Orlistat: Prescription Drug, Designed To Treat Obesity

Orlistat (also known as tetrahydrolipstatin) is a drug designed to treat obesity, and is sold in both prescription and over-the-counter strengths.

Prescription orlistat is given to overweight people who may also have high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes or heart disease. It is also often used after weight-loss to help people keep from gaining it back. It works by preventing some of the fat in foods eaten from being absorbed by the intestines. This un-absorbed fat then leaves the body in the stool.

Orlistat is usually taken three times a day with each main meal that contains fat. Take it during a meal or up to 1 hour after. If you miss a meal or if it does not contain fat, you can skip the dose. Do not take more or less of it or take it more often than prescribed by your doctor. Taking more will NOT block more fat!

If you are taking cyclosporine, take it 2 hours before or 2 hours after orlistat. Tell your doctor and pharmacist what medications you are taking or going to take. Be sure to talk about any of the following: anticoagulants; medications for diabetes, blood pressure, thyroid disease, and other weight loss drugs.

Avoid Orlistat If

If you have had an organ transplant, if you have cholestasis, or malabsorption syndrome, your doctor may tell you that orlistat is not for you. Tell your doctor if you have or had an eating disorder, kidney stones, diabetes, pancreatitis and gallbladder or thyroid disease. Do not take orlistat if you are pregnant or breast-feeding.