Xenical® 120mg tablets
Xenical® 120mg tablets
Xenical® 120mg tablets
- Oral capsule containing orlistat, taken 3 times a day
- Prevents up to 1/3 of the fat you eat being digested
- Should be combined with dietary and lifestyle changes to achieve weight loss
What is Xenical®?
Xenical® is a popular medical weight loss treatment that works by reducing the amount of fat your body can absorb from food. It is the branded version of the drug Orlistat.
Does Xenical® work?
In clinical trials, 37% of patients on Xenical® were able to lose at least 5% of their body weight after twelve weeks.
How can Xenical® help me lose weight?
Xenical® tablets help you lose weight by preventing 1/3 of the fat you eat from being digested. This is combined with a healthy lifestyle, balanced diet and regular exercise.
How does Xenical® work?
You may have been recommended them as a part of your weight loss journey, but how does Xenical® work? This is the process, from food to fitness:
- Take Xenical® with water three times a day immediately before, during or up to an hour after your meal
- Eat as normal
- Once the food is in your digestive system, Xenical® prevents your body breaking down nearly a 1/3 of the fat that you eat. It does this by blocking an enzyme in your body that is normally used to break down the fats you eat
- The undigested fat is not absorbed into your body and is passed out with your stools (faeces)
- Xenical® is not a direct cause of weight loss – it stops fat from getting into the body. Combine using Xenical® with a healthy lifestyle. Eat well and exercise!
- Continue to the end of your treatment or you have lost your goal weight
Is Xenical® effective?
Xenical® 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 Xenical® 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.
"Xenical® works best with a healthy lifestyle to help you get the most out of your treatment" - Dr Bhavini Shah
How to take Xenical® for the best results
Make sure you consider the following to optimise your weight loss journey on Xenical®:
- Take your capsule consistently (three times a day with each meal)
- Xenical® only works in the presence of dietary fat. If you miss a main meal or if you have a meal containing no fat, you do not need to take a Xenical® tablet
- The recommended diet for Xenical® is rich in fruit and vegetables and contains an average of 30% of the calories from fat
- Minimise snacking on fatty foods (biscuits, chocolate, etc.) between meals
- NHS dietary advice recommends that you eat foods with less than 5g of fat per 100g
- Xenical® works best when combined with a healthy lifestyle. Try to get enough exercise – that’s 150 minutes of moderate activity (walking, riding a bike) or 75 minutes of vigorous activity (running, swimming) a week
Managing Xenical® side effects
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 Xenical® 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.
Who can take Xenical®?
Xenical® 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.
Orlistat vs Xenical®: What’s the difference?
Xenical® is the branded version of the treatment Orlistat. There is no difference between the two treatments aside from the branding. Both treatments contain the same size and number of capsules and will work in the same way. If you were to switch from Orlistat to Xenical®, you would remain on the same dose you were on for your current treatment.
However, it’s important to talk to your GP if you’re intending to switch your weight loss treatment. They will recommend the most suitable treatment for you.
Xenical® FAQs
Can you take Xenical® with other medicines?
As is true of all medication, Xenical® 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 Xenical® safely.
Can you drink alcohol while on Xenical®?
There is currently no evidence to suggest that Xenical® will have a negative interaction with alcohol. However, you may want to avoid alcohol if you’re planning to reach a calorie deficit as a part of a healthy lifestyle.
How quickly can I expect to see results from Xenical®?
You may start to expect to see results from Xenical® after two weeks. Xenical® 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.
If you take more Xenical® capsules than you have been prescribed, contact your GP as you may need medical attention.
How much Xenical® should I take?
Take three tablets a day, each one at mealtimes. Xenical® should be taken either immediately before, during, or up to an hour after meals.
What happens if I forget to take Xenical®?
If you have forgotten to take Xenical® and it has been less than an hour since your last meal, take it as soon as possible. After that, take as normal. Do not take a double dose to make up for it, as this only increases the chance of you suffering from side effects.
If you’ve missed several doses of Xenical®, please talk to your GP.
Taking supplements with Xenical®
Xenical® can affect the effectiveness of some supplements. Specifically, it affects supplements of fat-soluble nutrients (as Xenical® reduces the amount of fat absorbed from food). Affected supplements include vitamin E and beta-carotene. If these are supplements you take it may be helpful to get these nutrients via your diet. Alternately, your doctor may recommend a multivitamin supplement.
Alternative treatments: other weight loss pills
There are a variety of weight loss treatments available on the market, including supplementary dietary pills and surgical options.
Orlistat is the generic version of Xenical® and works in the same way. See our section comparing the two above for more information.
However, a healthy diet and regular exercise is an effective way to lose weight and improve your health in the long-term.
Alternative treatments: weight loss injections
We offer the weight loss pens; Mounjaro®, Wegovy® and Saxenda®. For convenience you can request this service online through us.
These treatments require a weekly injection that lessens the appetite and controls blood sugar. If you’re interested in switching your treatment from Xenical®120mg tablets to a weight loss injection, find out more in our weight loss hub.
Important information about Xenical®
Your first order of Xenical® must be collected from a participating pharmacy 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 Xenical® 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.
