• Oral Capsule : Available as 60mg (OTC) or 120mg (POM)
• Mode of Action: 
  • Acts by binding covalently to the serine residue of the active site of gastric and pancreatic lipases.
  • When administered with fat-containing foods, it  partially inhibits hydrolysis of triglycerides, thus reducing the subsequent absorption of monoaclglycerides and free fatty acids.
  • This reduction in fat absorption results in excess fat being excreted.⁴ 
• Dose:
  • One capsule, three times a day with meals taken immediately before, during or up to one hour after each main meal.
  • Treatment should be discontinued after 12 weeks if customer has been unable to lose at least 5 % of the body weight as measured at the start of therapy.
• Side effects :
  • Adverse reactions are largely gastrointestinal in nature and include: abdominal pain/discomfort, oily spotting from the rectum, faecal urgency, fatty/oily stools and flatulence.

Orlistat is available on the NHS - Patients with BMI ≥30kg/m2 or BMI ≥27kg/m2 with associated risk factors

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