Orlistat is a prescription-only medication used to help you lose weight if you are overweight or obese. It is known as a lipase inhibitor which stops the body from absorbing dietary fat, allowing it to pass out of your system as stool waste.

Orlistat is the generic version of Xenical and can be taken up to 3 times a day to block up to one-third of dietary fat being absorbed. It works best when it is taken alongside a healthy calorie-controlled diet and routine exercise.

Orlistat works by blocking the action of lipase, an enzyme produced by the body to break down and absorb fat in the diet. By stopping lipase from breaking down the fat you eat, it travels through the bowel and leaves the body as stool waste. Orlistat stops up to one-third of dietary fat being absorbed. These actions help avoid weight gain and can help you lose weight.

How long does orlistat take to work?

Orlistat can start to work in as little as 24 to 48 hours after taking it. You should begin to notice weight loss results within the first two weeks of using it if you are taking it as prescribed and alongside healthy lifestyle changes.

How effective is orlistat?

Research has shown that orlistat can help 37% of people who use it to lose at least 5% of their starting body weight after 12 weeks.

Does orlistat burn existing fat?

No, orlistat doesn’t burn existing fat in your body but binds to the fat in your food. It blocks a specific digestive enzyme called lipase from breaking down and absorbing dietary fats. By doing this, the unabsorbed fats are passed out of the body as stool waste. Overall, this process reduces the amount of food you eat and helps your body use the stored fat for energy, leading to gradual weight loss.

Each capsule contains 120mg of orlistat and the usual dose is one 120mg capsule with each of your 3 meals per day. You should swallow the capsule whole with a glass of water immediately before, during, or up to 1 hour after a meal.

Orlistat only works in the presence of dietary fat, so if you miss a main meal or you eat a meal that doesn’t contain fat, you don’t need to take orlistat.

You should only ever take orlistat exactly as your doctor has advised.

When to take orlistat

Orlistat should be taken immediately before, during, or up to 1 hour after a meal that contains fat.

How often to take orlistat

The maximum dose for orlistat is 3 x 120mg capsules per day. You must take 1 capsule with each of your main meals (breakfast, lunch, and dinner) if they contain fat.

If you have not achieved at least a 5% loss of body weight after 12 weeks, your doctor may advise you to stop taking orlistat as it may not be working for you and discuss other weight loss treatments with you.

What should I do if I miss a dose of orlistat?

If you forget to take orlistat and it is within 1 hour from your last meal, take your usual dose. If it is outside of this time, wait until your next meal and continue the dose as usual.

Do not take a double dose to make up for a missed dose.

If you eat a meal that does not contain dietary fat or you miss one of your main meals, you do not need to take orlistat. Instead, you should continue to take it as normal with your next main meal.

Orlistat is a prescription-only medication so you will need to obtain a prescription from your doctor to get it. You can also request a private prescription from reputable and regulated online doctor services like Superdrug Online Doctor.

Can I buy orlistat online?

Yes, you can obtain orlistat from Superdrug Online Doctor using our quick, and discreet service, simply:

1. Complete an online health questionnaire.
2. One of our doctors will review your request to see if your chosen medication is right for you.
3. If approved, you can choose to have your medication sent by post in discreet, unmarked packaging, or you can collect it from a Superdrug Pharmacy in as little as 2 to 3 hours after a doctor’s approval.

Can I buy orlistat over the counter?

No, orlistat is a prescription-only medication so you will need to speak to your doctor in order to obtain it. However, a lower dose version of orlistat containing 60mg of the active ingredient called alli is available over the counter. It works in the same way as orlistat but is available without a prescription.

Can I get orlistat on the NHS?

Yes, orlistat is one of the few weight loss medications available on the NHS, but you will need to meet some specific criteria to get a prescription. For example, you will need to have a body mass index (BMI) of:

• 30 kg/m2 or more, or
• at least 28 kg/m2 and a weight-related health condition such as type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, or high blood cholesterol levels

To get orlistat on the NHS, you will need to make an appointment with your GP, so they can assess if the medication is safe and suitable for you to take.

As with all medications, orlistat may cause side effects, however, not everyone will experience them.

Very common side effects (affects more than 1 in 10 users):

• abdominal pain
• headache
• urgent or increased need to open the bowels
• wind with discharge
• oily discharge
• fatty, oily stools
• liquid stools
• low blood sugar levels (experienced by people with type 2 diabetes)

Common side effects (may affect 1 in 10 people):

• Soft stools
• bloating (experienced by those suffering from diabetes)
• rectal pain/discomfort
• tooth/gum disorder
• irregularity of the menstrual cycle
• tiredness

Some other orlistat side effects include:

• allergic reactions
• changes to your blood tests
• skin blisters
• liver or kidney problems
• pancreatitis
• gallstones
• hepatitis
• bleeding from your back passage
• inflammation of your bowel

How long do orlistat side effects last?

Orlistat side effects are most common at the start of your treatment as your body gets used to the medication. Most reported side effects should go away on their own within a few weeks. However, if you’re finding the side effects difficult to manage or are concerned, contact your doctor for advice.

What to do if you get orlistat side effects

If you experience mild orlistat side effects, you should be able to manage them at home. Make sure you are eating a well-balanced, calorie-controlled diet that’s rich in fruit and vegetables and that at most 30% of your daily calorie intake is coming from fat.

Try sticking to healthy forms of fat, like lean meat, egg whites, skimmed milk, low-fat cheese spreads, fruits and beans. It is important that you take your orlistat oral tablet with a balanced meal containing about 10% of your daily calorie intake in the form of fat to minimise side effects.

If you experience any side effects that are hard to tolerate or side effects which are persistent, contact your doctor or call 111.

Do not take orlistat if you:

• are allergic to orlistat or any of the ingredients in the medication
• have cholestasis, a type of liver disorder
• have chronic malabsorption syndrome
• are breastfeeding

If you are taking any other medications you should tell your doctor before taking orlistat, including any prescribed, over-the-counter, or herbal remedies.

Orlistat can change the way the following medications work:

• anticoagulants such as warfarin
• ciclosporin
• iodine salts or levothyroxine
• amiodarone
• HIV treatments
• antidepressants
• anti-anxiety medications
• antipsychotic medications

Orlistat and pregnancy

Do not use orlistat if you are, think you are, or trying to get pregnant.

Orlistat and breastfeeding

Do not use orlistat if you are breastfeeding because it’s not known if the active ingredient passes into breast milk.

Orlistat is not the only weight loss medication available.

At Superdrug Online Doctor we offer a range of alternatives including weight loss injections and tablets.

Weight loss injections

At Superdrug Online Doctor, we offer the following weight-loss injections:

Mounjaro

A once-weekly injectable pen that contains the active ingredient tirzepatide. Mounjaro works by mimicking 2 hormones involved in appetite regulation, GLP-1 and glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP). Mounjaro works by making you feel fuller for longer after a meal. When combined with a healthy diet and regular exercise, Mounjaro can help you lose an average of 22.5% of your initial body weight within 72 weeks.

Wegovy

Wegovy contains the active ingredient semaglutide. Like Mounjaro, it is also injected once per week and works by mimicking the effects of GLP-1. Wegovy helps to slow down the transit of food through your digestive system, making you feel fuller for longer, and regulating your appetite. Wegovy users can lose up to 15% of their starting body weight within 68 weeks of treatment.

Liraglutide

A once-daily weight loss injection containing the active ingredient, liraglutide. It is a generic version of Saxenda which is no longer available due to a national shortage. Generic liraglutide is now approved and available for weight loss in the UK. Liraglutide works by mimicking the hormone GLP-1 to help you feel fuller and reduce the amount of food you eat. Research shows that it can cause an average of 8% weight loss over 56 weeks at the maximum maintenance dose.

Weight loss tablets

At Superdrug Online Doctor we also offer the following weight loss tablets as an alternative to orlistat:

Xenical

Contains the active ingredient orlistat and works by binding to the enzyme that breaks down fat, lipase, to stop your body absorbing some of the fat in your meals. Xenical is the branded version of orlistat and both medications contain the same active ingredient, in the same dose, and work in exactly the same way to promote weight loss. The only difference is the price, packaging and name.

Mysimba

Contains 2 active ingredients, naltrexone and bupropion, which act on the part of your brain responsible for your appetite to make you feel less hungry.

alli

An over-the-counter version of orlistat in a lower dose.

Can I take orlistat with other weight loss treatments?

It is not advisable to use other weight loss products while taking orlistat. Instead, you should combine orlistat treatment with positive lifestyle changes, such as eating a healthy, balanced diet and increasing how much exercise you do.

Is orlistat safe?

Oristat is considered to be a safe weight loss medication. However, as with all medications, there is a risk of side effects. If you are concerned, you should speak to your doctor before taking orlistat.

How long after taking orlistat do you poo?

Taking orlistat may increase the frequency of your bowel movements. These changes often take effect 24 to 48 hours after starting treatment. You may notice changes to your bowel movements, including:

• smelly stools
• diarrhoea
• being unable to control your bowels or feeling an urgent need to go

How long does orlistat stay in your system?

Orlistat should be completely removed from your body within 3 to 5 days.

How do I get the best results when taking orlistat?

To get the best results from orlistat you should:

• eat a healthy, low-fat diet that consists of no more than 30% of your daily calories coming from fat
• aim to complete 150 minutes of exercise each week
• take orlistat capsules exactly as you have been prescribed

What happens if you take orlistat without eating?

If you take orlistat without eating, it won’t work because it needs to bind to the fat in your food to be effective.

Can orlistat cause constipation?

Although constipation is not listed as a side effect of orlistat, some users have reported experiencing constipation when taking it. If you experience constipation, make sure you are drinking plenty of fluids and contact your doctor for advice.