Orlistat is a weight loss medication used alongside a reduced-calorie, lower-fat diet to help manage excess weight. It's one of the most established treatments of its kind in the UK and is indicated for adults with a higher body mass index (BMI), particularly where weight is affecting overall health.

Orlistat works by blocking the enzymes (lipases) that break down fat in your gut. As a result, around a third of the fat you eat isn't absorbed into your body and is passed out naturally in your stools instead. Taken with each main meal containing fat, it helps reduce your overall calorie intake to support gradual, sustainable weight loss.

As it affects how fat is processed, the most common side effects are digestive, such as oily stools and more frequent bowel movements, which are often reduced by keeping to a lower-fat diet.

The usual dose of Orlistat is one 120 mg capsule taken with each of the three main meals per day. It can be taken immediately before, during a meal or up to one hour after a meal. The capsule should be swallowed with water.

Orlistat should be taken with a well-balanced, calorie controlled diet that is rich in fruit and vegetables and contains an average of 30 % of the calories from fat. Your daily intake of fat, carbohydrate and protein should be distributed over three meals. This means you will usually take one capsule at breakfast time, one capsule at lunch time and one capsule at dinner time. To gain optimal benefit, avoid the intake of food containing fat between meals, such as biscuits, chocolate and savoury snacks. Xenical only works in the presence of dietary fat. Therefore, if you miss a main meal or if you have a meal containing no fat, Xenical need not be taken.

Your treatment should be discontinued if after 12 weeks iyou have not lost at least 5 % of your body weight as measured at the start of treatment with Orlistat.

Orlistat has been studied in long-term clinical studies of up to 4 years duration.

When combined with a healthy, calorie-controlled diet and regular activity, orlistat can help you lose more weight than dieting alone. Many people notice steady progress over a period of months. Results vary from person to person, and orlistat works best as part of a wider commitment to lifestyle change.

Orlistat is generally suitable for adults with a BMI of 30 or above, or 28 and above where there are weight-related health concerns. During your online consultation, our clinicians will review your medical history and current medications to confirm it's safe and appropriate for you.

Very common side effects (more than 1 user in 10)

• Headache

• Abdominal pain/discomfort

• Urgent or increased need to open the bowels

• Flatulence (wind) with discharge

• Oily discharge, oily or fatty stools

• Liquid stools

• Low blood sugar levels (experienced by some people with type 2 diabetes).

Common side effects (1 to 10 users in 100)

• Rectal pain/discomfort

• Soft stools

• Incontinence (stools)

• Bloating (experienced by some people with type 2 diabetes)

• Tooth/gum disorder

• Trregularity of menstrual cycle

• Tiredness.

The following side effects have also been reported but their frequency cannot be estimated from the available data:

• Allergic reactions. The main symptoms are itching, rash, wheals (slightly elevated, itchy skin patches that are paler or redder than surrounding skin)

• Severe difficulty in breathing

• Nausea

• Vomiting and feeling unwell

• Skin blistering (including blisters that burst)

• Diverticulitis

• Bleeding from the back passage (rectum)

• Increases in the levels of some liver enzymes may be found in blood tests

• Hepatitis (inflammation of the liver). Symptoms can include yellowing skin and eyes, itching, dark coloured urine

• Stomach pain

• Liver tenderness (indicated by pain under the front of the rib cage on your right hand side), sometimes with loss of appetite. Stop orlistat if such symptoms occur and tell your doctor

• Gallstones

• Pancreatitis (inflammation of the pancreas)

• Oxalate nephropathy (build up of calcium oxalate which may lead to kidney stones).

Orlistat is available to buy online with Pharmulous, and the process is simple:

• Complete a short, confidential online consultation
• A GMC or GPhC-registered clinician reviews your answers and approves suitable treatment
• Your medication is dispatched the same day in plain, discreet packaging
• Your order is delivered to anywhere in the UK.

Prefer injectable weight loss treatment? Explore our full range of options such as Mounjaro, Wegovy tablets and Wegovy injection.