Xenical Weight Loss Tablets (120mg)

£44.19 (£0.53 per capsules)

Our Prices

	120mg
84 capsules	£44.19
168 capsules	£87.98
252 capsules	£130.49

Xenical tablets are a prescription weight loss medicine containing 120mg of Orlistat. It works in your digestive system to reduce the amount of fat your body absorbs from food. This helps put you into a calorie deficit to support weight loss.

You can buy Xenical online in the UK from Oxford Online Pharmacy following a short online consultation and approval from one of our independent doctors.

What is Xenical?

Xenical is an oral weight loss medication that you can only get on prescription. Each Xenical tablet contains 120mg of the medicine Orlistat and is taken with meals containing fat. These weight loss tablets are designed to be used alongside a lower-fat, calorie-controlled diet (1).

Xenical pills are the branded version of Orlistat 120mg. Generic Orlistat capsules contain the same active ingredient and work in the same way as Xenical for weight loss.

How does Xenical work?

Xenical diet pills work differently from many newer weight loss medicines. Rather than reducing your appetite, it stops some of the fat in your food from being absorbed.

It does this by blocking enzymes in your digestive system called lipases. These enzymes are made by the pancreas and stomach, and normally break down dietary fat so it can be absorbed. When you take Xenical for weight loss, around 30% of the fat you eat isn’t absorbed (1-2).

Importantly, Orlistat doesn’t burn existing fat – it reduces the amount of fat you absorb from food to help put you in a calorie deficit. To lose weight with Xenical, it needs to be combined with a balanced, lower-fat diet, which also reduces the chance of you experiencing side effects.

How long does Xenical take to work?

Xenical weight loss pills start working quickly. Changes in the amount of fat passed in your stools usually happen within 24 to 48 hours of your first Xenical tablet (1).

But weight loss takes much longer. It takes your body time to burn the excess fat it's carrying in place of the calories from food, supporting gradual weight loss. By 12 weeks of treatment, you should have lost at least 5% of your starting body weight, or treatment will be stopped (1).

How long does Xenical last?

Xenical works on the dietary fat only in the meal you take it with. After you stop taking Xenical, the amount of fat passed in your stools usually returns to its previous level within 48 to 72 hours (1).

How long your supply of Xenical tablets lasts depends on the pack size you order and how often you take it. If you take the usual dose of one Xenical capsule three times a day, the available pack sizes provide:

84 capsules – around 4 weeks (1 month)
168 capsules – around 8 weeks (2 months)
252 capsules – around 12 weeks (3 months)

You should skip your dose if you miss a meal or your meal contains no fat, so a pack may last slightly longer in practice.

Who is Xenical for?

Xenical weight loss pills are licensed for adults with (1):

a BMI of 30 or above, OR
a BMI of 28 or more with weight-related risk factors, such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, or type 2 diabetes.

If you don’t know what your BMI is, you can calculate it using this free NHS tool.

Your doctor will usually only prescribe Xenical capsules if attempts to lose weight through diet and exercise alone have been unsuccessful.

In the UK, Xenical can be bought online from regulated pharmacies, and these checks can be done remotely when you order Xenical. You will need to complete a short consultation so that our doctors can check your medical history to make sure it’s safe for you before you can purchase Xenical.

How effective is Xenical?

Clinical trials looking at whether Orlistat works for weight loss have shown that it can support weight loss when taken as prescribed alongside a calorie-controlled diet (1). In the XENDOS trial, people taking Orlistat 120mg three times a day were followed for four years. The study found that (3):

41% lost at least 10% of their starting weight after one year
21% maintained at least 10% weight loss after four years
Average weight loss after four years was 5.8kg, compared with 3.0kg with placebo

This suggests that Xenical capsules can support long-term weight loss. However, clinical trial results cannot guarantee how much weight you will lose. If you have not lost at least 5% of your starting body weight after 12 weeks, treatment with Xenical should be stopped (1).

Xenical alternatives

The closest alternatives to Xenical weight loss pills are other medicines containing Orlistat, but there are also oral weight loss treatments that work differently:

Generic Orlistat 120mg – the same active ingredient and strength. Orlistat 120mg capsules contain the same medicine at the same dose and work in the same way. The main difference is that Xenical is a branded medicine, while generic Orlistat is often cheaper.
Alli or Orlos – lower-strength Orlistat without a prescription. Alli and Orlos contain half the amount of Orlistat (60mg) and are available over the counter. They work in the same way as Xenical, but block slightly less fat (around 25%) (4).
Mysimba, Wegovy Tablets or Foundayo – oral treatments with different mechanisms. Unlike Xenical diet pills, these tablets work on appetite rather than blocking fat absorption. All are prescription-only and can be supplied after an online consultation.

Here is how the main oral weight loss treatments compare:

	ALLI / ORLOS	ORLISTAT / XENICAL	MYSIMBA	WEGOVY PILL	FOUNDAYO
Active ingredient	Orlistat – lipase inhibitor	Orlistat – lipase inhibitor	Naltrexone and Bupropion – appetite suppressant	Semaglutide – oral GLP-1 receptor agonist	Orforglipton – oral GLP-1 receptor agonist
How does it work?	Reduces the absorption of dietary fat	Reduces the absorption of dietary fat	Suppresses appetite and reduces food cravings	Suppress appetite, slows stomach emptying, and makes you feel fuller for longer	Suppress appetite, slows stomach emptying, and makes you feel fuller for longer
How do I take it?	One capsule taken with each fat-containing meal, up to three times daily	One capsule taken with each fat-containing meal, up to three times daily	Two tablets taken twice daily once the full maintenance dose is reached	One tablet daily on an empty stomach, followed by at least 30 minutes before eating, drinking or taking other oral medicines.	One tablet daily
Prescription required?	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes

If you are open to an injectable treatment, Wegovy and Mounjaro are once-weekly weight loss injections. Your prescriber can help guide you towards the best treatment for you if you’re unsure.

Xenical Weight Loss Tablets (120mg) reviews

How to use Xenical Weight Loss Tablets (120mg)

The recommended Xenical dose is one 120mg capsule with each of your three main meals (5).

Do not take more than three 120mg capsules a day. Taking a higher dose has not been shown to provide any additional benefit (1).

Always take Xenical exactly as prescribed.

How to take Xenical

Swallow one Xenical 120mg capsule with water immediately before, during or up to one hour after each main meal (5). This means you will usually take one capsule at breakfast time, one capsule at lunchtime and one capsule at dinner time.

Eating a meal that is particularly high in fat can make side effects more likely, which is one reason you should aim to eat a lower-fat diet on Orlistat. Around 30% of your calories should come from fat, with your intake of fat, carbohydrates and protein spread across three main meals.

If you skip a meal or your meal does not contain any fat, skip your Xenical dose as well (5).

How to store Xenical

Xenical pills supplied in blister packs should be stored below 25°C in their original packaging to protect them from light and moisture. If supplied in a bottle, it should be stored below 30°C with the container tightly closed to protect it from moisture (1,5).

Keep Xenical weight loss pills out of the sight and reach of children.

Side effects of Xenical Weight Loss Tablets (120mg)

Most Xenical tablet side effects affect the digestive system because of the way Orlistat prevents some dietary fat from being absorbed. These effects can be more noticeable after eating meals that contain a lot of fat (1).

Common Xenical side effects

Very common side effects (more than 1 in 10 people) include (5):

Stomach pain or discomfort
An urgent need to go to the toilet
Liquid stools
Fatty or oily stools
Oily spotting
Wind, sometimes with discharge
Passing stools more frequently
Headache
Low blood sugar in people with type 2 diabetes

Common side effects (up to 1 in 10) include anxiety, respiratory tract and urinary tract infections, and lower respiratory infections. Some women also find their menstrual cycle becomes irregular (5).

For a full list of side effects, refer to the Xenical Patient Information Leaflet.

Serious side effects of Xenical

Although rare, it is possible to have a severe allergic reaction to Orlistat or any of the ingredients in the capsules (5). Stop taking Xenical and seek medical advice if you develop signs of a serious allergic reaction. These can include:

Itching or a rash
Hives
Swelling of the face, lips, tongue or throat
Difficulty breathing or wheezing

Other more serious long-term side effects of Orlistat have also been reported, including liver failure, kidney problems, pancreatitis, gallstones, and rectal bleeding. These are rare, but their exact frequency is not known (1).

If you notice any unusual or severe symptoms while taking Xenical, talk to your doctor urgently.

What are the ingredients of Xenical tablets?

Alongside 120mg of Orlistat, each Xenical capsule contains microcrystalline cellulose, sodium starch glycolate, povidone, sodium laurilsulfate and talc. The capsule shell contains gelatine, indigo carmine (E132) and titanium dioxide (E171). The printing ink contains black iron oxide, concentrated ammonia solution, potassium hydroxide, shellac and propylene glycol (5).

Xenical warnings

Xenical can reduce the absorption of fat-soluble vitamins, including vitamins A, D, E and K. Your doctor may recommend taking a multivitamin supplement. If you take one, it should be taken at least 2 hours after Xenical or at bedtime to avoid Xenical affecting its absorption (1,5).

If you take the contraceptive pill, Xenical does not directly make it less effective. However, diarrhoea can affect how well the pill is absorbed. If you experience severe diarrhoea, follow the missed-pill advice in your contraceptive leaflet and use an extra method of contraception (1,5).

Xenical can cause kidney damage because it may increase oxalate levels in your urine. The risk is higher if you have chronic kidney disease or are dehydrated. Make sure you drink enough fluids during treatment and seek medical advice if you develop symptoms of kidney problems (1).

Taking Xenical with other medications

Xenical and some medications shouldn’t be mixed. Xenical may stop some medications from working as they should, while other medications can affect the way Xenical works.

You should tell your prescriber about any medicines or supplements you’re taking during your consultation to purchase Xenical, but especially tell them if you take (5):

Ciclosporin
Warfarin or other anticoagulants
Acarbose for diabetes or other diabetes medicines
Amiodarone for heart rhythm problems
Levothyroxine or iodine medicines for an underactive thyroid
Epilepsy medicines, such as valproate or lamotrigine
Antiretroviral HIV medicines
Certain medicines for mental health conditions, including antidepressants, antipsychotics, lithium and benzodiazepines.
Vitamin supplements containing beta-carotene or vitamin E

Refer to the Patient Information Leaflet for a full list of medicines you can’t take with Xenical.

Who should not take Xenical?

Xenical is not suitable for everyone. You should not take Xenical if you (1):

Are allergic to Orlistat or any of the other ingredients in Xenical
Have chronic malabsorption syndrome, a condition that prevents your body from properly absorbing nutrients from food
Have cholestasis, where the flow of bile from your liver is reduced or blocked
Are pregnant, plan to become pregnant, or breastfeeding

Frequently Asked Questions

: Take one Xenical 120mg capsule immediately before, during or up to one hour after each main meal containing fat. For the best results, combine Xenical with a balanced, reduced-calorie diet and spread your daily fat intake evenly across three main meals.
For more advice, read our blog on Getting the Best Results from Orlistat.
: Xenical pills start working quickly. The amount of fat passed in your stools usually increases within 24 to 48 hours of your first dose. Weight loss happens more gradually, and treatment should be stopped if you have not lost at least 5% of your starting weight after 12 weeks (1-2).
: The most common reason is diet. Xenical reduces the amount of fat you absorb from food, but you still need to follow a reduced-calorie diet to lose weight with Xenical. Eating too many calories overall can prevent you from losing weight, even while on treatment.
Get more help with our practical diet guide: What to Eat on Orlistat
: No. You should not combine Xenical with another weight loss medicine. There is not enough evidence to assume that doing so will improve results, and it may increase the risk of side effects. If Xenical is not working for you, speak to your doctor about switching to another weight loss treatment.
: You can buy Xenical in the UK from any registered pharmacy with a valid prescription. Xenical is a prescription-only medicine, so you will need a consultation with a doctor or another qualified prescriber before you can purchase it.
: Yes. You can buy Xenical online in the UK from Oxford Online Pharmacy following an online consultation. One of our doctors will review your answers to check that Xenical is suitable before prescribing it. Do not buy Xenical online from websites offering it without a prescription.
: The price of Xenical depends on the pack size you order. At Oxford Online Pharmacy, 84 Xenical 120mg capsules cost £44.19, 168 capsules cost £87.98 and 252 capsules cost £130.49. Prices can change, so check the current Xenical price at the top of this page before ordering.
: Orlistat, the active ingredient in Xenical, may be available on the NHS for some people who meet the criteria for weight management treatment (2). Whether you can get Orlistat from your GP will depend on your individual circumstances and the weight management services available in your area.
Discover more: Can you get Orlistat on the NHS?
: Orlistat is the active ingredient in Xenical pills. Xenical is a branded medicine containing 120mg of Orlistat. Generic Orlistat 120mg contains the same active ingredient. Lower-strength 60mg Orlistat treatments (Alli and Orlos) are also available without a prescription.
Read our guide to the Differences Between Orlistat, Xenical and Alli for a more detailed comparison.
: Separate clinical trials have generally reported greater average weight loss with Wegovy than with Orlistat (1,6). But which treatment is better for you will depend on factors including your health, BMI, other medicines and how you prefer to take your treatment.

Patient Information Leaflet

Important - Before taking any medication, it is always important to read the Patient Information Leaflet (PIL)

Xenical Weight Loss Tablets (120mg) - Patient Information Leaflet

References

Xenical 120 mg hard capsules - Summary of Product Characteristics (SmPC) - (emc) [Internet]. www.medicines.org.uk.
NHS website. Orlistat [Internet]. nhs.uk. 2026 May.
Torgerson JS, Hauptman J, Boldrin MN, Sjostrom L. XENical in the Prevention of Diabetes in Obese Subjects (XENDOS) Study: A randomized study of orlistat as an adjunct to lifestyle changes for the prevention of type 2 diabetes in obese patients. Diabetes Care. 2003 Dec 23;27(1):155–61.
Alli 60 mg hard capsules - Summary of Product Characteristics (SmPC) - (emc) | 6533 [Internet]. Medicines.org.uk. 2025.
Xenical ® 120mg hard capsules Orlistat [Internet].
Wilding JPH, Batterham RL, Calanna S. Once-Weekly Semaglutide in Adults with Overweight or Obesity. The New England Journal of Medicine [Internet]. 2021 Feb 10;384(11):989–1002.

Message From Our Pharmacist

Please let us know if, for any reason, you have not taken your medicine exactly as prescribed. Otherwise, your doctor may think it was ineffective or well tolerated and may unnecessarily change your treatment.

Your doctor will discontinue the treatment with Xenical after 12 weeks if you have not lost at least 5 % of your body weight as measured at the start of treatment with Xenical. Xenical has been studied in long-term clinical studies of up to 4 years duration.

We recommend taking a multivitamin alongside your weight loss medication to ensure you get the necessary nutrients to support healthy weight loss. You can get Centrum Advanced multivitamin tablets here.