Xenical Information

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Xenical®

Xenical, brand name for orlistat, is a prescription medication designed to promote weight loss. The weight loss supplement is an oral capsule that is intended to be taken three times a day (either with a meal or up to an hour after eating). It works by blocking the body’s naturally occurring enzyme, lipase, which breaks down the fat in food and allows it to be absorbed into the body.

Xenical works by preventing the body from breaking down and absorbing about 25 percent of the fat in each meal. It is only intended to be taken with meals containing approximately 15 mg of fat.

The over-the-counter version of Xenical is Alli.

Important Things You Should Know About Xenical

As with any weight loss supplement, there are things you should know and understand before using Xenical, Orlistat or Alli, including:

• Xenical should be taken in combination with a nutritionally balanced, reduced calorie diet for maximum efficiency
• Consumers taking Xenical should take multivitamins at least two hours before taking the capsule to ensure the vitamins are absorbed in the body and not released with the fat
• Capsules should always be stored at room temperature
• Orlistat-containing supplements should only be taken as directed by a doctor; taking stronger doses than directed has not proven to speed up the weight loss process
• If you are pregnant or breast feeding, you should not take Xenical as it is not known how the drug may affect the health of your baby

Xenical and Liver Injuries

Recently, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced that it will be reviewing the safety of the drug. The warning follows 32 reports of liver injuries among users. Common symptoms that were reported include weakness, stomach pain and jaundice.

The FDA is reviewing the association with liver damage and has not yet confirmed a direct link between the dietary supplement and liver failure.

Common Side Effects of Xenical

While the connection between orlistat and liver damage is still under review, there are more common side effects of the diet pills. These side effects include:

• Urgent bowel movements
• Uncontrollable gas
• Fatty/ oily stool
• Stomach pain and discomfort

For more information about Xenical and its health risks, consult a defective drug attorney near you.