What Is Generic Xenical Orlistat? Generic Xenical® (orlistat) is a prescription weight loss medication. It is approved to help people lose weight and to prevent weight regain in people who have already lost weight.

Who Makes Xenical? It is made by Roche Pharmaceuticals.

How Does It Work? Generic Xenical Orlistat works by decreasing the absorption of fat from your diet. The stomach and intestine have enzymes, called lipases, that break down fat into smaller molecules which are then absorbed from your digestive tract. Xenical binds to lipases and inhibits their activity, helping to decrease fat absorption. The medication does not have any effect on carbohydrates or protein.

Effects of Generic Xenical Orlistat Studies have shown that Generic Xenical Orlistat helps people lose weight. After six months of taking the drug while dieting, people lost an average of 12.4 pounds (compared to just 6.2 pounds for people who were just dieting). After a year, those taking it while dieting had lost a total of 13.4 pounds, on average (compared to 5.8 pounds for those just dieting). In addition, those taking it for a year experienced decreases in total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol ("bad" cholesterol), blood sugar, and blood pressure, while those not taking it increased all these factors.

In studies of Generic Xenical Orlistat in people with type 2 diabetes, the drug improved several measures of diabetes control, such as fasting glucose and hemoglobin A1c, and many people were able to reduce or discontinue their diabetes medications. Studies have also shown that the drug can help prevent type 2 diabetes in people with obesity.

Generic Xenical Orlistat has also been studied as an aid to help people who have already lost weight keep the weight off. In one study, 52 percent of people not taking it regained the weight they had lost, compared to just 26 percent of people who took the drug.

When and How to Take Generic Xenical Orlistat General considerations for when and how to take this medication include the following:

It comes in capsule form. It is taken by mouth with each fat-containing meal, up to three times per day.

If you miss a meal, or if you have a meal without any fat, you should skip the dose of Xenical.

The medication should be combined with a reduced-calorie, low-fat diet. Eating too much fat increases the risk of side effects. In general, you should try to limit your fat intake to less than 30 percent of your total daily calories.

For the medication to work properly, it must be taken as prescribed.

Dosing Information There is only one recommended dose, regardless of your age, weight, or other medications or medical conditions.

Side Effects As with any medicine, side effects are possible. However, not everyone who takes the drug will experience side effects. In fact, most people tolerate it quite well. If side effects do occur, in most cases, they are minor and either require no treatment or can easily be treated by you or your healthcare provider. Serious side effects are less common.

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