XENICAL DRUG INFO
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: Xenical 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. |
