Orlistat

Pack size 84

Suitable for: Weight loss in adults aged 18 and over who are overweight and have a body mass index (BMI) of 28 or above. Alli should be used along with a reduced-calorie, lower-fat diet.

When purchasing this product you will be asked to complete a short online questionnaire to ensure it is safe and appropriate for you.  Always read the label and the enclosed information leaflet before taking any medicine for the first time.

Active ingredient: Orlistat 60mg

Other ingredients: Gelatin, Indigo carmine (E132), Iron oxide black (E172), Microcrystalline cellulose (E460), Polysorbate 80, Povidone (E1201) (K-value 30), Propylene glycol, Shellac, Sodium laurilsulfate, Sodium starch glycolate (Type A), Sorbitan monolaurate, Talc, Titanium dioxide (E171).

Orlistat works in your gut, not on your appetite. It stops some dietary fat from being broken down and absorbed, so that fat passes through your body in your stools. The 60mg strength blocks around 25% of dietary fat*.

Instructions for use:

• Take one capsule, 3 times a day.

• Take Alli just before, during or up to 1 hour after meals. This usually means 1 capsule at breakfast, lunch and dinner. Make sure your three main meals are well balanced, reduced calorie, and lower-fat.

*Haleon UK Trading Limited. (2023). alli 60 mg hard capsules: Summary of Product Characteristics. (SmPC)

• Partner with clinicians to customise your treatment plan

• If eligible, your treatment will be delivered directly to your door with your side effect kit and weight loss starter pack.

• Access to unlimited 24/7 clinician support and ongoing check-ins with registered clinicians

• Track your progress and access expert led content on nutrition, exercise and more via your Hers App

Yes. Orlistat can help you lose more weight than making diet and lifestyle changes alone. The honest answer is that it tends to support steady rather than dramatic weight loss. It works by reducing how much fat your body absorbs from meals, rather than suppressing your appetite.

How much you lose will depend on the strength you take and how your body responds. In pooled studies, almost half of people taking 60mg orlistat lost at least 5% of their starting weight after 6 months*. Individual results may vary.

_{*Haleon UK Trading Limited. (2023). alli 60 mg hard capsules: Summary of Product Characteristics.}

Enzymes called lipases help break down the fat in food so your body can absorb it. Orlistat blocks some of these enzymes in your stomach and small intestine. This means some dietary fat is not absorbed and leaves your body in your stools.

Orlistat only works with the fat in the meals you eat. It does not suppress your appetite, so it still needs to be used alongside a reduced calorie, lower fat diet.

Alli 60mg is licensed for adults aged 18 and over with a BMI of 28 or higher. You do not need a prescription, but a consultation with a pharmacist is still required before it can be supplied.

Meeting the BMI criterion does not guarantee treatment; your health and any medicines or supplements you take will be taken into account too.

Orlistat 60mg may not be suitable for you if you are under 18, are allergic to orlistat, have chronic malabsorption syndrome, have cholestasis, are pregnant or breastfeeding. People with kidney disease may also need particular medical advice before taking orlistat.

Restrictions for some medications differ by strength: 

Important: It must not be taken with ciclosporin, warfarin or another oral anticoagulant. 

Tell your Hers clinician about every medication, vitamin and supplement you take. This includes levothyroxine, diabetes medicines, medicines for epilepsy, HIV medicines, amiodarone, acarbose, antidepressants, antipsychotics and benzodiazepines.

This is not a complete list. Read the patient information leaflet supplied with your treatment and ask your clinician if you are unsure.

• Take 1 capsule 3 times a day.

• Take Alli just before, during or up to one hour after meals. This usually means one capsule at breakfast, lunch and dinner. Make sure your three main meals are well balanced, reduced calorie, and lower-fat.

If you remember within 1 hour of your meal, take the missed capsule. If more than one hour has passed, skip it and take your next dose with your next main meal containing fat.

Do not take 2 capsules at the same time or take an extra capsule to make up for a missed dose.

60mg orlistat should not be taken for longer than 6 months. If you have not lost weight after 12 weeks, speak to your clinician. You may need to stop treatment.

The most common side effects include:

• Oily spotting

• Passing gas with an oily discharge

• Fatty or oily stools

• A sudden or more frequent need to go to the toilet

• Soft or liquid stools

• Stomach pain or discomfort

• Difficulty controlling bowel movements

Eating a balanced, lower fat diet can reduce the chance of these side effects.

Serious side effects

It is not known how frequently these side effects occur.

• Severe allergic reactions

• Bleeding from the back passage (rectum).

• Diverticulitis (inflammation of the large intestine)

• Pancreatitis (inflammation of the pancreas).

• Skin blistering (including blisters that burst).

• Severe stomach pain caused by gallstones.

• Hepatitis (inflammation of the liver).

• Oxalate nephropathy (build up of calcium oxalate which may lead to kidney stones).

➜ Stop taking the capsules and tell us and your usual doctor if you get any of these.

A full list of all possible side effects can be found in the information leaflet inside the pack

Call 999 if you have signs of a severe allergic reaction, such as difficulty breathing or swelling of your face, lips, tongue or throat.

Call NHS 111 or seek urgent medical advice if you develop severe or persistent stomach or back pain, bleeding from your bottom, yellowing of your skin or eyes, or another side effect that feels serious.

Speak to a pharmacist, clinician or doctor if a side effect is bothering you or does not settle.

Orlistat can reduce the absorption of fat-soluble vitamins A, D, E and K. If you're advised to take a multivitamin, take it at least 2 hours after your orlistat dose or at bedtime.

Orlistat can also interact with some medicines. Tell your clinician about everything you take before starting treatment, including medicines, vitamins and supplements bought without a prescription.

Orlistat does not directly affect the contraceptive pill. However, severe diarrhoea can reduce contraceptive protection. If this happens, follow the missed-pill advice for your specific contraception and use an additional barrier method, such as condoms.

Do not use orlistat during pregnancy or while breastfeeding. Tell your clinician if you are pregnant, trying to conceive or breastfeeding.

There is no direct interaction between orlistat and the contraceptive pill, but severe diarrhoea can reduce protection from oral contraception. Use an additional barrier method if this happens.