Orlistat (Oral—Local)
Brand Names : Xenical
Before Using This MedicineIn deciding to use a medicine,
the risks of taking the medicine must be weighed against the good it will
do. This is a decision you and your doctor will make. For orlistat, the following
should be considered:
Allergies - Tell your doctor if you have ever had any unusual or allergic
reaction to orlistat. Also tell your health care professional if you are allergic
to any other substances, such as foods, preservatives, or dyes.
Diet - When using orlistat, your diet should contain
no more than 30% of calories as fat. More fat in your diet will increase the
side effects of this medicine. Your diet should be nutritionally balanced,
and your daily intake of fat, carbohydrates, and protein should be distributed
over three main meals.
Pregnancy - Orlistat has not been studied in pregnant women.
However, orlistat may decrease the amount of certain vitamins that your body
can absorb from the food you eat. Make sure you have discussed with your doctor
the use of this medication during pregnancy.
Breast-feeding - It is not known whether orlistat passes into
breast milk. Although most medicines pass into breast milk in small amounts,
many of them may be used safely while breast-feeding. Mothers who are taking
this medicine and who wish to breast-feed should discuss this with their doctor.
Children - Studies on this medicine have been done only in
adult patients, and there is no specific information comparing use of orlistat
in children with use in other age groups.
Older adults - There is no specific information comparing use
of orlistat in the elderly with use in younger adults. However, this medicine
is not expected to cause different side effects or problems in older people
than it does in younger adults.
Other medicines - Although certain medicines should not be used
together at all, in other cases two different medicines may be used together
even if an interaction might occur. In these cases, your doctor may want to
change the dose, or other precautions may be necessary. When you are taking
orlistat, it is especially important that your health care professional know
if you are taking the following:
-
Warfarin - Orlistat may decrease the absorption of vitamin K
and may change your bleeding time
Other medical problems - The presence of other medical
problems may affect the use of orlistat. Make sure you tell your doctor if
you have any other medical problems, especially:
-
Gallbladder problems - Orlistat may make the condition worse
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