Drugs Encyclopedia

Orlistat side effects

Along with its needed effects, a medicine may cause some unwanted effects. Although not all of these side effects may occur, if they do occur they may need medical attention.

Note, that Orlistat (Xenical) will prevent your body from absorbing fat soluble vitamins: A, D, E and K. These vitamins plays an important role in our health. Eat foods that are high in carotenes. You should get at least 1,000-2,000 mg of vitamin D, 800 I.U. of vitamin E and 25,000 I.U. of mixed carotenes daily when taking Orlistat. Although these doses of vitamins exceed the RDA, remeber that the RDA was not designed to apply to people taking Orlistat.

Check with your doctor as soon as possible if any of the following side effects occur:

• More common
• Bodyache;
• chills;
• cough;
• fever;
• headache;
• nasal congestion;
• runny nose;
• sneezing;
• sore throat
• Less common
• Tightness in chest;
• tooth or gum problems;
• troubled breathing;
• wheezing
• Rare
• Bloody or cloudy urine;
• change in hearing;
• contagious diarrhea;
• difficult or painful urination;
• earache;
• frequent urge to urinate;
• pain in ear

• More common
• Gas with leaky bowel movements;
• inability to hold bowel movement;
• increases in bowel movements;
• oily bowel movements;
• oily spotting of underclothes
• Less common
• Anxiety;
• back pain;
• menstrual changes;
• rectal pain or discomfort

After you stop using Orlistat, your body may need time to adjust. Side effects caused by orlistat usually disappear within 2 to 3 days after stopping it.

Other side effects not listed above may also occur in some patients. If you notice any other effects, check with your doctor.

Here you can read info about: proper use of orlistat, orlistat dosage, storage of orlistat, precautions while using orlistat, orlistat side effects.