What is Xenical?

Xenical is a medicine belonging to a group known as lipase inhibitors. It contains the active ingredient orlistat, which reduces the amount of dietry fat your body can absorb.

Sometimes obesity is caused because the body is absorbing too much fat, or there is an excess of fat in the diet. Xenical can help by making that fat pass through the body instead of being absorbed and stored as body fat.

Fats in your diet are large molecules which need to be broken down to be used by the body. Xenical works by stopping the lipase enzymes from breaking down the fat, allowing about 30% of any fat eaten to pass through.

You lose weight because you are not adding additional fat, and therefore need to burn your existing body fat for energy.

Xenical needs to be taken in conjunction with a low fat diet, and appropriate exercise, and is very helpful to accelerate your efforts and preventing weight gain.

Xenical comes in the form of blue capsules.

You need to follow the directions given to you by your pharmacist or doctor, but generally you would take one capsule with each main meal, or within an hour of that meal.

If you skip a meal, or have a meal containing no fat, you don't need to take a capsule.

Capsules are simply swallowed with water.

Xenical can be taken as directed for up to four years. The first weight loss is normally noticeable within two weeks.

Because Xenical causes fats to pass through the body, the most common problems associated with this medicine are fatty stools, occasional stomach pain and flatulence. A meal high in fat will literally pass right through you almost immediately.

Other medications and/or vitamins which are absorbed with fat can remain undigested.

As with any medicine, it is absolutely vital that you discuss it with your doctor or pharmacist, and read ALL instructions before commencement.

Most importantly, effective, permanent weight loss is a slow process. Even losing a small amount of fat has very good health benefits, so be proud of every little achievement.

Buying Xenical depends on where in the world you live. In some countries it is by prescription only, while in others it is available over the counter from your pharmacist.

Be wary buying any sort of medicine over the internet, and always make sure you know and trust the source.

It is best to ask your pharmacist or doctor.