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Orlistat Weight Management

Orlistat Weight Loss Treatment

A prescription oral weight-management treatment that works in the digestive system to reduce the absorption of some dietary fat.

Treatment is subject to clinical suitability, availability and pharmacist approval.
Oral Capsule Taken with a main meal containing fat
Diet-Led Treatment Works alongside a balanced lower-calorie plan
Treatment Overview

What Is Orlistat?

Orlistat is a prescription weight-management medicine that works locally in the digestive system.

It blocks some of the enzymes that break down dietary fat. As a result, part of the fat from a meal is not absorbed and instead passes through the body in the stool.

Orlistat does not suppress appetite. It should be used alongside a balanced, mildly reduced-calorie eating plan with dietary fat spread across three main meals.

01
Active IngredientOrlistat
02
Prescription Dose120 mg capsule
03
How It Is TakenWith each main meal containing fat
04
Maximum Routine UseUp to three times daily
05
Main ActionReduces absorption of dietary fat
06
Clinical ReviewRequired before approval
Start Orlistat Assessment Check My Suitability
Completing an assessment does not guarantee that Orlistat will be prescribed or supplied.
How It Works

How Does Orlistat Support Weight Management?

Orlistat works in the stomach and small intestine rather than acting as an appetite suppressant.

01

Blocks Fat-Breaking Enzymes

Orlistat inhibits gastrointestinal lipases, the enzymes needed to break dietary fat into absorbable components.

02

Reduces Fat Absorption

Some of the fat in a meal is not absorbed and passes through the digestive system instead.

03

Supports a Reduced-Calorie Plan

Treatment is designed to support—not replace—a balanced eating plan and regular physical activity.

Treatment Eligibility

Could Orlistat Be Suitable for You?

Prescription Orlistat may be considered for adults with a BMI of 30 kg/m² or above, or a BMI of 28 kg/m² or above together with associated weight-related risk factors.

General BMI criteria are only the starting point. The pharmacist must assess your health, medicines and treatment goals.

Check My Suitability
What the pharmacist reviews Your complete clinical picture
✓Height, weight and BMI ✓Weight-related health conditions ✓Current medicines and supplements ✓Digestive or absorption disorders ✓Liver, gallbladder and kidney health ✓Diabetes and blood-sugar treatment ✓Pregnancy and breastfeeding ✓Dietary habits and treatment goals
Meeting general criteria does not automatically mean that Orlistat is suitable for you.
Safety Comes First Follow the leaflet and pharmacist guidance
Treatment Safety

Side Effects and Important Safety Information

Orlistat commonly causes digestive effects because unabsorbed dietary fat passes through the bowel. Every accordion is closed on page load.

Common effects include oily or fatty stools, oily spotting, wind with discharge, urgent or more frequent bowel movements, loose stools, diarrhoea and abdominal discomfort.

Digestive effects are more likely after high-fat meals. Spread dietary fat across three main meals and avoid very large or heavily fried meals while using Orlistat.

Disclose chronic absorption problems, cholestasis, kidney disease, liver or gallbladder conditions, diabetes, thyroid disease, epilepsy and every prescription medicine, supplement or herbal product.

Orlistat is not used during pregnancy and prescription Orlistat is contraindicated during breastfeeding. Severe diarrhoea may reduce the reliability of oral contraception, so an additional barrier method may be needed.

Seek urgent help for severe persistent abdominal or back pain, difficulty breathing, swelling of the face or throat, serious rectal bleeding, jaundice, dark urine or severe dehydration.

Do not increase, reduce or stop Orlistat without professional guidance.
Nutrition and Medicines

Vitamins, Supplements and Medicine Interactions

Orlistat may reduce the absorption of fat-soluble vitamins and may affect how some medicines work.

Fat-Soluble Vitamins

Vitamins A, D, E and K

Orlistat may reduce the absorption of these vitamins. A balanced diet rich in fruit and vegetables remains important.

When a multivitamin is recommended, take it at least two hours after Orlistat or at bedtime.
Warfarin and Other Anticoagulants

Monitoring may be required because clotting control can be affected.

Levothyroxine

Thyroid control may be affected and dosing separation or monitoring may be required.

Ciclosporin

This combination is generally not recommended without specialist monitoring.

Antiepileptic Medicines

Reduced absorption may affect seizure control in some patients.

HIV Medicines

Orlistat may reduce absorption and could affect treatment effectiveness.

Amiodarone and Other Medicines

Additional monitoring or clinical review may be needed.

Important

Tell the pharmacist about every medicine, vitamin, supplement and herbal product before starting Orlistat. Do not change prescribed medicines yourself.

Orlistat Questions

Orlistat Frequently Asked Questions

Clear answers about meal timing, side effects, vitamins, progress reviews and treatment approval.

Prescription Orlistat is normally taken up to three times daily with main meals that contain fat.

No. Skip the capsule when the meal is missed or contains no fat.

High-fat meals can increase oily stools, urgency, wind with discharge and other digestive effects.

A multivitamin may be considered because Orlistat can reduce absorption of vitamins A, D, E and K. Take it at least two hours after Orlistat or at bedtime when advised.

Prescription treatment is normally stopped after 12 weeks when at least 5% of starting body weight has not been lost.

Orlistat is not used during pregnancy. Tell the pharmacist if you are pregnant, planning pregnancy or breastfeeding.

The pharmacist may recommend another option, request more information or advise you to contact your GP or another service.

No. Orlistat is supplied only after the pharmacist confirms that it is clinically suitable and appropriate.

Start Your Orlistat Journey

Could Orlistat Be Right for You?

Complete a confidential online assessment and let our pharmacy professional review whether Orlistat may be suitable for your health, medicines, diet and weight-management goals.

Start Orlistat Assessment Compare Weight Loss Treatments
✓ Confidential assessment ✓ Individual pharmacist review ✓ Responsible prescribing ✓ Discreet delivery
Orlistat is a prescription-only medicine at the 120 mg strength. Supply is subject to clinical suitability, verification, availability and pharmacist approval. Results vary and cannot be guaranteed.