Orlistat (Oral—Local)

Brand Names : Xenical

Before Using This Medicine

In deciding to use a medicine, the risks of taking the medicine must be weighed against the good it will do. This is a decision you and your doctor will make. For orlistat, the following should be considered:

Allergies - Tell your doctor if you have ever had any unusual or allergic reaction to orlistat. Also tell your health care professional if you are allergic to any other substances, such as foods, preservatives, or dyes.

Diet - When using orlistat, your diet should contain no more than 30% of calories as fat. More fat in your diet will increase the side effects of this medicine. Your diet should be nutritionally balanced, and your daily intake of fat, carbohydrates, and protein should be distributed over three main meals.

Pregnancy - Orlistat has not been studied in pregnant women. However, orlistat may decrease the amount of certain vitamins that your body can absorb from the food you eat. Make sure you have discussed with your doctor the use of this medication during pregnancy.

Breast-feeding - It is not known whether orlistat passes into breast milk. Although most medicines pass into breast milk in small amounts, many of them may be used safely while breast-feeding. Mothers who are taking this medicine and who wish to breast-feed should discuss this with their doctor.

Children - Studies on this medicine have been done only in adult patients, and there is no specific information comparing use of orlistat in children with use in other age groups.

Older adults - There is no specific information comparing use of orlistat in the elderly with use in younger adults. However, this medicine is not expected to cause different side effects or problems in older people than it does in younger adults.

Other medicines - Although certain medicines should not be used together at all, in other cases two different medicines may be used together even if an interaction might occur. In these cases, your doctor may want to change the dose, or other precautions may be necessary. When you are taking orlistat, it is especially important that your health care professional know if you are taking the following:

• Warfarin - Orlistat may decrease the absorption of vitamin K and may change your bleeding time

Other medical problems - The presence of other medical problems may affect the use of orlistat. Make sure you tell your doctor if you have any other medical problems, especially:

• Kidney stones or

• Gallbladder problems - Orlistat may make the condition worse