ORLISTAT

Indication
Mechanism of action
Side Effects
Precautions

1. Generic Name or Active Ingredient:

Orlistat

2. Uses:

Available as capsules. Used in combination with a low calorie diet and exercise to help people who are overweight to lose weight and maintain their weight loss.

3. How This Medicine Works:

Orlistat is in a class of medications called lipase inhibitors. It works by preventing some of the fats in food eaten from being absorbed in the intestines. This unabsorbed fat is then removed from the body in the stool.

4. Do Not Use This Medicine If:

· You are allergic to orlistat.

· You suffer from eating disorders, cholestasis (condition in which the flow of bile from the liver is blocked) or malabsorption syndrome (problems absorbing food or nutrients).

5. Before You Start To Use This Medicine:

· Inform your pharmacist or doctor if you are allergic to any medication.

· Inform your pharmacist or doctor if you have diabetes, kidney stones, pancreatitis (inflammation or swelling of the pancreas), gallbladder or thyroid disease, an organ transplantation, or any other health problems.

· Inform your pharmacist or doctor if you are or plan to get pregnant, or are breastfeeding.

· Consult a doctor before using this medicine in children.

6. Using With Other Medication:

· Inform your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking any other medication, vitamins, herbal preparations, or supplements, as they may interfere with this medicine.

7. How To Use This Medicine:

Follow the directions on your medication label carefully, and ask your pharmacist to explain any part you do not understand. . (National Call Centre)

a) How to take

· As advised by your doctor or pharmacist.

b) When to take

· Orlistat can be taken with main meal containing fat (during or up to 1 hour after the meal).

· You usually only need one tablet three times per day.

· Omit dose if meal is occasionally missed or contains no fat.

c) How long to take

As directed by your doctor.

d) If you forget to take it

Take it as soon as you remember. If it is almost time for your next dose, wait until then to take the medicine. Do not double the dose.

8. While Using This Medicine:

a) Things you should do:

· Follow the diet plan that your doctor has given you. If you take orlistat 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, you are more likely to 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. Take the multivitamin once a day, 2 hours before or 2 hours after taking orlistat, or take the multivitamin at bedtime or as suggested by your doctor.

b) Things you must NOT do:

· Do not start any new prescription or over the counter (OTC) medications or herbal medications during therapy without consulting your doctor or pharmacist.

· Do not let anyone else use your medication.

In case of overdose, seek immediate medical attention.

9. Side Effects:

All medicines may have some unwanted side effects. Sometimes they are serious, but most of the time they are not. Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you have any side effects which are severe or persistant.

Possible side effects: