Xenical, active ingredient orlistat, is a revolutionary new obesity treatment drug, which has made the process of weight loss easier and very convenient. The question is whether these fat blocking pills are safe or not. Knowledge about side effects and precautions of this drug will help you answer this question.
Who is it for?
This medication is for all those people, whose body mass index is 30 or more. In some cases, the medication is also prescribed for overweight people, whose body mass index is 27 or more. These people also suffer from high blood pressure and cholesterol. Some of them may also suffer from heart disease or diabetes. It’s your doctor who will decide whether this medication needs to be prescribed for you or not.
Awareness of Xenical side effects
It’s important to be aware of the side effects of a medication to help cope with them when you experience them. As Xenical works in your digestive tract, most of its side effects revolve around bowel changes. You can experience an increase in your bowel movement. There is also an increase in the urgency of these movements. You might also find yourself unable to control these bowel movements. Another common side effect of this medication is gas with oily discharges. These side effects are by and large temporary in nature and usually go away after the first few weeks of treatment. But, in some cases they might last for as long as 6 months or more. Some of these gastrointestinal side effects can be reduced if you combine the intake of Xenical with a reduced-calorie diet.
Xenical – Precautions
Pregnant or nursing women need to avoid the intake of Xenical. If you suffer from problems with food absorption or reduction in bile flow, then your doctor is not going to prescribe Xenical. Apprise your doctor of your current medical conditions and medical history. Also inform the medical practitioner about your current intake of medications, both prescription and over the counter. This will ensure that the doctor will take all safety factors into consideration before actually prescribing this medication for you. If you have been prescribed Xenical and still have doubts about its safety it’s a good idea to share your concerns with your doctor.
