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What is this Drug
Xenical is used with a low-calorie diet to help you lose weight and to maintain your weight after weight loss. Xenical is used in patients with a certain weight who may also have high blood pressure,
diabetes, high cholesterol, or heart disease.
- Xenical is in a class of drugs called lipase inhibitors. It works in your intestines, where it blocks some of the fat you eat from being absorb
ed and disgested. This undigested fat is then removed in your bowel movements (BM).
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Significant Interactions:
If Xenical is taken with certain other drugs, the effects of either could be increased, decreased, or altered. It is especially important to check with your doctor before combining Xenical with the fo
llowing:
- Cyclosporine (Neoral and Sandimmune)
- Warfarin (Coumadin)
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Side Effects of This Medicine
The most common side effect of Xenical is changes in bowel movement (BM) habits. This generally occurs during the first weeks of treatment; however, it may continue throughout your use of Xenical. Tel
l your doctor if any of these symptoms are severe or do not go away:
- oily, spotting BMs
- gas with discharge
- urgent need to have a BM
- oily or fatty stools
- an oily
discharge
- increased number of BMs
- inability to control BMs
- orange or brown color of a BM
- stomach pain
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If you experience any of the following symptoms, cal
l your doctor immediately:
- itching
- redness of skin
- skin rash or hives
- swelling
- chest pain
- difficulty breathing
- fever
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Overdose
There is no report for massive overdose of Xenical. Although the drug seems relatively harmless, any medication taken in excess can have serious consequences. If you suspect an overdose, seek medical
attention.
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How to Use
Xenical prevents the absorption of some of the fat you eat. Therefore, you should take it during the meal or within 1 hour of eating. If you occasionally miss a meal or eat a meal that contains no fat
, you should skip the dose of Xenical.
Because Xenical may decrease the amount of some vitamins that your body can absorb from food, you will need to take a multivitamin supplement once a da
y. Take the vitamin supplement at least 2 hours before or after taking Xenical
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What special precautions should I follow?
Before taking Xenical,
tell your doctor and pharmacist what prescription and nonprescription drugs you are taking, especially anticoagulants (''blood thinners'') such as warfarin (Coumadin);
medications for diabetes, such as glipizide (Glucotrol), glyburide (DiaBeta, Dynase, Micronase), metformin (Glucophage), and insulin; other medications for weight loss; pravastatin (Pravachol); vitami
ns such as beta-carotene and vitamins A, E, and K; and herbal products. If you are taking cyclosporine (Neoral, Sandimmune), take it 2 hours before or 2 hours after Xenical.
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