Orlistat is a medicine used to fight obesity. It is a drug that helps the body not absorb part of the fats you consume in your daily diet. Orlistat was created in 1998 by the pharmaceutical company Roche, marketed under the name Xenical.
Orlistat's mechanism of action is to prevent pancreatic lipase from breaking down fat, without causing any side effects; which allows the exclusion of fats included in food, before they are absorbed into the blood. It should be noted that the use of this drug does not reduce appetite.
Orlistat comes in 120mg capsules that can be taken orally. It can be sold with or without a prescription, however, the most advisable thing is to go to a specialist and that he is the one who recommends it. It is usually taken three times a day after each meal.
People taking orlistat treatment should follow a healthy diet, supervised by a nutritionist and aimed at reducing weight. Avoid the consumption of fatty foods, since consuming foods with a high fat content, in conjunction with orlistat, can increase the appearance of annoying side effects in your stomach.
This drug is indicated for those obese people with risk factors due to their weight (high blood pressure, diabetes, heart disease, etc.) and for those whose body mass exceeds 30kg / m2. Orlistat is contraindicated for those patients with gallbladder problems; pregnant, kidney problems, chronic malabsorption syndrome, anorexia, bulimia.
Among the side effects that medication with this drug can cause are: passing greasy stools, fecal incontinence, increased flatulence. These effects tend to be accentuated to a greater extent during the first year of treatment, this is because the drug stops the absorption of fats, they are discarded with the feces without having assimilated them. In the same way, other symptoms such as headaches, irregularity in the menstrual cycle or anxiety may occur. In the worst case, the patient may have severe stomach pain, rashes, nausea, tiredness, or shortness of breath. It is recommended that if the person If these effects appear, see your doctor immediately.
