« Diet Pills

Xenical

Drug class – Oral prescription diet pill
Brand Names: Xenical

Xenical is a prescription weight loss drug used for the long-term treatment of obesity. Xenical is the brand name for the generic drug Orlistat. Xenical (Orlistat) is used in the management of obesity including weight loss and weight maintenance when used with a reduced-calorie diet. Orlistat does not affect your appetite.

How to use

• Xenical should be taken only on consultation with a doctor to guard against possible side effects and probable drug interactions.
• Xenical exemplifies the best effect when taken in an empty stomach an hour before meals. But care should be taken that the diet pill is not crushed or chewed contemplating side effects.
• Xenical is mainly used in the short term treatment of obesity. Therefore, it should not be used for more than 8 to 12 weeks considering the possibilities for addiction.
• Xenical  is not to be used as a substitute for diet. Moreover, it should only be administered as a prescription medication to assist with the battle of obesity and should not be used for "cosmetic" weight loss.

Side Effects

The initial adjustment: As your body adjusts to the medication, you may have fatty/oily stool, oily spotting, and intestinal gas with discharge, bowel movement urgency, poor bowel control or headaches

What to avoid: Avoid daily dietary fat content in your diet as it may intensify digestive/intestinal side effects.

Consult a doctor: Terminate the use of Xenical and consult your doctor if these effects persist or you experience a rare allergic reaction including shortness of breath; swelling of your lips, tongue, or face closing of your throat; or rash(Hives).

Drug interaction

• Consult your doctor and inform about all the prescription and nonprescription drugs you use.
• Inform your doctor if you are especially under medication for taking cyclosporine, "blood thinners" (e.g., warfarin). In cases of intake of Cyclosporine, it should be taken at least 2 hours before or after Xenical to assure maximum absorption of the drug into your bloodstream.
• Notify your doctor before taking Xenical if you are under medications like insulin for diabetes or any other weight loss drug.
• Use Xenical after judging all possibilities of drug interaction and do not start or stop any drug without consultation with your doctor.

Precautions

• It is advisable to consult a doctor before taking Xenical if you have a history of medical conditions like allergies, digestive disorders, hypothyroidism or other metabolism problems like oxalate kidney stones and  hyperoxaluria.
• Xenical should not be taken by pregnant woman since the manufacturer does not approve the use of the drug during pregnancy.
• Xenical should not also be used by lactating mothers. Though not clinically proved, there is possibility that this diet pill may be passed into breast milk. Therefore, consult your doctor for you may have to stop nursing or stop using this drug.
• Those suffering from eating disorders like anorexia nervosa or bulimia nervosa should not take Xenical.
• Caution should be used, as Didrex has been indicated in the development of cardiomyopathy, a disease of the heart that diminishes the heart's performance.

Dosage

• Xenical is usually taken with each main meal that contains no more than about 30% of calories from fat. Xenical can be taken during meals or up to one hour after a meal.
• Xenical when taken 3 times per day with meals, blocks about one-third of the fat you eat from being absorbed. Xenical prevents your intestines from absorbing some of the fat from the food you eat thereby causing weight loss by the intake of fewer calories.
• Avoid taking Xenical when you take meals without any fat content. On the contrary, Xenical taken with meals of too much fat content can cause digestive side effects.  
• Since Xenical has the properties to interfere with absorption of fat-soluble vitamins (e.g., A, D, E, K), a daily multivitamin supplement that contains vitamins A, D, E, and K and beta-carotene is recommended. The multivitamin is to be taken at least 2 hours before or 2 hours after Xenical.
• Xenical diet pills are strictly advised to be used only under medical supervision so as to prevent probable drug interaction and possible side-effects.
• The dosage for the drug varies from person to person depending upon the body metabolism.

Overdose: Do not take more of this medication than has been prescribed for you. Doses greater than 120 mg three times a day have not been shown to provide an additional weight-loss benefit. Seek emergency medical attention immediately.

Missed dose: Take the missed dose up to one hour after a meal. However, if an hour has passed since your last meal, skip the dose you missed and take only your next regularly scheduled dose as directed. Never take a double dose of this medication.

Storage
Xenical diet pill should be stored at room temperature in a cool and dry place. Keep away from the reach of children.

Important note
The following information is intended to supplement, not substitute for, the expertise and judgment of your physician, pharmacist or other healthcare professional. It should not be interpreted to indicate that use of the drug is safe, apt, or effectual for you. It is recommended that you consult your healthcare provider before using this drug.