Xenical

Xenical is a prescription-only medication, so it can only be bought with a prescription in the UK. You can request Xenical online from legitimate UK registered providers who are regulated by the CQC and MHRA, like ZAVA.

Avoid buying Xenical from online services that offer Xenical without prescription. These websites could be selling fake medicines which are potentially unsafe and are a waste of money too.

Xenical is recommended for people:

• with a BMI of over 30 kg/m2
• with a BMI of over 28kg/m2, and other medical conditions like Type 2 diabetes or high blood pressure
• who have tried other weight loss options but have been unsuccessful

Yes. Xenical is a branded version of Orlistat, a generic form of the medication, but they both work in exactly the same way, as a weight loss pill.

Xenical works by changing the way your body digests and absorbs fat. The active ingredient in Xenical (Orlistat) blocks an enzyme for digesting fat in your intestines called lipase. This prevents your body from absorbing most of the fat in your food, and instead, the fat is passed out of your body as stool waste.

Xenical can start working as early as 2 days from the start of treatment, but it may take up to 2 weeks to start seeing results. You should expect optimal weight loss results within the first 3 months of taking Xenical.

Speak to your doctor if you have not lost at least 5% of your body weight (your weight at the start of treatment), after taking Xenical for 3 months.

Xenical (Orlistat) has been proven through clinical trials to be one of the safest and effective medicines for treating obesity. It has been reported that Xenical can help people lose up to 20% of body weight within 3-6 months of treatment.

You should always take your medication exactly as your doctor prescribed them. The usual prescribed dose of Xenical is one 120mg capsule taken 3 times a day during meal times (3 main meals a day containing fat). You should swallow your capsules whole with water.

You can take Xenical immediately before, during or up to 1 hour after a main meal, containing fat. Do not take Xenical if you miss a meal or the meal doesn’t contain fat.

To get the optimal weight loss results when taking Xenical:

• Eat a healthy diet with fruits and vegetables, with only about 30% calories from fat - try to make sure your daily intake of fat, protein and carbohydrates are evenly distributed between your 3 main meals every day
• Exercise regularly
• Avoid eating sweets and fatty foods between meals like biscuits, cakes or savoury snacks

If you accidentally take more Xenical than you should, contact a doctor immediately as you may need medical attention.

If you miss your Xenical dose, take it as soon as you remember as long as it is within an hour of your last meal, then continue your next dose as usual. If it is outside this time or you miss several doses, speak to your doctor as soon as possible for advice on what to do next.

Like all medicines, there is a risk of developing side effects when taking Xenical, although not everyone will experience them.

Some common Xenical side effects are:

• Headache
• Stomach discomfort
• Urgency to empty your bowels
• Oily or fatty stools
• Low blood glucose (in people with diabetes)
• Passing wind often

Some less common Xenical side effects are:

• Pain in the anal area
• Bloating
• Tiredness
• Soft stools or diarrhoea

If you experience any side effects (including those not listed above) or allergic reactions when taking Xenical, consult your doctor immediately. Some common allergic reaction signs are:

• Difficulty breathing
• Itching and skin rash
• Wheals (patches on the skin)
• Nausea and vomiting
• Feeling unwell

Seek immediate medical attention if you experience any of these allergic reactions after taking Xenical.

Do not take Xenical if you:

• are allergic to any of its ingredients
• have cholestasis (liver condition)
• have chronic malabsorptive disorder
• are breastfeeding

If you have any of the following conditions, inform your doctor before taking Xenical as you may need to make certain adjustments:

• Taking medicines for diabetes
• Taking medicines for high cholesterol
• Chronic kidney disease
• If you are using the contraceptive pill
• If you have a high daily fat intake

You should always inform your doctor of all medicines you are currently taking or have taken recently, including over the counter drugs and herbal supplements.

The following medicines may interact with Xenical:

• Anticoagulants (warfarin)
• Ciclosporin
• Thyroid medicines
• Medicines to treat HIV
• Medicines for depression or anxiety
• Amiodarone
• Antiepileptic medicines
• Antidiabetic medicines (acarbose)

For a full list of Xenical side effects, cautions and drug interactions, read the patient information leaflet supplied with your medicine, which can be found online here.

Inform your doctor before taking Xenical if you are planning to be pregnant or are already pregnant.

Do not take Xenical if you are breastfeeding.

Xenical will not influence your ability to drive or operate machinery.