Losing weight is sometimes not as easy as you think, right? Even with a balanced diet and exercise, some people find it difficult to lose weight. In such cases, on the advice of a doctor, sometimes medications are prescribed to help you lose weight. Orlistat is one such medication. So today, let's talk about this in a little more detail, as if we were talking to a friend.
What is this Orlistat?
Simply put, Orlistat is a medication that helps you lose weight and maintain it. But it doesn't work alone. It should be used in conjunction with a reduced-calorie diet .
This medicine works by blocking the absorption of some of the fat in the food you eat. Imagine you have eaten a fatty meal. When you take an Orlistat pill, some of the fat in that meal is not absorbed by the body and is excreted in the stool. This helps you lose weight by reducing the amount of calories your body receives.
The most important thing is that this is a medication that should be used under the prescription and supervision of a doctor. Although you can go to a pharmacy and get it yourself (in some countries), doing so is not advisable at all.
Things you need to tell your doctor before taking this medicine
Before using Orlistat, it is very important to tell your doctor about your complete health history. Be sure to tell your doctor if you have any of the conditions listed below.
- Mental illnesses related to eating, for example, anorexia or bulimia.
- Diabetes.
- Gallbladder disease.
- If you have had an irregular heart beat before.
- If you have HIV or AIDS.
- If you have kidney stones.
- A condition such as liver disease or hepatitis.
- If you have had an organ transplant.
- Pancreatic disease.
- If you have problems absorbing food.
- If you have seizures .
- If you have other stomach or intestinal problems.
- Thyroid disease.
- If you are taking medication to prevent or treat blood clots.
- If you have an allergic reaction to Orlistat or any other medicine, food, or dye.
- If you are trying to get pregnant, are pregnant, or are a breastfeeding mother.
Tell your doctor about any health problems you have, even if they are not on this list.
How exactly do you use this medicine?
This medicine should be used exactly as the doctor tells you. This is the usual way to take it.
- Swallow the pill with a glass of water.
- This medicine should be taken with or within an hour of eating a main meal containing fat.
- This is usually recommended with a diet that gets about 30% of your daily calories from fat.
- If your meal contains no fat at all , you can skip the pill for that meal. For example, if you only eat a small amount of fruit, you don't need to take an Orlistat pill.
- Do not drink more than the amount prescribed by the doctor.
Is this suitable for children?
This medicine is not usually given to anyone under the age of 18 without a doctor's prescription. However, in special cases, it can be prescribed to children over the age of 12 under the supervision of a doctor. You should talk to your doctor about this.
What if I take too much medicine?
If you have any suspicion that you have taken too much of this medicine, immediately contact the National Poisons Information Centre at the Colombo National Hospital or go to the Emergency Department (ETU) of the nearest hospital.
Other medications that may interact with Orlistat
Orlistat is a drug that can interact with some other medications, so it is very important to tell your doctor about all the medications you are taking.
- Medicines like `Amiodarone', which is given for heart disease.
- Some `Antiviral` medicines given for HIV or Hepatitis.
- Medicines that prevent blood clotting (e.g. `Warfarin`, `Apixaban`, `Rivaroxaban`).
- Cyclosporine (this is a medicine usually given after organ transplants).
- Medicines for diabetes.
- Medicine for epilepsy .
- Take other medications or herbal products to lose weight.
- Vitamins (especially the fat-soluble vitamins A, D, E, K and beta-carotene).
- Thyroid hormones.
This list is not complete. Tell your doctor about any medications, vitamins, or herbal products you are taking.
What are the possible side effects?
Like any medication, Orlistat can cause side effects. Some of these are serious, while others are common. It's important to be aware of these.
| Type of side effect | Characteristics |
|---|---|
| Serious side effects that should be reported to the doctor immediately | |
| Allergic reactions | Skin rash, itching, swelling of the face, lips or tongue. |
| Difficulty breathing | Difficulty breathing, chest tightness. |
| Symptoms of liver injury | Dark yellow urine, yellowing of the eyes or skin, pain in the upper right side of the abdomen, loss of appetite, pale stools, and extreme fatigue. |
| Symptoms of kidney stones | Blood in the urine, pain in the back or pelvis, pain during urination. |
| Other serious symptoms | Black or bloody stools, uncontrollable bowel movements, vomiting. |
| Side effects that are usually not serious, but should be reported to the doctor if they persist | |
| Gas | Increased air leakage. |
| Oily stools | Stools become oily, sometimes with orange or brown oil stains passing with the stool. |
| Increased toileting | Needing to defecate more often than usual. |
Remember, eating too many fatty foods can increase these common side effects (stomach upset, oily stools). So it's important to eat a balanced, low-fat diet.
Take-Home Message
- Orlistat is not a magic pill. It only works in conjunction with a low-calorie, fat-restricted diet and exercise .
- Before taking this medication, be sure to tell your doctor about all medical conditions you have and all other medications you are taking.
- Orlistat reduces the absorption of fat-soluble vitamins (A, D, E, K). Therefore, it is important to take a multivitamin at bedtime , as advised by your doctor.
- Do not use this medicine if you are pregnant, trying to become pregnant, or have had an organ transplant .
- If you experience a serious side effect (yellowing of the skin, difficulty breathing, severe pain), contact your doctor immediately.
- Never share this medicine with anyone else. This is for you only.
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