Orlistat is a popular prescription-only weight loss medication. There are Orlistat side effects you should be aware of before thinking about taking it.
It isn't available over the counter, and buying it from dodgy online pharmacies is definitely not to be recommended.
What is Orlistat?
Orlistat is a weight loss medication that helps people who are overweight or obese.
It is a type of drug known as a fat binder, as it binds some of the fat you eat and stops your body from digesting it. It works by blocking the enzyme that breaks down fat in your diet, so less fat is absorbed by your body. This means fewer calories, which can help with weight management.
Typically, Orlistat is used along with a special low-calorie and low-fat diet and regular exercise.
It comes in 60mg or 120mg capsules and is marketed in the UK as Alli, and Xenical in the US. You take it before meals so it can get to work on limiting fat absorption.
Orlistat sounds great to me so far but some people report Orlistat side effects ranging from stomach cramps that have seen them led to the emergency room, to the “treatment effect” of oily stools that can sometimes be uncontrollable.
Some common side effects include oily stools and gas, but following a balanced diet can help minimize these issues. It's always a good idea to talk to your doctor before starting Orlistat to see if it's right for you.
Orlistat Side Effects
What about the specific Orlistat side effects on your internal organs like your heart, liver, and kidneys? Let's find out:
- Heart – Orlistat doesn't speed up your heart rate like other prescription diet pills such as Phentermine. So that's one good thing about taking this drug. However, it can cause hypertension (high blood pressure). In one case of a 40-year-old female taking 120mg of Orlistat three times a day, her blood pressure increased dramatically and lowered to a normal level when the drug was discontinued (1). High blood pressure can put you at risk of heart attacks and strokes.
- Liver – Although there has been no official causal relationship between liver damage and Orlistat, people have been found to have abnormal liver tests while taking this drug, An example is a 15-year-old girl who was taking 120mg of Orlistat and was admitted to a hospital with abnormal liver function tests (2).
- Kidneys – Renal failure has been linked to the use of Orlistat (3). Your kidneys are the main filtering organ, taking in blood and filtering out waste products ready for excretion through urine. Renal failure can cause a backup of fluid and can be extremely dangerous which is why kidney dialysis is usually recommended.
Orlistat Alternatives
When you look at the risks and side effects, it suddenly seems like, in my opinion, Orlistat is indeed too good to be true. It may be an effective fat binder but that comes at a cost. There are safe, effective diet pill alternatives available to buy online from reputable stores such as PhenQ that don't come with Orlistat side effects.
PhenQ isn't as strong as Orlistat-containing diet pills but that leads to a gentler side effect profile. You can still expect to see a steady rate of weight loss, of about 1-3lbs a week.
Along with a sensible eating and exercise plan, you can maximize your weight loss and before you know it the pounds will have melted off.
Click here for my full PhenQ review
References
(1) Packard KA, Wurdeman RL, Reyes AP “Constipation, polyuria, polydipsia, and edema associated with orlistat.” Ann Pharmacother 36 (2002): 1168-70
(2) Umemura T, Ichijo T, Matsumoto A, Kiyosawa K “Severe hepatic injury caused by orlistat.” Am J Med 119 (2006): e7
(3) Singh A, Sarkar SR, Gaber LW, Perazella MA “Acute oxalate nephropathy associated with orlistat, a gastrointestinal lipase inhibitor.” Am J Kidney Dis 49 (2007): 153-7
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 21, 2024 by Aileen Boyd
