Orlistat

lenny1976

I see my doctor every month to be weighed and have my blood pressure taken and the last time I went she prescribed a pill called orlistat. I have to take one 3 times a day with meals and apparently they help you lose 10% more weight. She said they don't prescribe them to everybody only in certain circumstances when you have alot to lose and if you haven't lost 5% of your body weight in 3 months then they will take me off them. Anyway I have been doing okay without them and I haven't taken my prescription in yet.
My question is "does anybody take these pills and do they actually work?"
I must admit I am slightly worried about using them as I don't like taking pills of any description if I can help it and I have heard of some nasty side effects.
Any advice will be appreciated. Thanks

michikade

They do a lower dosage orlistat over the counter - Alli.

I have heard it can help because it keeps the body from absorbing some of the fat you eat (creating and/or increasing a calorie deficit) but the "treatment effects" can be really, really unpleasant. That fat your body didn't absorb has to go somewhere, if you know what I'm saying. And those aren't even real "side effects" - if you go over a certain amount of fat in any meal, you will have this issue.

Basically, it could help in that a, ahem, treatment effect could keep you on track to make lower fat choices BUT if you aren't in a calorie deficit or if you run a surplus it isn't gonna help enough. Not to mention people can overeat on "fat free" foods just as easily as they can on full fat foods, AND some fats are good for you anyway, AND orlistat can cause some problems with absorbing fat soluble vitamins.

Now, ALL of this said, I really think you should discuss your concerns with the doctor if you don't feel this is the right option for you.

Kalikel

The only side effect I heard people complain about was the uncontrollable, orange, greasy pooping.

Women were pooping their pants and it was not regular poop, I guess.

I personally think most of them lost because they eliminated products containing fat in order to avoid pooping their pants. I secretly suspect that doctors prescribe it knowing that will happen and will kind of shock people into better eating habits, lol. But I don't know. You're the first person who told me the doctor suggested it. Most who got it went in asking for it and were warned about the possible pooping.

If the doctor said you should take it, you should.

Let us know it goes.