This web page contains some common questions about XENICAL capsules.
- It does not contain all the available information.
- It does not take the place of your doctor or pharmacist.
- All medicines have risks and benefits.
- If you have any concerns about taking XENICAL ask your doctor or pharmacist.
Questions
Answers
WHO SHOULD TAKE XENICAL?
Xenical is indicated for individuals who are obese
(BMI over 30) or who are overweight (BMI between 25 and 30) and have or are
at risk for any of the medical conditions which are related to their weight
or body fat, such as diabetes, high cholesterol, or hypertension.
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HOW DO I START TAKING XENICAL?
Only you and your doctor can decide if
Xenical treatment is right for you. Questions that should be answered include:
- Are you overweight?
- Are you at risk for diseases associated with being overweight?
- How much weight should you and can you realistically lose?
- Can you achieve this goal with diet and exercise alone?
- Would you benefit from taking Xenical?
- Are you committed to managing your weight?
- What kinds of support will you require to help you manage your weight (such as nutritionist, dietician, physical therapist, or psychologist)?
- Are these resources available?
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CAN I USE XENICAL IF I JUST WANT TO LOSE A COUPLE OF POUNDS BEFORE SUMMER?
Discuss this with your doctor. If you do not meet the criteria described
above, you may be advised to lose weight through a program of calorie
restriction and exercise. Keep in mind that you should not allow yourself
to get into a pattern of rapid weight loss and weight regain. This "yo-yo
effect" can be dangerous to your health.
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HOW IS XENICAL DIFFERENT FROM OTHER DIET MEDICATIONS?
With the exception of
Xenical, all of the current prescription drugs for weight loss act on the
brain to reduce appetite. You eat less, you lose weight - but at a price.
In order to get to the brain, these drugs must enter the blood stream.
Therefore, these drugs may have side effects (central nervous system and
cardiovascular), ranging from minor too severe and are indicated only for
short-term use. But, most important, these drugs do little or nothing to
help people change their eating habits or lifestyles. Therefore, when they
stop taking the drugs, the weight is quickly regained.
Xenical, on the other hand, does not enter the blood stream, nor does it
act on the brain. Xenical does not reduce appetite. It simply blocks the
digestion and absorption of fat and helps you to control your fat intake.
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COULD I BECOME ADDICTED TO XENICAL?
No. Because Xenical does not act on the
brain, it is totally non-addictive.
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WHEN I TAKE XENICAL, CAN I EAT WHATEVER I WANT?
Yes and No. For the most
part, you can eat all the kinds of foods you enjoy, but only in smaller
amounts. It is recommended that Xenical be taken in conjunction with a diet
that is moderately reduced in total calories (about 20% - or 600 less
calories per day) and reduced in fat. Please consult your physician or
dietician for further advice. The daily intake of fat should be distributed
over three main meals throughout the day. These restrictions are far less
than most weight loss diets and, therefore, are much easier to follow.
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DO I HAVE TO FOLLOW A SPECIFIC DIET?
No. As long as you moderately reduce
your calories and fat, you do not have to follow a specific diet.
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DO I HAVE TO TAKE VITAMIN SUPPLEMENTS?
Whenever you reduce the amount of
foods you eat, you may be reducing your intake of vitamins as well. It is
essential that you eat nutritiously balanced meals, rich in fruits and
vegetables. Discuss with your doctor the need for supplemental vitamins.
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MUST I EXERCISE?
Yes. Physical activities are an essential part of any
weight control program and necessary for maintaining good health. Exercise
doesn't have to mean running kilometers a day or joining a gym. Slowly
increase your level of physical activity in a way that is easy and fun and
which can become part of a permanent lifestyle change.
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IF I STILL HAVE TO REDUCE MY CALORIES AND XERCISE, WHAT IS THE BENEFIT OF
TAKING XENICAL?
Xenical targets fat. By blocking one third of the fat you
eat, you further reduce the amount of calories you eat without reducing the
amount of food you eat. This makes dieting easier and far more enjoyable.
By targeting fat loss, Xenical has been shown to promote weight loss,
prevent subsequent weight regain and to lower health risks associated with
obesity, when compared with patients on a calorie-reduced diet alone.
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IF XENICAL BLOCKS FAT, DOES IT REDUCE CHOLESTEROL AS WELL?
Yes. Xenical
decreases total cholesterol, decreases LDL (the bad cholesterol) and
improves the LDL /HDL ratio.
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ARE THERE OTHER BENEFITS TO TAKING XENICAL?
In addition to reducing weight,
Xenical reduces
- high blood pressure
- the amount of anti-diabetic medication required (if already diabetic)
- triglycerides
- body fat
- the chance of developing type II diabetes
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HOW FAST WILL I LOSE WEIGHT?
Weight loss begins immediately. In
international clinical studies with thousands of patients, most individuals
using Xenical lost, on average, 10% of their initial body weight over a 6-8
month period.
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HOW MUCH WEIGHT CAN I LOSE WITH XENICAL?
It is very important that you and
your doctor work together to set realistic goals for weight loss. Keep in
mind that even a small weight loss can reward you with a big gain in your
health. A loss of 5 to 10% of your current weight can result in a
significant reduction of risk for disease.
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CAN I START TAKING XENICAL IMMEDIATELY?
This depends on how quickly you are
able to control your diet so that no more than one third of calories come
from fat. In this way, you minimize the chance of experiencing the dietary
events described below. This start-up period can be vary from a few days to
a few weeks.
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DOES XENICAL HAVE ANY SIDE EFFECTS?
Xenical has none of the side effects
normally associated with diet medications that act on the brain. Xenical's
side effects are strictly gastrointestinal in nature and related to its
action of blocking the digestion of ingested fat. Xenical blocks fat
absorption. The fat that is not absorbed into the bloodstream remains in
the intestine and becomes mixed with the stool. The increased fat in the
stool can cause any of the following:
- gas (flatulence) - sometimes with oily spotting
- increased frequency of bowel movements
- fatty/ oily stool
How often or how quickly these effects occur will vary from person to
person and will depend on how much extra fat was consumed. They can occur
within hours after eating or up to a day or two later. These side effects
usually occur early in treatment, last for only a short period, and
disappear over time. Importantly, you can control the effects if you
control your fat intake. Remember: it's not the Xenical, it's the fat you
eat that causes the events.
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HOW DO YOU KNOW THAT XENICAL IS SAFE AND EFFECTIVE?
Xenical is the most
thoroughly tested weight control medication. Clinical trials with Xenical
were conducted with over 7,000 patients in North America, South America,
and Europe.
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DOES XENICAL INTERACT WITH OTHER MEDICATIONS?
Clinical studies have shown
that Xenical does not interact with commonly used medications. However,
before starting Xenical it is essential that you tell your doctor of any
and all medications (prescription and non-prescription) that you are
currently taking.
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IF XENICAL IS SO SAFE, WHY IS IT AVAILABLE ONLY BY PRESCRIPTION?
Obesity is
a chronic disease that requires continuous, long-term medical management.
Obesity and overweight may be associated with serious medical conditions,
such as hypertension, cardiovascular disease, and diabetes. The management
of weight, therefore, should be under the supervision of a physician.
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HOW DO I TAKE XENICAL?
One capsule (120milligrams) is taken three times
daily with each main meal - up two hours after eating. Taking a capsule
with each meal is convenient and easy to remember.
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IF I TAKE MORE THAN ONE CAPSULE AT A TIME, WILL IT BLOCK MORE FAT?
No.
There is absolutely no benefit to taking more than the recommended dose.
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DO I HAVE TO TAKE A CAPSULE WITH EVERY MEAL?
If you skip a meal or your
meal contains little fat (note: be careful of the hidden fats in many
foods), there is no reason to take Xenical, although there is no harm in
taking the capsule. Taking a capsule with each meal will help you to
remember and avoid missing doses.
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WHAT IF I EAT MORE THAN THREE MEALS A DAY?
It is strongly recommended that
you eat several meals throughout the day. But, you should not take more
than 3 Xenical capsules per day.
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WHAT IF I MISS TAKING A CAPSULE WITH A MEAL?
Nothing. You simply miss the
benefit of the medication.
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CAN I OVERDOSE ON XENICAL?
Xenical is very safe. There have been no cases
of overdosing. In experiments, patients who took doses of Xenical many
times over the recommended dose experienced no ill effects. Remember,
taking more Xenical gives no extra benefit.
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WHAT HAPPENS IF I STOP TAKING XENICAL?
Within 72 hours, the medication will
be out of your body. There are no long-term effects.
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WILL I HAVE TO TAKE XENICAL FOR THE REST OF MY LIFE?
One of the benefits of
Xenical is that while you lose weight, you are changing your eating habits
and lifestyle. By the time you have reached your goal, you may be able to
maintain your weight through diet and exercise alone. If, however, you
start to regain weight, you can safely resume taking Xenical. Xenical has
been shown to be safe for up to two years of continuous use. Xenical can
become part of your long-term weight maintenance program.
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