Unlike other
weight-loss drugs that act in
the brain or central nervous system
to suppress appetite or to speed
up metabolism, XENICAL works in
your digestive system to block
fat from being digested.
Enzymes in your digestive
system, called lipases, help digest (or break
down) fat. Xenical attaches to the lipases
and blocks them from breaking down some of
the fat you have eaten.
The undigested fat can't be absorbed and
is eliminated in your bowel movements. By
working this way, Xenical helps block about
one-third of the fat in the foods you eat
from being absorbed by your body.
XENICAL may be right for you if you have
a Body Mass Index of 30 or greater, or have
a BMI of 27 or greater and have other risk
factors, such as high blood pressure, high
cholesterol, heart disease or diabetes.
Xenical Directions?
The recommended dose
is one 120-mg capsule by mouth with liquid
at each main meal that contains fat. You should
take Xenical up to three times a day in combination
with a reduced-calorie diet.
Each time you take Xenical, your meal
should contain no more than about 30% of
calories from fat. You should evenly divide
your daily intake of fat, carbohydrates
and protein over your three main meals.
You can take Xenical during meals or up
to 1 hour after a meal. If you occasionally
miss a meal or have a meal without fat,
you can omit your dose of XENICAL. Doses
above 120-mg three times daily have not
been shown to provide an additional weight-loss
benefit.
Xenical Side Effects?
Because Xenical works
by blocking the absorption of dietary fat,
it is likely that you will experience some
changes in bowel habits. These bowel changes
are a natural effect of blocking the fat from
being absorbed.
They generally occur during the first
weeks of treatment; however, for some people
they may continue for 6 months or longer
while on XENICAL. These changes may include
gas with oily discharge, an increased number
of bowel movements, an urgent need to have
them, and an inability to control them,
particularly after meals containing higher
amounts of fat than are recommended.
People taking PravastatinŽ should take
it at night to avoid a drug interaction
with XenicalŽ.
Xenical Warnings?
Xenical is for people
who are considerably overweight (have a body
mass index of 30 or greater) and for people
who are overweight (have a body mass index
of 27 or greater) and also have other risk
factors such as high blood pressure, high
cholesterol, heart disease or diabetes.
Xenical should be taken with a nutritionally
sound reduced-calorie diet containing no
more than 30% of calories from fat.
XENICAL shouldn't be taken if you are
pregnant, nursing, have food absorption
problems or reduced bile flow. It also reduces
the absorption of vitamins, therefore, a
daily multivitamin is recommended.
Xenical Drug Interactions?
If you are taking cyclosporine,
speak to your doctor before taking Xenical.
Xenical Missed Dose?
If you occasionally
miss a meal or have a meal without fat, you
can omit your dose of Xenical. Doses above
120-mg three times daily have not been shown
to provide an additional weight-loss benefit.
If you miss a dose, you simply lose the benefit
of Xenical in blocking one-third of the fat
in the food you eat at that meal. Simply resume
taking XENICAL at your next meal containing
fat. In clinical trials, taking additional
doses of Xenical did not improve weight loss.
Xenical Storage?
Store this medication
at room temperature and out of the reach of
children. Protect from moisture. Keep container
tightly closed. Throw away any unused medicine
after the expiration date.
Anything Else I Should
Know About Xenical?
Xenical is unlike other
prescription medicines that are based on amphetamine-style
appetite suppressants, those types of medications
typically have many side effects Some prescription
pills like Redux and Pondimin have also been
associated with damaged lung and heart tissue
in some people who took them.
Xenical is currently the only drug that
alters fat metabolism. Xenical's greatest
advantage is that it works exactly where
it is needed -- in the intestinal tract.
It does not affect the heart. It does not
affect the brain. Not even 1% of Xenical
is absorbed by the bloodstream, which makes
it by far the safest prescription diet
drug on the market.
You should take a multivitamin once a
day while on Xenical because it keeps you
from absorbing certain essential vitamins.
This vitamin should not be taken at the
same time as Xenical (needs to be separated
by 2 hours). The easiest way to achieve
this is to take your multivitamin at bedtime.
Obesity is sometimes the result of other
disease states, such as hypothyroidism.
It is extremely important that you have
regular yearly checkup with your primary
care physician!
Do not share this medication with anyone.
NOTE: The above
information is intended to supplement, not
substitute for, the expertise and judgment
of your physician, pharmacist, or other healthcare
professional. It should not be construed to
indicate that the use of the product is safe,
appropriate, or effective for you. Consult
your healthcare professional before taking
the product.
