Information
About Xenical
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 construed
to indicate that use of the drug is safe,
appropriate, or effective for you. Consult
your healthcare professional before using
this drug.
ORLISTAT - ORAL (OR-lih-stat)
COMMON BRAND NAME(S): Xenical
USES: This medication is used with a reduced-calorie
diet to help significantly overweight
persons lose weight. It also helps to
prevent regaining weight previously lost.
Orlistat works by blocking some of the
fat normally digested by the intestine.
HOW TO USE: Take this drug by mouth, generally
three times daily during (or up to one
hour after) each main meal that contains
fat. Your daily intake of fat, protein
and carbohydrate should be evenly spread
over three main meals. If a meal is occasionally
missed or contains no fat, skip that dose
of the medication. Because this drug can
interfere with absorption of fat-soluble
vitamins (e.g., A,D,E,K), a daily multivitamin
supplement containing these nutrients
is recommended. Take the multivitamin
at least 2 hours before or 2 hours after
this drug (e.g., at bedtime). The effects
of this drug may begin as soon as 1-2
days after treatment begins; noticeable
weight loss will take longer.
SIDE EFFECTS: Fatty/oily stool, oily spotting,
intestinal gas with discharge, bowel movement
urgency, poor bowel control, or headaches
may occur. If these effects persist or
worsen, notify your doctor promptly. Intestinal
side effects (e.g., oily stool) may increase
in intensity if you exceed your daily
dietary fat allowance. If you notice other
effects not listed above, contact your
doctor or pharmacist.
PRECAUTIONS: Tell your doctor your medical
history, including: allergies, digestive
disorders (malabsorption or cholestasis),
low thyroid function (hypothyroidism),
other metabolism problems (e.g., oxalate
kidney stones, hyperoxaluria). This drug
should not be used if you have anorexia
nervosa or bulimia-type eating disorders.
Tell your doctor if you are pregnant before
using this medication. The manufacturer
does not recommend use of this drug during
pregnancy. It is not known whether this
drug is excreted into breast milk. Because
of the potential risk to the infant, breast-feeding
while using this drug is not recommended.
Consult your doctor before breast-feeding.
DRUG INTERACTIONS: Tell your doctor of
all prescription and nonprescription medication
you use, especially of: cyclosporine,
"blood thinners" (e.g., warfarin),
drugs for diabetes (e.g., insulin), other
drugs used for weight loss. Cyclosporine
should be taken at least 2 hours before
or after orlistat to assure maximum absorption
of the cyclosporine into your bloodstream.
Do not start or stop any medicine without
doctor or pharmacist approval.
OVERDOSE: If overdose is suspected, contact
your local poison control center or emergency
room immediately.
NOTES: Do not share this medication with
others. Follow your doctor-approved nutritional,
reduced-calorie diet containing about
30 percent calories from fat. Also, exercise
is recommended; however, first consult
your doctor or pharmacist.
MISSED DOSE: If you miss a dose, use it
as soon as you remember. If it is near
the time of the next dose, skip the missed
dose and resume your usual dosing schedule.
Do not double the dose to catch up.
STORAGE: Store at room temperature (77
degrees F, 25 degrees C) away from light
and moisture.
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