Orlistat is used for:

Managing obesity in adults and adolescents 12 years and older. It is also used to reduce the risk of weight regain after previous weight loss.

Orlistat is a gastrointestinal lipase inhibitor. It works by inhibiting the digestion of fats from the diet and should be used with a reduced-calorie diet.

Do NOT use Orlistat if:

• you are allergic to any ingredient in Orlistat
• you constantly have problems absorbing food (chronic malabsorption)
• you have gallbladder problems
• you have cholestasis (a problem of bile flow from the liver to the intestines)

Contact your doctor or health care provider right away if any of these apply to you.

Before using Orlistat :

Some medical conditions may interact with Orlistat. Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you have any medical conditions, especially if any of the following apply to you:

• if you are pregnant, planning to become pregnant, or are breast-feeding
• if you are taking any prescription or nonprescription medicine, herbal preparation, or dietary supplement
• if you have allergies to medicines, foods, or other substances
• if you have an underactive thyroid

Some MEDICINES MAY INTERACT with Orlistat. Tell your health care provider if you are taking any other medicines, especially any of the following:

• Anticoagulants (eg, warfarin) because side effects, including risk of bleeding, may be increased by Orlistat
• Cyclosporine because its effectiveness may be severely decreased by Orlistat. Cyclosporine should be taken at least 2 hours before or after orlistat to ensure maximum absorption of cyclosporine into the bloodstream

This may not be a complete list of all interactions that may occur. Ask your health care provider if Orlistat may interact with other medicines that you take. Check with your health care provider before you start, stop, or change the dose of any medicine.

How to use Orlistat :

Use Orlistat as directed by your doctor. Check the label on the medicine for exact dosing instructions.

• An extra patient leaflet is available with Orlistat. Talk to your pharmacist if you have questions about this information.
• Take Orlistat by mouth with or up to 1 hour after each main meal that contains fat (up to 3 per day).
• If a meal is missed or contains no fat, do not take a dose of Orlistat.
• You should take a multivitamin supplement containing vitamins A, D, E, and K to ensure good nutrition. The supplement should be taken at least 2 hours before or after you take Orlistat , such as at bedtime.
• If you miss a dose of Orlistat , take it as soon as possible. If it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and go back to your regular dosing schedule. Do not take 2 doses at once.

Ask your health care provider any questions you may have about how to use Orlistat.

Important safety information:

• Do NOT take more than the recommended dose without checking with your doctor. Exceeding the recommended dose will not make you lose more weight and may increase side effects.
• Tell your doctor or dentist that you take Orlistat before you receive any medical or dental care, emergency care, or surgery.
• Follow the diet program given to you by your health care provider. Your daily intake of fat should be divided evenly over 3 meals.
• Eating a meal high in fat while taking Orlistat increases the risk of side effects involving the stomach and intestines.
• Diabetes patients - Orlistat may affect your blood sugar. Check blood sugar levels closely. Ask your doctor before you change the dose of your diabetes medicine.
• Additional monitoring of your dose or condition may be needed if you are taking amiodarone.
• Orlistat should not be used in CHILDREN younger than 12 years old; safety and effectiveness in these children have not been confirmed.
• PREGNANCY and BREAST-FEEDING: If you become pregnant, contact your doctor. You will need to discuss the benefits and risks of using Orlistat while you are pregnant. It is not known if Orlistat is found in breast milk. Do not breast-feed while taking Orlistat.

Possible side effects of Orlistat :

All medicines may cause side effects, but many people have no, or minor, side effects. Check with your doctor if any of these most COMMON side effects persist or become bothersome:

Bowel movement urgency; gas with discharge; inability to control bowel movements; increased number of bowel movements; oily discharge; oily or fatty stools; oily spotting.

Seek medical attention right away if any of these SEVERE side effects occur:

Severe allergic reactions (rash; hives; itching; difficulty breathing; tightness in the chest; swelling of the mouth, face, lips, or tongue); severe or persistent stomach pain.

What is the shelf life of the pills?

• The expiry date is mentioned on each blister. It is different for different batches. The shelf life is 2 years from the date of manufacture and would differ from batch to batch depending on when they were manufactured.