Info about Xenical
What is Xenical?
Xenical contains the active ingredient orlistat, which is a medicine that is used to aid weight loss in overweight people.
Xenical is not absorbed into the bloodstream, but works locally in the stomach and small intestine, where it prevents the action of two compounds found in the digestive juices. These compounds (known as enzymes) are called gastric and pancreatic lipases. They normally break down fats that we consume in our diet.
The fats we consume in our diets are made of molecules that are too large to be absorbed from the gut into the bloodstream. They need to be broken down into smaller molecules during the process of digestion, in order to be absorbed into the bloodstream. Gastric and pancreatic lipases are the compounds in the gut that carry out this function.
Xenical works by preventing gastric and pancreatic lipases from working. This means that fats that are eaten are not broken down in the stomach and intestines, and so cannot be absorbed by the body. Orlistat is taken at mealtimes to prevent fat eaten in the meals from being absorbed. This means the body cannot use this dietary fat as a source of energy, or convert it to fat tissue. This helps weight loss.
Xenical is prescribed to aid weight loss for obese people with a body mass index (BMI) greater than or equal to 30kg/m?. It can also be prescribed to overweight people with a BMI greater than or equal to 28kg/m? if they have other risk factors for disease.
Xenical should only be used in conjunction with a low calorie diet. Your doctor may ask you to stop taking Xenical if you have been unable to lose at least five per cent of your body weight after 12 weeks of treatment.