Orlos for Weight Loss

Orlos is a weight loss capsule available over the counter which means it does not require a doctor’s prescription. It is a branded version of orlistat generic at a lower dose of 60mg per capsule, just like alli. The only difference between the two medications are their name and price.

Orlos helps you lose weight by reducing the amount of fat your body absorbs from food, which is instead passed through your body as stool.

What is Orlos used for?

Orlos is used as a loss treatment in people who are overweight or obese.

What kind of medication is it?

Orlos is an oral capsule. It is a kind of medication called a lipase inhibitor.

Active ingredient

The active ingredient in Orlos is orlistat.

Orlos contains 60mg of orlistat, which is a lipase inhibitor that stops the lipase enzyme from digesting fat and storing it in your body. This prevents your body from absorbing about 30% of fat from food that you eat. The fat is instead passed out of your stool waste when you go to the toilet.

This helps you to lose weight as you absorb less fat from the food you eat so have a lower calorie intake. Orlos should be taken while following a diet and exercise plan to make sure the calories you are eating contain low amounts of fat and more healthy, balanced meals. If you eat too much fat with Orlos, you aren’t likely to see much of a weight change as it doesn’t prevent the absorption of all dietary fat.

Studies show that Orlos supports weight loss journeys as it helps patients adjust to the changes necessary to maintain a healthy lifestyle.

How long does Orlos last?

You need to take Orlos 3 times a day, once with water with each meal and it lasts to absorb the fat you take in from your meals. After taking Orlos, it will stay in your digestive system for 6 hours. If you decide to stop taking Orlos, it will be in your digestive system for 72 hours.

How long does Orlos take to work?

The active ingredient orlistat begins to work in as little as 24 to 48 hours after taking it. If you take Orlos as prescribed (with meals that contain fat), it will begin to work instantly. However, this does not mean you will see results right away. You should lose some weight gradually, after 2 to 3 weeks of treatment, and at least 5% after 3 months.

How effective is Orlos?

In clinical studies at least 50% weight loss was reported within just the first 6 months of treatment of taking 60 mg orlistat (Orlos).

Each patient sees different results depending on their circumstances. It is important that you take Orlos as instructed by a pharmacist, and maintain a balanced diet and exercise whilst taking the medication. The medication will not be effective if you do not take it with meals containing fat.

If you take Orlos and do not see results within 12 weeks, your pharmacist may recommend an alternative weight loss treatment.

Orlos is a tablet that you need to swallow whole with water, during, just before or within 1 hour after a meal that contains fat and up to 3 times a day. If you do not eat a meal that contains fat, you do not need to take Orlos.

How much Orlos to take (dosage)

Each tablet of Orlos contains 60 mg of orlistat, which is the recommended dosage for this medication. You should only take one tablet of Orlos with each meal that contains fat, up to 3 times a day. The maximum amount of Orlos you should take a day is 3 tablets, or 180mg.

How long do you need to take Orlos for

You should start seeing noticeable weight loss results within 2-3 weeks of taking Orlos, but it will take 1 to 3 months to see the full effect.

Orlos is widely taken as a supplement alongside a balanced diet and exercise, helping to facilitate your adjustment to new lifestyle changes that are beneficial to your weight loss journey. This means that you should lose weight gradually when taking Orlos.

Each patient reacts to treatment differently, and some people may not see the results they want with Orlos. If you do not see noticeable weight loss results within 3 months, then Orlos may not be right for you, and you may want to try a different weight loss treatment.

You can buy Orlos online, over the counter in selected pharmacies or via a prescription from the NHS if your doctor thinks it could be suitable and you meet the criteria.

Can I buy Orlos online?

You can buy Orlos online from online doctor services. At ZAVA we do not stock Orlos at the moment, but you can request the branded alternative, alli from us. Alli works in exactly the same way as Orlos, it just has a different price and packaging. To request alli, all you need to do is fill in an online health questionnaire and one of our doctors will review it. If the treatment is right for you, they will approve it and you can have it delivered fast and discreetly to your door within 24 hours.

Can I buy Orlos over the counter?

Yes, you can buy Orlos over the counter. All you need to do is check if it is available at your local pharmacy.

Can I get Orlos on the NHS?

Yes, you can get Orlos on the NHS. You would need a face-to-face consultation with your local GP if they think it is a suitable treatment for you. Your GP will only prescribe it to you if you:

• have a BMI of 28 or more
• have other weight-related conditions, such as type 2 diabetes and/or high blood pressure
• are unable to lose weight through other lifestyle changes alone

Like all medications, Orlos has side effects, but not everyone will experience them.

Common side effects (affecting up to 1 in 10 people)

• stomach pain
• incontinence (stools)
• runny/liquid stools
• frequent bowel movement
• oily discharge, soft stools
• wind/flatulence, with or without oily spotting

These are common side effects that are more likely to occur if you eat meals very high in fat when taking Orlos. This is due to how orlistat (the active ingredient in Orlos) works with your digestive system to get rid of fat. If these symptoms become persistent or bothersome, and begin to affect your daily life, speak with your doctor and they may suggest an alternative weight loss treatment.

If you experience any of the following serious, more rare side effects, stop taking the medication and contact your doctor immediately, dial 999 or visit A&E:

• allergic reaction: breathing difficulties, sweating, rash, itching, swollen face, rapid heartbeat, collapsing
• bleeding from rectum
• diverticulitis
• pancreatitis
• blistering of skin
• hepatitis
• kidney stones

How long do side effects last?

Side effects usually go away once your body adjusts to the treatment. If you experience persistent side effect symptoms with Orlos that begin to affect your daily life, you should speak with your doctor and they will likely recommend an alternative weight loss treatment.

What to do if you get Orlos side effects?

If you experience side effects during your treatment with Orlos, they should go away on their own. However, if these symptoms become bothersome or persistent, you should speak with your doctor or a pharmacist. If you experience rare or serious side effects you should dial 999 or go to A&E.

Orlos may not be right for everybody. You should not take it if you:

• are allergic to orlistat, or any of the ingredients listed in the patient information leaflet for Orlos
• are pregnant or breast-feeding
• are taking ciclosporin
• are taking warfarin or other medicines used to thin the blood
• have cholestasis
• have problems absorbing food
• have diabetes
• have kidney disease
• are under 18 years old

For more specific information about interactions prior to taking Orlos, speak with your doctor or pharmacist.

If you do not think that Orlos is the right treatment for your weight loss journey, we offer a range of alternatives at ZAVA online doctor, such as (but not limited to):

• alli
• Xenical
• Mysimba
• Mounjaro
• Wegovy

Below we compare these alternatives to Orlos, so you can decide what might be right for you:

Orlos vs alli

Orlos is the generic version of alli. This means there is no difference between the two treatments apart from the price and brand.

Both Orlos and alli can help you lose around 50% more weight than you would if you only dieted alone.

Orlos vs orlistat vs Xenical

Orlos, orlistat and Xenical all contain the same active ingredient orlistat, and work the same way. The main difference is that Orlos contains 60mg of orlistat, whereas orlistat (the generic version of Xenical) and Xenical contain 120mg. Therefore it’s worth noting that effects of treatment with orlos 60mg capsules might be more mild and gradual.

Orlos, orlistat and Xenical are all treatments that must be taken alongside lifestyle changes like following a healthy balanced diet and exercise.

Orlos vs Mysimba

Mysimba is an oral tablet just like Orlos. It contains the active ingredients naltrexone hydrochloride and bupropion hydrochloride which work to reduce your appetite. These ingredients work with the part of your brain that is responsible for hunger.

Much like Orlos, it is most effective when taken alongside a healthy balanced diet and exercise.

If you take Mysimba, you’ll start with taking 1 tablet every day until you gradually increase to 2 tablets twice a day after 4 weeks of your body adjusting to the treatment.

Clinical studies have reported patients losing an average of 8.1% of their starting weight after 56 weeks of treatment.

Orlos vs weight loss injections

If you are unsure if oral tablets like Orlos are the right weight loss treatment for you, weight loss injections like Mounjaro and Wegovy are also options that are available. However, weight loss injections are only available by prescription, unlike Orlos and alli which you can collect over the counter or request online with ease.

Weight loss injections reduce your appetite, helping you to lose weight and fulfil your weight loss goals. Both Wegovy and Mounjaro dosages are increased gradually so that your body can adjust to the treatment and lifestyle change requirements.

Like Orlos, Mounjaro and Wegovy are most effective when taken alongside healthy nutritional and lifestyle changes recommended by a healthcare professional.

At ZAVA, we can support you with this all the way. We offer free holistic support packages developed by our in-house nutritionists and doctors, as well as medical check-ins throughout your treatment with us. Find out more about weight loss treatments and ordering with ZAVA in our weight loss FAQs.

If you are still uncertain about what treatment might be best for you and your weight loss journey, you can always consult one of our online doctors at ZAVA through a brief online consultation questionnaire.