IMPORTANT NOTE: The following
information is intended to supplement, not substitute
for, the expertise and judgment of your physician,
pharmacist or other healthcare professional. It should
not be construed to indicate that use of the drug
is safe, appropriate, or effective for you. Consult
your healthcare professional before using this drug.
ORLISTAT - ORAL (OR-lih-stat)
COMMON BRAND NAME(S): Xenical
USES: This medication is used with a
reduced-calorie diet to help significantly overweight
persons lose weight. It also helps to prevent regaining
weight previously lost. Orlistat works by blocking
some of the fat normally digested by the intestine.
HOW TO USE: Take this drug by mouth, generally
three times daily during (or up to one hour after)
each main meal that contains fat. Your daily intake
of fat, protein and carbohydrate should be evenly
spread over three main meals. If a meal is occasionally
missed or contains no fat, skip that dose of the medication.
Because this drug can interfere with absorption of
fat-soluble vitamins (e.g., A,D,E,K), a daily multivitamin
supplement containing these nutrients is recommended.
Take the multivitamin at least 2 hours before or 2
hours after this drug (e.g., at bedtime). The effects
of this drug may begin as soon as 1-2 days after treatment
begins; noticeable weight loss will take longer.
SIDE EFFECTS: Fatty/oily stool, oily spotting,
intestinal gas with discharge, bowel movement urgency,
poor bowel control, or headaches may occur. If these
effects persist or worsen, notify your doctor promptly.
Intestinal side effects (e.g., oily stool) may increase
in intensity if you exceed your daily dietary fat
allowance. If you notice other effects not listed
above, contact your doctor or pharmacist.
PRECAUTIONS: Tell your doctor your medical
history, including: allergies, digestive disorders
(malabsorption or cholestasis), low thyroid function
(hypothyroidism), other metabolism problems (e.g.,
oxalate kidney stones, hyperoxaluria). This drug should
not be used if you have anorexia nervosa or bulimia-type
eating disorders. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant
before using this medication. The manufacturer does
not recommend use of this drug during pregnancy. It
is not known whether this drug is excreted into breast
milk. Because of the potential risk to the infant,
breast-feeding while using this drug is not recommended.
Consult your doctor before breast-feeding.
DRUG INTERACTIONS: Tell your doctor of all
prescription and nonprescription medication you use,
especially of: cyclosporine, "blood thinners"
(e.g., warfarin), drugs for diabetes (e.g., insulin),
other drugs used for weight loss. Cyclosporine should
be taken at least 2 hours before or after orlistat
to assure maximum absorption of the cyclosporine into
your bloodstream. Do not start or stop any medicine
without doctor or pharmacist approval.
OVERDOSE: If overdose is suspected, contact
your local poison control center or emergency room
immediately.
NOTES: Do not share this medication with others.
Follow your doctor-approved nutritional, reduced-calorie
diet containing about 30 percent calories from fat.
Also, exercise is recommended; however, first consult
your doctor or pharmacist.
MISSED DOSE: If you miss a dose, use it as
soon as you remember. If it is near the time of the
next dose, skip the missed dose and resume your usual
dosing schedule. Do not double the dose to catch up.
STORAGE: Store at room temperature (77 degrees
F, 25 degrees C) away from light and moisture.
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