Xenical Patient Information

Orlistat
120mg capsules

What is in this leaflet

This leaflet answers some common questions about XENICAL capsules.
It does not contain all the available information.

It does not take the place of talking to your pharmacist or doctor.

All medicines have risks and benefits. Your pharmacist or doctor will consider the risks of your taking XENICAL capsules against the benefits expected for you.

If you have any concerns about taking this medicine, talk to your pharmacist or doctor.

Keep this leaflet with the medicine. You may need to read it again.

What XENICAL is used for

XENICAL contains the active ingredient orlistat.

XENICAL is used to assist with losing weight, maintaining a certain weight and preventing weight regain.

XENICAL is used to treat adults who are very overweight (Body Mass Index (BMI) measures 30 or more).

One way to measure if you are overweight, and how overweight you are, is to calculate your Body Mass Index (BMI). You can calculate your BMI by multiplying your height in metres by itself (squaring your height in metres), and then dividing your weight in kilograms by your squared height.

If your BMI is 25 or more you may be overweight, and if your BMI is 30 or more you may be very overweight. BMI may vary across different populations due, in part, to different body proportions. Talk to your pharmacist or doctor if you have any questions about your BMI.

XENICAL should be taken in conjunction with a low-fat, well-balanced, calorie-controlled diet and other appropriate measures such as exercise.

XENICAL belongs to a group of medicines called lipase inhibitors. These medicines work by preventing the absorption of dietary fat in your body rather than by suppressing your appetite.

Dietary fats are large molecules that need to be broken down before they can be absorbed into the body. They are broken down by enzymes called lipases. When taken with a meal, XENICAL interferes with the activity of these enzymes and allows about 30% of the fat eaten in the meal to pass through the gut undigested. Therefore, your body cannot store these excess calories as fatty tissue or use them as a source of energy. This helps you to reduce your weight by burning up fat that you are already carrying, maintain your weight loss and minimise any weight regain.

Losing even small amounts of weight and keeping it off can have additional health benefits for you, especially if you are at risk of other diseases such as heart disease and diabetes. XENICAL can also help to improve risk factors associated with being overweight, such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol and high blood sugar. If these are not treated, they may lead to other diseases such as heart disease or diabetes.

Ask your pharmacist or doctor if you have any questions about using XENICAL.

This medicine is available only with a doctor’s prescription.

Before you take XENICAL

When you must not take it

Do not take XENICAL if:

1. you have had an allergic reaction to XENICAL or any ingredients listed at the end of this leaflet.
2. your body does not absorb essential nutrients as well as it should.
This is called chronic malabsorption syndrome.
3. you have a blockage of your bile duct (cholestasis).
4. the package is torn or shows signs of tampering.
5. the expiry date printed on the pack has passed.
If you take this medicine after the expiry date has passed, it may not work as well.

If you are not sure if you should be taking XENICAL ask a pharmacist or doctor if XENICAL is right for you.