Orlistat Vs. Xenical: Drug Comparison

Orlistat is the active ingredient in the brand-name medication Xenical^®. The information below is about brand name Xenical. According to the FDA, “Generic medicines use the same active ingredients as brand-name medicines and work the same way, so they have the same risks and benefits as the brand-name medicines.”

Xenical (orlistat) is a prescription medication used for weight management by inhibiting the enzyme lipase, which reduces the absorption of dietary fats in the intestines, thereby helping with weight loss. Its FDA-approved indication is for obesity management, including weight loss and weight maintenance, in conjunction with a reduced-calorie diet. Xenical is available in capsule form and is typically taken three times daily with meals containing fat. Common side effects include gastrointestinal issues such as oily stools, flatulence, and frequent bowel movements, especially after consuming high-fat meals. Xenical can affect the absorption of fat-soluble vitamins, and patients are advised to take a multivitamin supplement to avoid deficiencies.

Xenical^® (orlistat) is a prescription medication used for weight management by inhibiting the enzyme lipase, which reduces the absorption of dietary fats in the intestines, thereby helping with weight loss. Its FDA-approved indication is for obesity management, including weight loss and weight maintenance, in conjunction with a reduced-calorie diet. Xenical is available in capsule form and is typically taken three times daily with meals containing fat. Common side effects include gastrointestinal issues such as oily stools, flatulence, and frequent bowel movements, especially after consuming high-fat meals. Xenical can affect the absorption of fat-soluble vitamins, and patients are advised to take a multivitamin supplement to avoid deficiencies.

Reversible inhibitor of gastrointestinal lipases

Reversible inhibitor of gastrointestinal lipases

Xenical (orlistat) is indicated:

• For obesity management including weight loss and weight maintenance when used in conjunction with a reduced-calorie diet

• To reduce the risk for weight regain after prior weight loss

Xenical (orlistat) is indicated:

• For obesity management including weight loss and weight maintenance when used in conjunction with a reduced-calorie diet

• To reduce the risk for weight regain after prior weight loss

• Typically taken three times daily

• Comes in 120 mg capsules

• Typically taken three times daily

• Comes in 120 mg capsules

Most common treatment emergent adverse reactions (≥5% and at least twice that of placebo) include:

• Oily spotting

• Flatus with discharge

• Fecal urgency

• Fatty/Oily stool

• Oily evacuation

• Increased defecation

• Fecal incontinence

Most common treatment emergent adverse reactions (≥5% and at least twice that of placebo) include:

• Oily spotting

• Flatus with discharge

• Fecal urgency

• Fatty/Oily stool

• Oily evacuation

• Increased defecation

• Fecal incontinence

• Pregnancy

• Chronic malabsorption syndrome

• Cholestasis

• Known hypersensitivity to Xenical or to any component of this product

• Drug interactions: cyclosporine, fat-soluble vitamin supplements and analogues, levothyroxine, warfarin, amiodarone, antiepileptic drugs, antiretroviral drugs

• Pregnancy

• Chronic malabsorption syndrome

• Cholestasis

• Known hypersensitivity to Xenical or to any component of this product

• Drug interactions: Cyclosporine, fat-soluble vitamin supplements and analogues, levothyroxine, warfarin, amiodarone, antiepileptic drugs, antiretroviral drugs

• Xenical has drug interactions and can decrease vitamin absorption

• Take a multivitamin supplement that contains fat-soluble vitamins to ensure adequate nutrition

• Rare cases of severe liver injury with hepatocellular necrosis or acute hepatic failure have been reported

• Patients may develop oxalate nephrolithiasis and oxalate nephropathy following treatment with Xenical

• Substantial weight loss can increase the risk of cholelithiasis

• Exclude organic causes of obesity (e.g., hypothyroidism) before prescribing Xenical

• Gastrointestinal events may increase when Xenical is taken with a diet high in fat (>30% total daily calories from fat)

• Breastfeeding: Caution should be exercised when administered to a nursing woman

• Xenical has drug interactions and can decrease vitamin absorption

• Take a multivitamin supplement that contains fat-soluble vitamins to ensure adequate nutrition

• Rare cases of severe liver injury with hepatocellular necrosis or acute hepatic failure have been reported

• Patients may develop oxalate nephrolithiasis and oxalate nephropathy following treatment with Xenical

• Substantial weight loss can increase the risk of cholelithiasis

• Exclude organic causes of obesity (e.g., hypothyroidism) before prescribing Xenical

• Gastrointestinal events may increase when Xenical is taken with a diet high in fat (>30% total daily calories from fat)

• Breastfeeding: Caution should be exercised when administered to a nursing woman

*This information is from the label for brand name Xenical^®. See the Full Prescribing Information for more complete information. Orlistat, the active ingredient in Xenical, may also be the active ingredient in other medications, and this information may not be accurate for all medications that include the active ingredient orlistat.

*This information is from the label for brand name Xenical^®. See the Full Prescribing Information for more complete information. Orlistat, the active ingredient in Xenical, may also be the active ingredient in other medications, and this information may not be accurate for all medications that include the active ingredient orlistat.