Orlistat

Orlistat prevents your body breaking down nearly a 1/3 of the fat that you eat. The undigested fat is not absorbed into your body and is passed out with your stools (faeces).

Take one capsule with water three times a day immediately before, during, or up to an hour after each main meal (breakfast, lunch, and dinner).

Orlistat only works in the presence of dietary fat. If you miss a main meal or if you have a meal containing no fat, Orlistat does not need to be taken.

Orlistat should be taken three times a day, usually over 12 weeks, during which time you should aim to lose about 5% of your weight. However, the speed and quality of its effects depend on aspects of your lifestyle.

While Orlistat does help reduce the amount of fat your body absorbs, it is only effective if you make complementary lifestyle changes. These include increased exercise, moderating calorie intake, eating a balanced diet, and reducing alcohol consumption. The results are also dependent on your personal commitment and motivation to losing weight.

Orlistat is suitable for people who are medically overweight. We can only prescribe it if you have a body mass index (BMI) of 30 and over (28 and over if you have any other associated risk factors).

You will not be suitable for this treatment if you are pregnant or breastfeeding.

Side effects could include pain or discomfort in your stomach, and flatulence (wind) with an oily discharge. You may have a sudden need to open your bowels, and stools may be oily, liquid or fatty in texture. These side effects are more prevalent if you take Orlistat following a fatty meal.

For full information on side effects and correct use, see the patient information leaflet. If any side effects concern you, contact us via your Patient Record.

As is true of all medication, Orlistat can interact with other medicines, making them less effective. This is why it's important that you let us know which prescription, over-the-counter medicines and recreational drugs you are taking so that we can prescribe Orlistat safely.

Your first order of Orlistat must be collected from a LloydsPharmacy store so your height and weight can be checked. This is for your safety. For repeat orders, you will be able to choose delivery as an option.

You should only take Orlistat as prescribed and never exceed the stated dose. Taking more will not make it work faster. Your prescription is for you – you should never share prescribed medicines with anyone.

Alli is an alternative weight loss treatment that is half the strength of Orlistat. Alli is available without a prescription from LloydsPharmacy.com and in-store.

We also offer a weight loss injection, Saxenda®. For convenience you can request this service online through us, or if you'd prefer an in-person consultation you can book an appointment in-store. Find out more about the in-pharmacy service here. 

There are a variety of weight loss treatments available on the market, including supplementary dietary pills and surgical options. However, a healthy diet and regular exercise is an effective way to lose weight and improve your health in the long-term.