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How should you take this medication?
Xenical comes as a capsule to take by mouth. It is usually taken three times a day with each main meal that contains fat. Each time you take Xenical, your meal should contain no more than about 30% of
calories from fat. Take Xenical during or up to 1 hour after a meal. If a meal is missed or does not have fat, you may skip your dose. Follow the directions on your prescription label carefully, and
ask your doctor or pharmacist to explain any part you do not understand.
Xenical is in a class of drugs called lipase inhibitors. It works in your intestines, where it blocks some of the fat
you eat from being absorbed and disgested. This undigested fat is then removed in your bowel movements (BM).
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Precautions while Using this Medicine
.For patients with diabetes: Weight loss may result in an improvement in your condition, and your doctor may need to change your dose of oral diabetes medicine or insulin.
Visit your doctor
on a regular basis to check your progressto make sure that this medicine is working properly and to check for unwanted effects
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Possible food and drug interactions when taking this medication
If Xenical is taken with certain other drugs, the effects of either could be increased, decreased, or altered. It is especially important to check with your doctor before combining Xenical with the fo
llowing:
- Cyclosporine (Neoral and Sandimmune)
- Warfarin (Coumadin)
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Diet Program
Follow the diet program your doctor has given you. You should evenly divide your daily intake of fat, carbohydrates, and protein over three main meals. If Xenical is taken with a meal very high in fat
(30% total daily calories from fat), you may experience more side effects from the medication.
Xenical blocks your body's uptake of some fat-soluble vitamins and beta carotene. Therefore, wh
en you use Xenical you should take a daily multivitamin supplement that contains vitamins A, E, K, and beta-carotene. Take the vitamin once a day, 2 hours before or 2 hours after taking Xenical, or ta
ke the vitamin at bedtime.
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Why is this drug prescribed?
Xenical blocks absorption of dietary fat into the bloodstream, thereby reducing the number of calories you get from a meal. At the usual dosage level, it cuts fat absorption by almost one-third. Combi
ned with a low-calorie diet, it is used to promote weight loss and discourage the return of unwanted pounds.
The drug is prescribed for the frankly obese and for merely overweight people who
have other health problems such as high blood pressure, diabetes, or high cholesterol levels. Your weight status is determined by your body mass index (BMI), a comparison of height to weight.
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Overdose
The results of a massive overdose of Xenical are unknown, although the drug seems relatively harmless. However, any medication taken in excess can have serious consequences. If you suspect an overdose
, seek medical attention.
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