Xenical

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Xenical Photograph of counterfeit Xenical

Prescription Drug Information, Side Effects & Interactions for Xenical

Uses
This medication 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.

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.

Storage

Store at room temperature (77 degrees F, 25 degrees C) away from light and moisture.

Xenical Photograph of counterfeit Xenical

How To Use

HOW TO USE THIS MEDICATION: 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 betdime).
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 or poor bowel control may occur.
If these effects persist or worsen, notify your doctor promptly.
Side effects 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 any allergies, digestive disorders (malabsorption or cholestasis); low thyroid function (hypothyroidism) or other metabolism problems (e.g., oxalate kidney stones, hyperoxaluria).
This drug should not be used if you have anorexia nervosa or bulemia-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.

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.

Drug Interactions

Tell your doctor of all prescription and nonprescription medication you may use, especially cyclosporine; "statins" for cholesterol (e.g., pravastatin); "blood thinners" (e.g., warfarin); drugs for diabetes (e.g., insulin) or other drugs used for weight loss.
Do not start or stop any medicine without doctor or pharmacist approval.