Xenical is a prescription diet drug that may help you lose weight as long as you eat properly and exercise, according to PubMed Health. While you are taking Xenical, pay special attention to when you take vitamins and what kind you ingest. Taking too many vitamins may be dangerous, so talk to your doctor or pharmacist if you are unsure what doses of supplements to ingest.
Xenical and Vitamins Basics
If you are taking Xenical, you should also take a daily multivitamin that includes plenty of vitamins A, D, E, K and beta carotene, advises PubMed Health. To avoid problems absorbing your vitamins, take your supplements either two hours before or two hours after your Xenical dose. Alternatively, you can take your daily multivitamin at bedtime. If you do not ingest enough vitamins, you could develop deficiency diseases such as rickets or symptoms such as problems with night vision.
How Xenical Works
Xenical is comprised of the lipase inhibitor orlistat, according to PubMed Health. When you take Xenical as directed, the drug will block the fat from the food you eat from being digested in your body. The fat leaves your body through stools. But, Xenical is not a license to eat whatever you want; if you do not exercise and diet, you may not lose weight. A lower-dose form of orlistat, marketed under the brand name Alli, is sold over-the-counter.
Common Side Effects
Xenical can help you lose 5 to 7 more lbs each year than you would by just dieting or exercising, but you must eat low-fat meals, warns the Mayo Clinic. If you eat a lot of fatty foods, you may experience side effects such as loose stools, fatty stools, gas that leaves oily spotting, rectal pain, stomachaches and uncontrollable bowel movements. Other possible side effects include irregular menstrual periods, headache and anxiety. In rare cases, Xenical or its sister drug Alli may cause severe liver injury. Symptoms of liver trouble include jaundice, light-colored stools and dark-colored urine.
Additional Considerations
While taking Xenical, you should carry a written list of all other medications you take including vitamins and nutritional supplements, advises PubMed Health. If you are pregnant or nursing, you cannot safely take any form of orlistat. Your doctor may advise you not to take Xenical if you have diabetes, gallbladder disease, a history of eating disorders such as anorexia and bulimia or if you had an organ transplant.
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