Xenical is used together with a reduced-calorie diet and weight maintenance to treat obesity in people with certain risk factors (such as diabetes, high blood pressure, and high cholesterol or triglycerides).

If you eat an excessive amount of fat or calories, the excess is stored as fat by the body, resulting in weight gain. When you eat fat, your body breaks it down into its simplest components so that it can be digested.

Unlike other weight-loss drugs you may have heard about that act in the brain or central nervous system to suppress appetite or to speed up metabolism, XENICAL works in your digestive system to block about one-third of the fat in the food you eat from being digested.

Enzymes in your digestive system, called lipases, help digest (or break down) fat. When taken with meals, XENICAL attaches to the lipases and blocks them from breaking down some of the fat you have eaten. The undigested fat cannot be absorbed and is eliminated in your bowel movements. By working this way, XENICAL helps block about one-third of the fat in the foods you eat from being absorbed by your body.

Xenical can also help to improve risk factors. such as high blood pressure. high cholesterol and high blood sugar which, if not treated, could lead to other diseases such as hypertension and diabetes. Each Xenical capsule contains 120 mg of the active substance orlistat, which acts as a lipase inhibitor.

Important Note: The following information is intended to supplement, not substitute for, the expertise and judgment of your physician, pharmacist or other healthcare professional. It should not be construed to indicate that use of the drug is safe, appropriate, or effective for you. Consult your healthcare professional before using this drug.

Side Effects: Fatty/oily stool, oily spoting, intestinal gas with discharge, bowel movement urgency, poor bowel control or headaches may occur. If these efects persist or worsen, notify your doctor promptly. Intestinal side effects (e.g. oily stool) 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.

Pecautions: Tell your doctor your medical history, including: allergies, digestive disorders, (malabsorption or cholestasis), low thyroid function (hypothyroidism), other metabolism problems (e.g. oxalate kidney stones, hyperoxalur. This drug should not be used if you have anorexia nervosa or bulimia - 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.

As with all medications READ the information leaflet before starting your treatment