Orlistat 120mg 252 Capsules for weight loss

Orlistat - in depth

Orlistat is used to treat obesity by blocking one-third of the fat digested and prevent the fat being absorbed. The typical recommended dosage of Orlistat 120mg is one capsule three times a day after each main meal.

Sometimes, the body needs a helping hand to shed weight and in cases where people have tried and failed to lose weight through diet alone, medication can help. When combined with a balanced diet, Orlistat can help to boost weight loss for people with a BMI of over 30, or those who have a BMI of 28-30 and who suffer from other risk factors, such as diabetes.

This product is available over the counter in a 60mg dose under the brand names Alli and Orlos. The more effective, 120mg dose is only available on prescription and is known to significantly enhance weight loss when taken in conjunction with a calorie-controlled diet and increase in physical activity.

Buying prescription weight loss medication online couldn’t be easier: simply add a product to your basket before completing your online consultation. If you wish to buy any of the non-prescription, 60mg products, you can do so quickly and easily; simply answer a brief questionnaire and the product will be added to your basket. If you require a product which contains 120mg Orlistat, you will need a prescription; this will be issued following a consultation once you have completed your purchase.

Oxford Online Pharmacy’s team is on hand to advise you on the best medication for your needs. Below, we address your most common questions about Orlistat:

• What is it?
• How long does it take to work?
• Where can I buy it?
• How to get the best results from it?
• Does it work straight away?
• What are the side effects?

What is Orlistat?

Orlistat is the only prescription-only weight loss aid currently licensed in the UK. When you eat fat, enzymes called lipases break the fat into small molecules so that it can be absorbed into the body. Orlistat works by binding those enzymes, blocking them from breaking down some of the fat that you eat at a meal. This means that, instead of being absorbed, some fat is passed via the bowels, thereby aiding weight loss.

How long does Orlistat take to work?

Orlistat is usually taken three times a day; once with each meal that contains 1-15g of fat. It works immediately by preventing some of the fat that you have just consumed in a meal from being absorbed into your body. If taken in conjunction with a calorie-controlled diet and increased exercise, Orlistat can improve sustained weight loss. 

Where can I buy Orlistat?

Lower doses (60mg) of Orlistat can be bought over the counter in pharmacies, but the higher, more effective dose (120mg) is only available by prescription. You can get a prescription from your doctor, or you can get a prescription online from Oxford Online Pharmacy. It is never advisable that you buy prescription drugs without the right prescription; doing so could be dangerous and could have serious consequences.

How to get the best results from Orlistat?

AS with any weight loss endeavour, the more work you put into having a balanced diet and healthier lifestyle, the better the results from Orlistat. Normal, healthy weight loss is around 1lb a week, depending on your lifestyle, age, current weight and how much you need to lose. Losing more weight might not be healthy or sustainable. However, the more weight that you have got to lose, the more quickly you are likely to shed weight with Orlistat, particularly in the first few months.

If you are overweight, losing weight combined with an increase in physical activity and improved diet is likely to make you feel significantly better, both physically and emotionally. However, Orlistat blocks some dietary fats from being absorbed. This means that some fat-soluble vitamins might not be absorbed properly, too. If you have concerns, speak to your consultant; they may recommend that you take vitamin supplements at bedtime to minimise vitamin deficiencies.

What are the side effects of Orlistat?

Orlistat doesn’t enter the blood stream but remains in the gut. This means that it doesn’t have the same side effects common with a lot of weight loss medication, such as increased heart rate or insomnia. However, around one in ten people who take Orlistat have the following side effects:

• Headache
• Wind, bloating or abdominal pain
• Oily discharge or stools
• Influenza and upper respiratory tract infections
• Low blood sugar
• Tiredness

Rarely, people on a weight loss regime that includes Orlistat experience more severe side effects, including:

• Rectal bleeding
• Increase in liver enzymes (determined by blood test)
• Diverticulitis
• Gallstones
• Hepatitis
• Skin blistering

If you experience any side effects, consult a medical professional.

A weight loss journey can be daunting, but our consultants are on hand to help you to find the right medication that can help you effectively, and safely. To find out more about safely procuring weight loss medication online, get in touch.

To read the patient information leaflet for this product click here https://www.medicines.org.uk/emc/PIL.27329.latest.pdf

Authored by Stuart Gale, on 17 September 2018. Reviewed by Robert Bradshaw, on 15 October 2019