Orlistat is a prescription medication that is better known as Xenical. Xenical is manufactured and marketed by Roche but is also sold over the counter as Alli by GlaxoSmithKline in the UK and the US. Xenical is a medication that is indicated in the treatment of obesity, or for those who want to lose weight when it is purchased over the counter.
Xenical is effective in the treatment of obesity because the medication stops the absorption of fat found in the diet of patients. When the fat ceases to be absorbed it will reduce the intake of calories can result in weight loss. Xenical should only be taken by those who modify their diet and are under the care of a qualified doctor. Clinical trials have shown that Xenical does work when the diet that is suggested with the medication is followed closely and the medication is taken as prescribed.. Those who take Xenical, eat better, and adopt an active lifestyle usually lose about six pounds more than those who do not take the drug over a course of a year.
The mechanism behind Xenical is the inhibition of gastric and pancreatic lipases, which are the enzymes that break down triglycerides in the intestines. When this activity is blocked the body cannot absorb free fatty acids, allowing for them to be excreted undigested. Most patients will get the desired results by taking a dose of 120mg three times a day. Xenical taken before meals will prevent about 30% of dietary fats from being absorbed which will result in weight loss.
Xenical is very effective for the vast majority of patients who take it, but some may experience some unintended side effects. Most often Xenical causes oily, loose stools and causes excessive flatulence which is due to the unabsorbed fats when they reach the large intestine. Many patients report fecal incontinence or urgent bowel movements. Most of these side effects can be avoided by following a low fat and reduced calorie diet. The oily stools can be reduced or controlled by consuming less than 15 grams of fat per meal. It should also be known to those who take Xenical that they will have a difficult time absorbing vitamins A, D, E, K, and beta-carotene but this can be helped by taking a multi-vitamin that contains all of these vitamins.