What Is Orlistat?

Orlistat is a treatment for obesity that does not affect the central nervous system. It only acts on the gastrointestinal tract. By inhibiting lipases in the gastrointestinal tract, it prevents the hydrolysis of triacylglycerols into free fatty acids and monoacylglycerides, reduces the absorption of dietary fats (triacylglycerols) in the intestinal mucosa, and promotes fat elimination in vitro. . Lipase is an enzyme necessary for the decomposition of fats in the gastrointestinal tract. This product can be combined with serine residues of gastric and pancreatic lipases to inactivate lipases, making it impossible to break down fats in food into free fatty acids and inhibit fats. Utilization and absorption, in addition, this product can still reduce the risk factors associated with obesity.

Basic Information

Drug Name

Orlistat

Foreign name

Orlistat

Whether prescription drugs

Non-prescription drugs

Orlistat indication

Long-term treatment for obese and overweight people who have moderate diet control and exercise, including patients who have developed obesity-related risk factors (diabetes, hypertension, dyslipidemia, etc.).

Orlistat clinical application

Oral: The recommended dosage is 120 mg at meals or one hour after meals. If one meal is not taken or the food does not contain fat, the medication can be omitted once.

Orlistat adverse reactions

1. More common gastrointestinal adverse reactions. Increased stool frequency, soft stools, thin stools, fatty stools, abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, and oily hiccups;

2. Rarely, upper and lower respiratory tract infections, headache, fatigue, anxiety, urinary tract infections, menstrual disorders, etc .;

3. Occasional allergic reactions, itchy skin, rash, urticaria, angioedema;

4. It can cause the plasma concentration of fat-soluble vitamins to drop (especially vitamin E), and vitamins should be supplemented appropriately.

Orlistat notes

Obese patients with type 1.2 diabetes lose weight after treatment with this product, often accompanied by improved glycemic control, need to adjust hypoglycemic drugs to avoid hypoglycemia.

2. Pregnant and lactating women, children and adolescents under 18 years of age have not done safety and efficacy research, do not use.

Orlistat medication contraindications

It is contraindicated in patients with chronic malabsorption syndrome or cholestasis and allergies to orlistat or any other component of the pharmaceutical preparation.

Orlistat drug interactions

1. Fat-soluble vitamins are taken with this product to reduce absorption at the same time, and supplemented with multivitamin tablets should be taken 2 hours later or before bedtime.

2. For patients who used cyclosporine (polyoxyethylene castor oil in the preparation), the plasma concentration of cyclosporine decreased when taking this product. It is necessary to strengthen the monitoring of blood concentration and adjust the dosage.

Note: The above content is only for introduction, the drug use must be carried out by a regular hospital under the guidance of a doctor.