buy it.

Another alternative weight loss pill is Mysimba, which contains the active ingredients naltrexone and bupropion. Unlike orlistat, Mysimba acts on the area of the brain responsible for controlling food intake and the reward system involved in eating.

If weight loss pills are not for you, we also offer weight loss injections. There are several types available with different active ingredients and dosages.

At Prescription Doctor, we offer the following weight-loss injections:

• Mounjaro (tirzepatide)
• Wegovy (semaglutide)