What to Expect With Orlistat

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Are you curious about the weight loss medication Orlistat? It’s a widely used medication globally, considered safer compared to many other weight loss drugs. But, how effective is it, and what can you expect if you decide to try it?

How does Orlistat work?

Orlistat, also known as Xenical or Alli, operates by blocking your body from absorbing fats consumed in your diet. It does this by interfering with an enzyme called Lipase, which usually breaks down dietary fats for proper digestion and absorption. By inhibiting Lipase, your body can’t break down these fats.

As a result, undigested fats pass through your intestines and end up in your stool. The concept is that by excreting these fats, you absorb fewer calories, theoretically aiding weight loss.

It’s essential to note that Orlistat only blocks around 25% to 30% of the fat you consume, not all of it.

What about side effects?

Based on my experience with patients using Orlistat, most report smelly, oily, and sticky stools. Some struggle with controlling bowel movements, experiencing sudden urges to use the toilet. Essentially, you might find yourself having frequent bowel movements. Gastrointestinal discomfort is common, including gas, bloating, nausea, and stomach pain.

Taking Orlistat with a low-fat diet is crucial, as not doing so can magnify these side effects. Those adhering closely to the diet tend to have milder symptoms.

Orlistat can also affect the absorption of certain vitamins and minerals, so users might need a daily multivitamin supplement for proper nutrition.

Common side effects (reported in more than 1% of patients):

• Fatty or oily stools (22-28%)
• Increased defecation (14-22%)
• Abdominal pain or discomfort (8-19%)
• Flatulence with discharge (4-10%)
• Urgent or increased need to defecate (2-4%)
• Headache (3-6%)
• Respiratory infections (3-6%)
• Influenza (2-5%)
• Back pain (2-5%)
• Upper respiratory tract infections (2-5%)

Rare side effects (reported in less than 1% of patients):

• Kidney stones (frequency unknown)
• Liver injury (frequency unknown)
• Pancreatitis (frequency unknown)
• Hypersensitivity reactions (frequency unknown)
• Colitis (frequency unknown)

Is it safe during pregnancy or breastfeeding?

While Orlistat doesn’t appear to pass into breast milk or the placenta, it’s not recommended during pregnancy or breastfeeding. Although studies haven’t shown increased birth defects, it may interfere with the absorption of vital fat-soluble vitamins crucial for neonatal growth and development.

Some clinicians may use Orlistat before pregnancy to help overweight mothers lose weight and improve fertility. However, caution is advised during pregnancy due to potential nutrient absorption issues.

Orlistat Diet Guide

When it comes to using orlistat for weight loss, one common piece of advice is to pair it with a low-fat diet. The reasoning behind this is that too much fat in your diet can lead to potential side effects.

However, it’s crucial to avoid the misconception that any low-fat diet will do the trick. That’s not the case.

For instance, high-carbohydrate diets won’t be effective in conjunction with orlistat because this medication doesn’t impact carbohydrate absorption.

To make orlistat work effectively, you actually need some fat in your diet. This is because orlistat works by blocking the absorption of fats, and if there’s no fat to block, it won’t be as effective.

On the flip side, adopting a no-fat diet won’t be compatible with orlistat at all. Without any fat to block, the medication won’t have a role to play.

So, what kind of diets work well with orlistat? Consider incorporating one or more of the following elements into your diet:

• Low Carbohydrate Diets
• High Protein Diets
• High Soluble Fiber Diets

For example, a low-carbohydrate Mediterranean diet or a calorie-controlled vegetarian diet that includes fish and eggs can complement the effects of orlistat.

It’s important to understand that following an improper diet while on orlistat is a common reason why some individuals feel like the medication isn’t working as expected.

FAQ

How Effective is Orlistat?

In clinical trials, participants on Orlistat lost around 5.8% of their initial body weight over a year. Compare that to a 3.0% weight loss in the placebo group. If you stick to the low-fat diet recommendation, you could lose 3-5% of your current weight in a few weeks. So, if you’re 180 lbs, expect to drop to around 170 lbs.

However, it’s a bit tricky to figure out if it’s the Orlistat or the diet doing the heavy lifting. Be warned, those who ditch the low-fat diet might regain the lost weight quickly and face some unpleasant side effects.

Xenical vs Alli vs Orlica

Orlistat comes in different brands, like Xenical, Alli, and Orlica. While they essentially do the same thing, the dosage varies. For instance, Xenical provides 120 mg, while Alli gives you 60 mg. You can double the dose of Alli to match Xenical, but it might be more cost-effective to switch to Xenical if you’re considering this.

Orlistat vs Ozempic

Orlistat will likely be weaker compared to other weight loss medications like Ozempic. Orlistat complements your diet, demanding you stay in control. On the other hand, drugs like Ozempic or phentermine suppresses your appetite, forcing you to naturally eat less.

Short-term, Orlistat will likely be less effective, but long-term success depends on your commitment to a weight loss diet, regardless of the medication.

What Else Should I Know?

Orlistat isn’t a universal solution, but is widely available. If you’re keen to try, consider these things:

• Tailored for those who’ve thrived on low-fat diets in the past, Orlistat keeps you on track and signals when you’ve had too much fat.
• Consider Vitamin Injection Therapies or supplements to prevent nutritional gaps and boost fat burning while on the drug.
• Brace yourself for side effects. If you haven’t experienced orange-colored, slimy stools, be prepared for a potential surprise during social events.

Learn more about

• The BEST Diets on Orlistat
• 6 Mistakes People Make When Taking Orlistat
• Saxenda vs Contrave vs Xenical
• 5 Things To Know Before Starting Weight Loss Medication
• The Rise and Fall of The Low Fat Diet
• Other weight loss medications

See also

• 
  Comparing Weight Loss Drugs in 2024
  Ozempic and Mounjaro are highly effective at treating obesity, however there are many other approved and off-label options that also work.
• 
  Bupropion vs Contrave vs Naltrexone
  Contrave is a synergistic combination of buproprion and naltrexone, which can be replicated to some degree using the generics individually.
• 
  New Obesity Drugs in 2024
  New obesity drugs target more than just GLP-1 and do much more than suppress appetite for a more nuanced approach to weight loss.
• 
  Mounjaro: Who Loses the Most Weight?
  White or Asian younger women who use metformin and have lower sugar and lipid levels tend to experience more weight loss with Mounjaro.
• 
  How does Oforglipron compare?
  Orforglipron, Semaglutide, and Danuglipron are oral GLP-1 agonists that are all similar enough that cost may end up being the winning factor.