Precautions
And after pooling all data, the United States Food and Drug Administration concluded that there was no evidence of a causal link between the use of orlistat and the risk of colorectal cancer.
Does orlistat cause colorectal cancer?
large, hive-like swelling on the face, eyelids, lips, tongue, throat, hands, legs, feet, or sex organs Some side effects of orlistat may occur that usually do not need medical attention. These side effects may go away during treatment as your body adjusts to the medicine.
What are the side effects of orlistat?
Avoid a diet that is high in fat. High-fat meals taken in combination with orlistat can increase your risk of unpleasant side effects on your stomach or intestines.
What should I avoid while taking orlistat?
Generic Name: orlistat (OR li stat) Brand Name: Alli, Xenical. Medically reviewed by Kaci Durbin, MD. Last updated on Mar 6, 2019. Overview; Side Effects; Dosage; Professional; Interactions; More; What is orlistat? Orlistat blocks some of the fat that you eat, keeping it from being absorbed by your body.
What is the generic name for orlistat?
Can you take orlistat long term?
Objective: Orlistat and sibutramine are widely prescribed antiobesity agents that are approved for 2 years of continuous use.
Does Alli cause breast cancer?
However, most people who take Alli or Xenical do not lose 5% of their weight or more (10 pounds for someone starting at 200 pounds), many of those taking the drug may need to stay close to a bathroom to avoid embarrassment, and the drug could potentially increase the risk of breast cancer or colon cancer in the long- ...
Which is an adverse effect of orlistat therapy?
Adverse Effects Gastrointestinal: The most common side effect of orlistat use is steatorrhea, which occurs because of the impaired absorption of dietary fat. Other side effects include fecal spotting, diarrhea, abdominal pain, and anal fissures.
What happens when you take orlistat?
Orlistat (the active ingredient in Alli) promotes weight loss by decreasing the amount of dietary fat absorbed in your intestines. Lipase, an enzyme found in the digestive tract, helps break down dietary fat into smaller parts, so it can be used or stored for energy. Orlistat blocks the work of lipase.
Does orlistat cause colon cancer?
Conclusions This study found no evidence of an increased risk of colorectal cancer after the initiation of orlistat. It is limited by the relatively short follow-up time, and the possibility of adverse effects of long term orlistat use on risk of colorectal cancer cannot be excluded.
Why was Alli taken off the market?
Alli was approved in 2007 as an over-the-counter drug. The FDA banned the two market-leading pills, Fen-phen and ephedra, because of potentially fatal side effects. Studies suggest that taking Xenical or Alli would only help people lose 4 to 6 pounds more than they would with only diet and exercise.
Who should not use orlistat?
The following people should not take orlistat: Pregnant or breastfeeding women. People under the age of 18 years. People who have a condition where food is not absorbed properly (a malabsorption syndrome).
Does orlistat cause liver damage?
Orlistat is an inhibitor of pancreatic and gastric lipase and a commonly used weight loss agent that is available both by prescription and over-the-counter. Orlistat has been linked to rare instances of acute liver injury, some of which have been severe.
What vitamins does orlistat block?
Orlistat blocks your body's absorption of some fat-soluble vitamins and beta carotene. Therefore, when you use orlistat you should take a daily multivitamin that contains vitamins A, D, E, K, and beta-carotene. Read the label to find a multivitamin product that contains these vitamins.
When should you not take orlistat?
Orlistat prevents the absorption of some of the fat you eat. You should take it with liquids during the meal or up to 1 hour after eating. If you occasionally miss a meal or eat a meal that contains no fat, you should skip the dose of orlistat.
Does orlistat get rid of existing fat?
Therefore Orlistat helps to reduce the amount of fat your body absorbs meaning you are burning off your existing stores of fat for energy, rather than the fat you are consuming in your diet.
How much orlistat is safe?
The recommended dosage of orlistat OTC is 60 mg three times per day before main meals containing between 12 and 18 g of fat or up to 1 hour afterward; the drug blocks up to 25% of fat absorption. If the patient skips a meal, the orlistat dose should also be skipped.
Is Alli safe to use?
Alli has been linked to severe liver injury in rare cases, though it has mostly occurred in those taking the prescription-strength dose (Xenical). Stop taking Alli and call your doctor immediately if you develop any of these possible signs of liver damage: Dark urine.
How long should you take Alli?
If you follow a reduced-calorie, low-fat diet, get regular physical activity, and take alli capsules as directed, you could see results in the first two weeks. Most weight loss usually occurs within the first six months. Individual results vary.
Does Alli cause liver damage?
Be aware that cases of severe liver injury have been reported rarely in people taking Xenical and Alli. Contact your healthcare professional if you develop itching, yellow eyes or skin, dark urine, loss of appetite, or light-colored stools. These may be signs of liver injury.
Is Alli FDA approved?
Xenical (orlistat 120mg) was approved as a prescription product by FDA in 1999 for obesity management in conjunction with a reduced caloric diet, and to reduce the risk of regaining weight after prior weight loss.
What are some side effects that I need to call my doctor about right away?
WARNING/CAUTION: Even though it may be rare, some people may have very bad and sometimes deadly side effects when taking a drug. Tell your doctor or get medical help right away if you have any of the following signs or symptoms that may be related to a very bad side effect:
Can you skip a dose of a sulfate supplement?
You may skip a dose if you miss a meal or if the meal does not have fat.
Can all drugs cause side effects?
All drugs may cause side effects. However, many people have no side effects or only have minor side effects. Call your doctor or get medical help if any of these side effects or any other side effects bother you or do not go away:
In Summary
Commonly reported side effects of orlistat include: bowel urgency, frequent bowel movements, oily evacuation, oily rectal leakage, steatorrhea, and flatulence with discharge. Other side effects include: fecal incontinence. See below for a comprehensive list of adverse effects.
For the Consumer
Along with its needed effects, orlistat may cause some unwanted effects. Although not all of these side effects may occur, if they do occur they may need medical attention.
For Healthcare Professionals
The most commonly reported adverse events have included oily spotting, flatus with discharge, fecal urgency fatty/oily stool, oily evacuation, increased defecation and fecal incontinence. [ Ref]
Further information
Always consult your healthcare provider to ensure the information displayed on this page applies to your personal circumstances.
How many times a day can you take Orlistat?
In light of the recent US FDA approval of the over-the-counter sale of orlistat (60 mg three times daily), clinicians need to be aware that its use may be associated with less well known, but sometimes clinically relevant, adverse effects.
Is Orlistat an anti-obesity drug?
Orlistat-associated adverse effects and drug interactions: a critical review. Orlistat, an anti-obesity drug, is a potent and specific inhibitor of intestinal lipases.
Does orlistat affect blood pressure?
However, the effects of orlistat on non-alcoholic fatty liver disease are beneficial. Orlistat-induced weight loss seems to have beneficial effects on blood pressure. No effect has been observed on calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, iron, copper or zinc balance or on bone biomarkers.
Does orlistat affect cancer?
Orlistat has a beneficial effect on carbohydrate metabolism. No significant effect on cancer risk has been reported with orlistat .Orlistat interferes with the absorption of many drugs (such as warfarin, amiodarone, ciclosporin and thyroxine as well as fat-soluble vitamins), affecting their bioavailability and effectiveness.
What other drugs will affect orlistat?
Ask a doctor or pharmacist if it is safe for you to use orlistat if you are also using any of the following drugs:
What happens if you are allergic to orlistat?
Get emergency medical help if you have signs of an allergic reaction to orlistat: hives; difficult breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.
What is orlistat?
Orlistat blocks some of the fat that you eat, keeping it from being absorbed by your body.
How should I take orlistat?
Use orlistat exactly as directed on the label, or as prescribed by your doctor. Do not use in larger or smaller amounts or for longer than recommended.
How long after taking Orlistat can you take cyclosporine?
If you also take cyclosporine, do not take it within 3 hours before or 3 hours after you take orlistat.
Can you take Orlistat without a prescription?
Xenical is the prescription-strength form of orlistat. The Alli brand is available without a prescription.
Does orlistat cause liver problems?
Common orlistat side effects are caused by its fat-blocking action. These are signs that the medicine is working properly.
When was the UK Clinical Practice Research Datalink?
Setting Data from the UK Clinical Practice Research Datalink from September 1998 to December 2008.
Is Orlistat a prescription drug?
Orlistat is an anti-obesity drug that reduces the absorption of dietary fat by inhibiting lipase and is currently approved for both prescription (Xenical, Roche) and over the counter (Alli, GlaxoSmithKline) sale in the United States and Europe.
Is Orlistat a drug?
Orlistat is currently the top selling drug in the global market of anti-obesity drugs, with worldwide sales of $663m (£427m; €496m) in 2011, according to a report from EvaluatePharma. 13 Given such extensive use of orlistat, the lack of data from population based studies on its effects on the risk of colorectal cancer is a major concern. In this study, we sought to investigate whether orlistat initiation would affect the risk of colorectal cancer in a large cohort of adults in the United Kingdom.
Does orlistat cause cancer?
An animal study found that orlistat was associated with a significant increase in the number of colonic aberrant crypt foci, independent of high fat diet. 6 This result is supported by another preclinical study, which showed that orlistat induced colonic cell proliferation and severe crypt alternation. 7 Aberrant crypt foci are putative precursors of colon cancer, although controversy has arisen about aberrant crypt foci as a biomarker of colorectal cancer. 8 9 10 An analysis of pooled clinical trials conducted by orlistat manufactures found no statistically significant difference in risk of colorectal cancer between orlistat and placebo groups. 11 Nevertheless, the pooled analysis showed a numerical imbalance in colorectal carcinoma favoring placebo and was not adequately powered to detect a clinically relevant increased risk. Six of 9717 patients taking orlistat developed colon cancer compared with only one of 7912 patients on placebo. Furthermore, randomized trials tend to recruit younger and healthier patients. On the basis of a review of available data and literature, the US Food and Drug Administration concluded that no evidence existed of a causal relation between use of orlistat and the risk of colorectal cancer. 12
Does orlistat cause weight loss?
Recent studies showed that a reduction in body mass index could decrease the risk of colon cancer, 16 17 18 so our results need to be considered in light of the potential protective effect of orlistat induced weight loss in obese people. Unfortunately, we do not have enough follow-up data on body mass index to estimate the magnitude of the effect of orlistat induced weight loss. Given the average orlistat induced weight loss and a short follow-up time in our study, we would not expect a relevant protective effect of orlistat induced weight loss on the incidence of colorectal cancer. Moreover, although this is of scientific interest, we would mainly be interested in the overall effect of orlistat on colorectal cancer incidence from an individual or public health perspective.
