You might be considering taking a prescription or over-the-counter pill that contains Orlistat but are worried that you may be faced with problems like hair loss or severe depression if you do end up taking them.
In this article, I will aim to look at some possible myths about Orlistat and look at any alternatives that might be available that have less severe side effects.
Why Would I Be Prescribed Orlistat?
Orlistat is often given to people who need help losing weight. It helps by blocking some of the fat from the food you eat, so your body doesn't absorb all those extra calories. This makes it easier to shed pounds, especially if diet and exercise haven't been enough on their own.
In general, losing weight with pills like this may also help with health issues like high blood pressure, diabetes, and heart problems, making it a good option for improving overall health.
You may be given Orlistat in its branded form (e.g. Xenical or Alli) and there are fairly strict criteria in place that you must meet if you are to be prescribed Orlistat (or one of its brand names) in most countries.
These include having a BMI of 28 and over or being so overweight that your health is in danger. After all, obesity comes with its own side effects that could mean you are at risk of:
- Heart attacks
- Strokes
- Diabetes
These, of course, could be life-threatening by themselves, which is what could drive doctors to prescribe pills like this.
Even if you get prescribed this pill, you can't stay on it for a long time without meeting more criteria such as losing 5% of your weight or more in the first 3 months. In short, you may have to jump a few metaphorical hoops in order to get Orlistat medication.
Can Orlistat Cause Depression?
Unfortunately, many people have reported depression as a side effect while taking an Orlistat-based pill. There is a lack of scientific study to back up these claims though.
One of the reasons that could stop you from choosing to take Orlistat is because you already have depression and are concerned that it may make your mental health worse, or even that it will interfere with your antidepressant medication. I'd advise caution in these instances, particularly because it was known to interact with over 150 different medications at the time of writing.
Can Orlistat Cause Hair Loss?
Doctors monitor patients who take this pill carefully for side effects such as losing a significant amount of hair. This might be caused because the medication stops the absorption of some of the fat you eat, and as many vitamins and minerals essential for maintaining healthy hair are fat-soluble if you reduce the fat absorbed you cut down on the number of essential vitamins you then take in as a result.
In summary, yes Orlistat is known to cause hair loss in some people, particularly those that are lacking in minerals and vitamins prior to taking this medication.
Is There A Better Alternative?
I'm not against diet pills and fat binders entirely, in fact, I feel that there are some really good examples of this type of pill that are easily available to buy now, without a prescription.
PhenQ is a shining example of a great, effective fat burner diet pill that acts in a similar way to Orlistat but doesn't require a prescription to use and has shown itself to have a gentler effect on your system, hence there should be fewer side effects.
It also happens to be my top-rated overall diet pill because of its proven ingredients, good side effect profile, and superior weight loss results when compared to the other pills I have reviewed over the years.
Click here for my full PhenQ review
Author: Aileen Boyd
Hi, I'm Aileen Boyd, the owner of Diet Pill Judge. I have personally tried loads of diet pills over the years and found that only a few of them really work.
My background is in science, so I set out to find supplements that have scientific evidence behind them and which I can confidently recommend.
Last Updated on June 18, 2024 by Aileen Boyd
