Xenical (Orlistat) Drug Information

Before you start taking Xenical^® (orlistat), you should review safety information on the drug with your healthcare provider. This weight loss medication is only approved for use in people with a body mass index (BMI) of 30 or greater or a BMI of 27 or greater if you also have high blood pressure, high cholesterol, or diabetes.

As with any medication, side effects are possible with Xenical. In clinical studies, side effects that affected the digestive system were the most common. Some of these intestinal-related problems included:

Oily spotting (uncontrolled anal seepage of oil)
Abdominal pain (stomach pain)
Urgent need to have a bowel movement
Gas with discharge (of either oil or stool).

Xenical comes in capsule form and is taken by mouth with each fat-containing meal, up to three times per day. The medication should be combined with a reduced-calorie, low-fat diet. Eating too much fat increases the risk of the side effects discussed above. In general, you should try to limit your fat intake to less than 30 percent of your total daily calories.

(For more information, click Xenical. This article offers details on how the medication works, suggestions on when to take it, important warnings, and more.)