Description
Xenical
Xenicalwill help you lose weight safely and keep your weight under control. The drug is a specific inhibitor of gastrointestinal lipases and acts exclusively in the intestines, without being absorbed into the systemic bloodstream.
Xenical is manufactured in the form of 120 mgoral capsules. The active substance of Xenical capsules is the anti-obesity agent Orlistat.
Prescribing Information
Xenical is prescribed for adults and adolescents aged 12 years and older to treat obesity and overweight in combination with moderate hypocaloric diet.
The drug is used in patients with the following body mass index (BMI):
- From 30 kg/m2 and above (is classified as obese);
- From 27 to 30 kg/m2 (is classified as overweight) in the presence of cardiometabolic / cardiovascular risk factors.
The effect of Xenical is due to the ability to limit the absorption of dietary fats that enter the body with food. Simultaneously, the drug helps to reduce the amount of monoglycerides and free fatty acids in the intestine.
This, in turn, slows the absorption of cholesterol from the food and reduces its level in the blood plasma.
Dosage
The recommended dose is one capsule of Xenical 120 mg three times daily with each main meal. If one of the meals was missed or the food does not contain fat, you can also skip Xenical capsule.
Xenical is taken immediately before meals or during meals. It is also possible to take the drug within one hour after having a meal.
An increase in the daily dose of Xenical (more than three capsules per day) does not result in an increased therapeutic effect, yet increases the risk of unwanted effects.
It is established that the use of Xenical against a background of moderate hypocaloric diet contributes to a significant reduction in body weight and prevents its regain.
Moreover, Xenical exerts a positive effect on the course of obesity-related diseases and improves the life quality of the obese people.
Interactions
Xenical may interact with certain drugs that are taken together with the lipase inhibitor. A decrease in the blood concentration of Cyclosporine (immunosuppressant) is noted, when Cyclosporine is used simultaneously with Xenical.
If such concomitant use of Xenical and the immunosuppressant is required, a three-hour interval should be observed between the medications administration.
Xenical can reduce the effectiveness of oral contraceptives, which increases the risk of unwanted pregnancies. Therefore, additional contraception methods are recommendedfor use during a Xenical course.
Side effects
When Xenical capsules are taken, side effects occur mainly from the digestive tract: imperative urges for defecation, stool incontinence, steatorrhea, and flatulence.
Nausea, abdominal pain, fatigue, muscle pain, headaches, gingivitis and tooth disorders can be observedin people on Xenical, as well. As a rule, these effects weaken with the continuation of treatment and gradually disappear.
In addition to the fact that Xenical reduces fat absorption, the drug may interfere with the absorption of fat-soluble vitamins A, E, K, D and beta-carotene.
Tips
To prevent the deficit of fat-soluble vitamins in the body, it is recommended to consume more fruits and vegetableswhile using Xenical, as well as multivitamin supplements that contain vitamins K, E, A and D.
Vitamin supplements should be taken two hours before or after the last Xenical dosing, before going to bed.
Xenical is not recommended for patients with chronic malabsorption syndrome and cholestasis. The drug should not be used to lose weight during pregnancy and lactation.