What is Xenical?

Xenical is a brand name for Orlistat. Xenical is used to treat weight loss, or to help reduce the risk of regaining weight already lost. This medicine must be used with a reduced-calorie diet and is to used only by adults. This oral medication keeps about 30 percent of the fat you eat from absorbing into the body. It should be taken around the time of your meal and never with an extra high-fat meal.      

How one should take Xenical?

• Xenical is usually taken 3 times per day with each main meal that contains some fat (no more than 30% of the calories for that meal).
• You may take the medicine either with your meal or up to 1 hour after eating. If you skip a meal or you eat a meal that does not contain any fat, skip your dose for that meal.
• So if you have a daily limit of 1,800 calories, 540 calories per day and 180 calories per meal should be fat.
• The reason for this is that the medication cannot block an entire day’s worth of fat with just one dose. Very high fatty foods should, therefore, be avoided.

What are the dosage for Xenical?

Xenical 120mg should be taken orally three times a day with each main meal containing fat. The dose may be taken during the meal or within 1 hour of completing the meal. If you miss your dose, 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.

What are the side effects of Xenical?

Common Xenical side effects are caused by orlistat’s fat-blocking action. These are signs that the medicine is working properly. These side effects are usually temporary and may lessen as you continue using Xenical:

• oily or fatty stools;
• oily spotting in your undergarments;
• orange or brown colored oil in your stool;
• gas and oily discharge;
• loose stools, or an urgent need to go to the bathroom, inability to control bowel movements;
• an increased number of bowel movements
• stomach pain, nausea, rectal pain.

Stop using Xenical if you have:

• severe stomach pain;
• severe pain in your lower back;
• blood in your urine, painful or difficult urination;
• kidney problems – little or no urinating; swelling in your feet or ankles; feeling tired or short of breath
• liver problems – nausea, upper stomach pain, itching, tired feeling, loss of appetite, dark urine, clay-colored stools, jaundice