Xenical

Alli, Orlistat, Xenical is the Same Medication under Different Names

 

Xenical, also known as Orlistat and Alli  is a weight-loss aid used to help people who fit certain weight and height requirements, lose weight and then maintain their weight.  Xenical is the first of a new class of anti-obesity drugs known as lipase inhibitors. It is an over-counter drug. That is conditioned by the fact that Xenical (Orlistat, Alli) is not addictive. That's its important advantage over some other weight loss drugs, for example over classic phentermine (adipex, ionamin), which are prescription medications. Since the word Xenical is pronounced: "zen' i-kal" here are most common misspellings for Xenical: Zenical, Zenacal, and Zanacal. Foreigners, who pronounce "x" as "ks" misspel the word as Xenicel, Xinical.

Packages of these drugs appear as follows:

 

Xenical                  Orlistat                Alli

Sure, you want to look your best, but the no. 1 reason for dropping extra weight is your health. Facts are facts, ladies and gentlemen — and the facts say that being overweight puts you at greater risk for things like heart disease, stroke, high blood pressure and type 2 diabetes. Losing even 5% of your body weight can make a big difference in your overall health, as well as the way you look and feel. When you eat fat, it's broken down by enzymes called lipases so that your body can absorbed it. Xenical (Orlistat, Alli) interferes with the activity of these enzymes temporarily, which blocks some of the fat you eat from being absorbed. This allows about 30% of the fat eaten to pass through the body undigested. Xenical works only in the digestive system. It does not change your appetite. It blocks absorption of dietary fat into the bloodstream, thereby reducing the number of calories you get from a meal. At the usual dosage level, it cuts fat absorption by almost one-third. Xenical decreases the absorption of some fat-soluble vitamins and beta-carotene. To compensate, you should take beta-carotene and a multivitamin with vitamins A, E, D, and K once a day, at least 2 hours before or 2 hours after taking Xenical. Use it with a reduced-calorie diet your doctor will recommend.

Xenical (Orlistat, Alli) side effects

Normally, side effects disappear if you continue treatment and keep to your recommended diet. Don't be alarmed by the most of unpleasant side effects. You may not experience any of them. Most patients experienced only one or two episodes. Consult with your doctor on any side effects that are of concern to you.

Get emergency medical help if you have any of these signs of an allergic reaction: hives; difficulty breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat. Stop taking Xenical (Orlistat, Alli) and call your doctor at once if you have severe pain in your upper stomach spreading to your back, nausea and vomiting, and a fast heart rate. These could be signs of pancreatitis.

The following side effects occur commonly with the use of Xenical (Orlistat, Alli). They are the natural effects of Xenical's (Orlistat's, Alli's) fat-blocking action and are actually signs that the medication is working properly. These side effects are usually temporary and may lessen as you continue treatment with Xenical (Orlistat, Alli):

Abdominal discomfort or pain
Anxiety
Arthritis
Back pain
Diarrhea, generally mild and goes away
Dizziness
Earache
Fatigue
Fatty or oily stools - 20% of patients
Fecal urgency or incontinence - 22.1% of patients
Flu
Gas with fecal discharge, generally mild and goes away - 23.9% of patients

Gas with oily discharge
Gum problems
Headache

Inability to control bowel movements
Increased defecation

Increased number of bowel movements
Incontinence (fecal) - 7.7% of patients
Leaky (loose) stools in some patients temporarily
Menstrual problems
Muscle pain

Oily spotting in your undergarments;

Oily or fatty stools;

Orange or brown colored oil in your stool;

Nausea
Rectal discomfort or pain
Respiratory tract infections
Skin rash
Sleep problems
Stomach cramps

Stomach pain
Tooth problems

Urgent need to go to the bathroom
Urgency to have a bowel movement
Urinary tract infections
Vaginal inflammation
Vomiting

Other side effects that may occur while taking Xenical include:

problems with your teeth or gums;

cold or flu symptoms;

headache, back pain; or

skin rash or itching.

Side effects other than those listed here may also occur. Talk to your doctor about any side effect that seems unusual or that is especially bothersome.

How to Take Xenical (Orlistat, Alli)?

Read the chart on the medicine package. You may consider starting Xenical (Orlistat, Alli) if your weight is the same or more than the weight shown for your height.

Take Xenical (Orlistat, Alli)  by mouth with each meal containing fat. Do not take more than 3 capsules daily.

If a meal is missed or contains no fat, do not take a dose of Xenical (Orlistat, Alli).

Xenical (Orlistat, Alli) may decrease your absorption of vitamins. Take a multivitamin once a day at bedtime.