Xenical

The use of Xenical for weight loss

General practitioners tend to recommend the treatment Xenical for obese adults, whose Body Mass Index (BMI) is higher than 30kg per M2. Here is a handy BMI calculator.

Xenical is an oral medication that works by preventing an individual’s body from absorbing the fat from the food they consume. Normally, an individual would have a meal, and the molecules from the fats would have to be broken down in the gut so that they could enter the blood stream. This would be done by two enzymes in the digestive juices called gastric and pancreatic lipases. You can read more about lipases here.

However, Xenical works by targeting these enzymes and stopping them from effectively breaking down fat. As a result of that, the fat comes out with the individual’s faeces, which leads to weight loss. In general, Xenical helps block about a third of the fat that is a part of an individuals diet. As such, it is recommended that Xenical is used in combination with a healthy low-fat diet and exercise.

Important factors to bear in mind when using Xenical

Given that Xenical affects a key function of the digestive system, it is important to maintain an appropriate diet and include vitamin supplements where relevant. For instance, there are some vitamins (such as A, D, E and K) that are fat-soluble and would not be absorbed as much by the body if an individual is taking Xenical. Because of this, it is recommended that individuals who take Xenical also take multi-vitamin supplements. You can find more information about fat soluble vitamins at this nutrition website.

Similarly, the importance of maintaining a low fat diet is also closely tied to avoiding and lessening common digestive side effects. Indeed, the most common side effects relate to digestive problems such as diarrhea, abdominal pain, fatty stools and oily spotting. Although these side effects may be unpleasant, it is important to note that not everyone who uses Xenical experiences these difficulties. Moreover, most side effects improve with time, as the body will have had a chance to adjust to the treatment.

There are also concerns regarding family planning that are important to consider before and during the use of Xenical. As diarrhoea is a common side effect, it is worth bearing in mind that diarrhoea may affect the effectiveness of oral contraceptive pills. Women who are pregnant need to discuss with their health practitioner whether they should be taking Xenical during the pregnancy and should not be taking Xenical whilst breastfeeding. Further information on Xenical precautions are

Xenical and other medications

There are several of treatments that may become less effective if they are used at the same time as Xenical is used. Sometimes changing the dosage of the treatment, or providing alternative treatments that are more suitable to use in conjunction with Xenical can adjust this. Most notably it is important to consider anticoagulant medications, anti- depressants and anti-psychotic treatments, anti-diabetic medicines, anti-epileptic medicines and medicines for high blood pressure or medicines for high cholesterol levels.

When are changes visible

Overall, medical practitioners expect a patient to lose at least 5% of their weight after three months of using Xenical. This goes up to ten percent after 6 months. We recommend this online doctor service for further advice about Xenical.