Yashoda Hospitals > Medicine FAQS > Orlistat

Orlistat: Frequently Asked Questions Answered

What is Orlistat?

Orlistat is a gastrointestinal lipase inhibitor available in capsule form. It belongs to the class of anti-obesity agents that helps obese people lose weight and further helps lessen many health risks. It can be integrated into your daily routine easily and discreetly. 

One must take one capsule of Orlistat, but only with meals that contain fat; the capsule reduces the amount of fat absorbed from food by ¼. That’s why you shouldn’t eat more than about 15 grams of fat per main meal, and the undigested food is then excreted in your stool.

What are the uses of Orlistat?

Orlistat is the only safe & licensed anti-obesity pill in India. It effectively supports losing weight easier. You can lose up to 50% more weight than dieting alone. This means that for every 2 kilograms you lose, you can lose an additional kilogram. 

It does this by interfering with an enzyme in our body called lipase, which helps digest and absorb fat properly. Orlistat works to stop lipase from working. The idea is that by excreting the fats, you won’t absorb as many calories, which should technically help you lose weight.

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    What are the side effects of Orlistat?

    Many people experience gastrointestinal discomfort like gas, bloating, nausea, and stomach pain, including a sudden urgency to use the toilet frequently with smelly, oily, sticky stools on excretion. 

    Orlistat is meant to be taken while on a low-fat diet, and many of the side effects are magnified if you don’t follow directions correctly. The drug may block the absorption of certain vitamins, like vitamin D, and nutritional deficiencies can arise if you plan to take Orlistat for more than a month.

    What is Orlistat

    Uses of Orlistat

    Side effects of Orlistat

    References

    1. https://medlineplus.gov/druginfo/meds/a601244.html

    Disclaimer: The information provided herein is accurate, updated and complete as per the best practices of the Company. Please note that this information should not be treated as a replacement for physical medical consultation or advice. We do not guarantee the accuracy and the completeness of the information so provided. The absence of any information and/or warning to any drug shall not be considered and assumed as an implied assurance of the Company. We do not take any responsibility for the consequences arising out of the aforementioned information and strongly recommend you for a physical consultation in case of any queries or doubts.

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    Frequently Asked Questions about Orlistat

    Orlistat works most effectively when one strictly follows the recommended low-fat diet and remains compliant to the diet more than anything for a longer time. One should expect to lose 3-5% of their current weight over the next few weeks, and some people lose 10% or more of their body weight within six months.

    No. Regular Orlistat consumption should be with a proper diet program meal, as instructed. Its active ingredients only work if fat is consumed along with it. So if you have missed your meal or eaten a fat-free meal, then you must skip the dose of Orlistat.

    No, Orlistat is not an appetite suppressant. Contrastingly, Orlistat works by limiting fat absorption, and then this unabsorbed fat is removed from the body through the stool. Therefore, it is specifically recommended for people who have found low-fat diets effective and easy to follow in the past and want to continue with the helpful low-fat diets.

    Orlistat prevents fat absorption from your diet by cutting your dietary calories by about 500 calories/ day. An 80 kg male following the Orlistat prescription and the diet program should expect to drop to around 10 kgs in a month or two. However, those who take Orlistat and can’t stick to the recommended low-fat diet complain they quickly regain the lost weight.

    Not in all cases, but it may in some. When taking Orlistat, one must be on a low-fat diet (less than 30% of fat in your daily calories). Some people may not consume the optimal healthy hair diet because of the very nature of a low-fat diet, stimulating hair loss. Get an opinion from our weight loss experts at Yashoda Hospitals when in doubt.

    The length of time it takes to get food through the digestive tract relies upon one's gastrointestinal (GI) or bowel travel time. This varies among individuals, but on average, it takes approximately 3-days to accomplish total excretion (fecal and urine) of Orlistat drug out of your system entirely.

    Orlistat drug works by inhibiting lipase enzyme, and the fats that aren’t absorbed leave the body. Some facts indicate that Orlistat can lower the amount of a dangerous type of belly fat called visceral fat, which is why diabetes type 2, high blood pressure, cardiovascular disease, and strokes occur.

    Take the missed dosage when you remember, unless it's been an hour since you have eaten your main meal. Save the missed dosage and follow your regular dosing plan if it is over 1 hour. Do not take a double dose to make up for the one that has been missed.

    Orlistat’s maximum recommended dose is one capsule up to three times a day (if required). It should be taken just before or up to 1 hour after a meal and shouldn’t be exceeded along with a diet consisting of more than 30% of the total daily calories coming from fat.

    There have been rare reports of liver and kidney damage from Orlistat, so you may need to have them checked from time to time. Talk to your doctor if you find difficulty in absorbing food, develop gallbladder, liver issues after taking Orlistat. A doctor's discretion is advised before taking this medication.
    S.no Product Name Dosage Form
    1. O-Stat Orlistat 120mg Capsule
    2. Reeshape Orlistat 120mg Capsule
    3. Lipocut Orlistat 60mg/120mg Capsule
    4. Obezita Orlistat 60mg/120mg Capsule
    5. Olisat Orlistat 60mg/120mg Capsule