• Why is this medication prescribed?

Orlistat (prescription and nonprescription) is used with an individualized low-calorie, low-fat diet and exercise program to help people lose weight . Prescription orlistat is used in overweight people who may also have high blood pressure, diabetes, high cholesterol, or heart disease. Orlistat is also used after weight-loss to help people keep from gaining back that weight. Orlistat is in a class of medications called lipase inhibitors. It works in the intestines by blocking absorption of some of the fat in foods eaten. This unabsorbed fat is then removed in stools from the body.

• How should this medicine be used?

Orlistat comes as a capsule and a nonprescription capsule to take by mouth. It is usually taken three times a day with each main meal that contains fat. Take orlistat during a meal or up to 1 hour after a meal. If a meal is missed or does not have fat, you may skip your dose. Follow the directions on your prescription label or the package label carefully, and ask your doctor or pharmacist to explain any part you do not understand. Take orlistat exactly as directed. Do not take more or less of it or take it more often than prescribed by your doctor or stated on the package.

• Other uses for this medicine

This medication is sometimes prescribed for other uses; ask your doctor or pharmacist for more informationor go to the main pharmacy and ask for free online support.One of our specialists will answer to all the questions.

• What special precautions should I follow?

• tell your doctor and pharmacist if you are allergic to orlistat or any other medications.
• talk to your doctor if you are taking medications that suppress the immune system such as cyclosporine (Neoral, Sandimmune). If you are taking cyclosporine (Neoral, Sandimmune), take it 2 hours before or 2 hours after orlistat.
• tell your doctor and pharmacist what prescription and nonprescription, vitamins, nutritional supplements, and herbal products you are taking or plan to take. Be sure to mention any of the following: anticoagulants (”blood thinners”) such as warfarin (Coumadin); medications for diabetes, such as glipizide (Glucotrol), glyburide (DiaBeta, Dynase, Micronase), metformin (Glucophage), and insulin; medications to control blood pressure; medications for thyroid disease; and any other medications for weight loss.
• tell your doctor if you have if you have had an organ transplant or if you have cholestasis (condition in which the flow of bile from the liver is blocked) or malabsorption syndrome (problems absorbing food). Your doctor will probably tell you not to order orlistat .

• What special dietary instructions should I follow?

Follow the diet program your doctor has given you. You should evenly divide the amount of daily fat, carbohydrates, and protein you eat over three main meals. If orlistat is taken with a diet high in fat (a diet with more than 30% of the total daily calories from fat), or with one meal very high in fat, it is more likely you will experience side effects from the medication.

Orlistat blocks your body’s absorption of some fat-soluble vitamins and beta carotene. Therefore, when you use orlistat you should take a daily multivitamin that contains vitamins A, D, E, K, and beta-carotene. Read the label to find a multivitamin product that contains these vitamins. Take the multivitamin once a day, 3 hours before or 3 hours after taking orlistat online, or take the multivitamin at bedtime. Ask your doctor or pharmacist any questions you might have about taking a multivitamin while you are taking orlistat .

• What side effects can this medication cause?

Tell your doctor if any of these symptoms are severe or do not go away:

• oily spotting on underwear or on clothing
• gas with oily spotting
• urgent need to have a bowel movement
• loose stools
• oily or fatty stools
• increased number of bowel movements
• difficulty controlling bowel movements
• pain or discomfort in the rectum (bottom)
• stomach pain
• irregular menstrual periods
• headache
• anxiety

• What storage conditions are needed for this medicine?

Keep this medication in the container it came in, tightly closed, and out of reach of children. Store it at room temperature and away from excess heat, moisture (not in the bathroom), and light. Throw away any medication that is outdated or no longer needed.