New to Orlistat

Treatment and medication
1

My GP has said he will prescribe this to me but advised me to go away and look it up on the internet to see if I want to use it. I'm 5ft 10 and weight 16stone 4 lbs. Size 16-18 bottom and larger on top (very broad). I have a very serious back condition which limits exercise (I was very active until approx 2 yrs ago when my condition got worse) this is why the weight has crept up.

My worry about the drug is how long does it stay in your system. I usually skip breakfast (I get up for work at 6.30am) as don't fancy it at this time. I eat fruit until lunch time and them will eat a meal. I usually have any evening meal but my main problem is the rubbish I pick at at around 8pm onwards - will orlistat stay in my system long enough to get rid of the fat that is in this stuff I eat at this time?

I would welcome any comments and advise as to whether I should try this.

Many Thanks

2

Hi, I started Friday. I would think although you don't say, that as you are size 16/18 you must be female? If so you are similar to me in size. I am 5' 8 1/2\" tall, weigh 15 1/2 stone size 20 (creeping up to 22). I am recovering from surgery for a badly broken ankle & have a collapsing arthritic knee on the other leg, so all this weight is not helping. I've started at the gym on my GP's referral which is very much cheaper. I'm giving the pills a go & a few pounds have come off already & I have had none of the embarrassing moments with orange oil & smelly wind some people report. I must admit I'm dreading that it might happen, especially in intimate moments with my toy boy!

The following is copied from someone elses reply, hope they don't mind, it may help

\"Because it works by making the faeces oily, flatulence can occur. It's effectiveness may be partly due to people reducing their fat intake to avoid the unpleasant side effects.

Onset of action - 30 mins, excretion of excess faecal fat begins about 24-48 hrs after first dose.

Duration of action- The drug is not absorbed from the gut and can continue to work as it passes through the intestines. Faeces return to normal 48-72 hrs after treatment is stopped\"

My understanding is that you take the pill as you start or during your meal & you can eat & drink for an hour. Apparently if you want to take vitamins, glucosamine condroitin, or any other pills, do it after 2 1/2 hours have passed as they may still have some effect & these other tablets may not be absorbed propery if they have any fat content. You can eat fruit in between meals as no fat contained. If you miss a meal or have a meal that doesn't contain fat you needn't take the pill, but only salad, veg, or fruit would not contain any fat.

I don't think the instruction leaflet in the box of pills is very comprehensive, but Roche the makers have a wonderful help line where a nurse will talk you through how the drug works, answer any questions, advise on how & when to take it, what to eat etc. She will take your details & arrange to contact your doctor(with your permission) & phone you back in a few weeks. She will ask you how you heard of the help line,this is a such a good service & I can't think why they do not mention it on the instruction sheet. This forum will not allow the details to be shown by any of us, but if you would like to private message me I can give them to you, that's what someone on here did for me.

If you decide to give it a go, we will all answer what we can & give encouragment, I have found the site members to be so helpful & friendly. Best of luck, Mel

3

sorry forgot to say, as far as picking in the evening, that's been my downfall before. If you want to do this, then arrange your 3 pills to cover 2 other meals & take one when you start picking or just before & have one of the meals then, that's the only way to cover yourself for fat content in your evening nibbles. I have managed to cut out the evening nibbles, even gone to bed early sometimes to stop myself!

4

I have just received 2 large envelopes this morning from the Roche nurse, a welcome planning book, food & activity progress diary, A book on fat & calorie counting, & a tape measure! I only got the fat & calorie counting book at this stage because she thought I would benefit from it because of the questions I was asking, it is usually sent out later in the programme.