Xenical is the prescription strength form of a lipase inhibiting drug called orlistat. Xenical, says the National Center for Biotechnology Information and U.S. National Library of Medicine, may be appropriate for both weight loss and weight maintenance, even if you have high blood pressure, diabetes, high cholesterol or heart disease. When you take Xenical, it is important to follow the right diet to help the drug work effectively as well as to prevent unpleasant side effects. Always consult your doctor before beginning a diet, especially if you have ongoing health problems.
How It Works
A typical dose is a 120 mg pill you take three times a day with water and a meal that contains fat. As digestion begins, Xenical works by attaching to and disabling about one-third of digestive enzymes called lipases, which are necessary for dietary fat metabolism. As a result, notes Xenical.com, a portion of the dietary fat you consume remains undigested, becomes part of your stool and leaves your body during bowel movements.
Dietary Fat Requirements
Because Xenical works in combination with dietary fat, there must be some fat present in each meal for it to work. In general, an appropriate diet for use with Xenical is a low-calorie diet that supplies no more than 30 percent of your daily calorie allowance from fat, or about 10 percent at each meal.
Diet Guidelines
If your doctor does not provide alternate recommendations, Xenical.com suggests following a diet such as the heart healthy diet developed by the American Heart Association. The AHA advocates a diet that includes a variety of nutrient dense foods, or foods with high nutritional value but low in calories. High on the list of foods the AHA recommends are fruits and vegetables, unrefined whole grains, fatty fish such as salmon, trout or herring at least twice each week, lean meats, and fat-free or low-fat dairy products. Keep cholesterol in check and help ensure Xenical works effectively by substituting unsaturated fat, such as vegetable oil, fish and nuts, for the saturated fats you find in fatty red meat, whole milk dairy products and processed meat. Finally, the AHA recommends reducing your sodium to less than 1,500 mg per day.
Vitamin Absorption
As Xenical reduces the absorption of dietary fat, it also reduces the absorption of fat-soluble vitamins D, E and K, as well as beta-carotene. To prevent becoming vitamin deficient in these fat-soluble vitamins, a daily multivitamin is essential. Equally important, say the NCBI and NIH, is taking your vitamin at the right time to make sure Xenical does not affect absorption. A good time to take your vitamin is two hours before or after a meal, or just before bedtime.
Side Effects
If you stay within daily dietary fat recommendations, the main side effect you will notice is a change in bowel movements. Side effects such as loose stools, gas with oily spotting and rectal pain should subside after the first few weeks of treatment. Talk to your doctor if they do not, or if you experience serious side effects the NCBI and NIH describe as a rash, nausea or vomiting, yellowing of the skin or eyes, extreme fatigue or continuous stomach pain.
Consideration
Xenical is not an appetite suppressant. Xenical is a drug that affects your digestive system, one your doctor will prescribe only if you are significantly overweight. After getting started, says Xenical.com, it is important to remain under your doctor's care. She will need to monitor your progress and adjust your daily calorie allowance and exercise program if or when you reach a plateau stage and stop losing weight.
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