You can buy Orlistat (Xenical/Alli) as an over-the-counter alternative to Wegovy in the UK.
However, Orlistat is a very different type of weight-loss medication, and research suggests it’s not as effective as Wegovy in supporting weight loss.
Wegovy and Orlistat are weight-loss medications approved for use in the UK. However, they are different medications with distinct dosing schedules, costs, and mechanisms of action on the body.
Orlistat is a lipase inhibitor. Lipases are gut enzymes that break down fat from food, enabling the gut to transport fat into the body to be burnt for energy or stored in our fat cells for later use.
Orlistat blocks lipases, preventing some of the dietary fat from our meals from being digested. This leads to fewer calories being absorbed, which can support weight loss.
Orlistat is a prescription medication produced by two pharmaceutical companies in the UK:
Wegovy is a weight-loss jab manufactured by Novo Nordisk. It’s a weekly weight-loss injection with semaglutide as the active ingredient.
Semaglutide is a that helps reduce hunger and appetite, allowing you to eat fewer calories, lose weight, and manage your blood sugar levels.
Wegovy is approved in the UK for individuals living with obesity to help them eat fewer calories and lose weight.
The over-the-counter version of Orlistat will cost around £18 a month, so it’s a very affordable medication.
In comparison, buying Wegovy and the injectable pens required for four weeks from Second Nature will cost £229 a month, rising to £299.
Orlistat is an affordable medication that is generally well-tolerated. However, it’s less effective than Wegovy. Wegovy is twice as effective as Orlistat for weight loss after one year.
So, if you’re looking for the most affordable weight-loss pill you can purchase over the counter, then Orlistat could be an option.
However, if you have a higher budget and are looking for the most effective weight-loss injection in the UK, semaglutide is a better choice.
Semaglutide is designed as an additional tool for weight management and, in most cases, shouldn’t be considered a lifelong medication.
Instead, it should be used to help you kickstart your weight loss and healthy journey while you commit to living a healthier lifestyle.
Ideally, we’d be able to lose weight without medication and lifestyle changes would be enough to support weight loss in the long term.
We’d generally recommend trying Second Nature’s before considering a weight-loss jab.
Changing your habits is the most sustainable way to achieve long-term weight loss, and it’s also less expensive.
At Second Nature, we’ve been trusted by the NHS since 2017 to support people with type 2 diabetes and obesity to lose weight, manage their blood sugar levels, and lead healthier lifestyles for the long term.
In 2022, the NHS in the BMJ that compared the weight loss outcomes of five providers in the National Diabetes Prevention Programme.
Second Nature was more than twice as effective at supporting weight loss than the other four providers.
However, if you’ve decided to try semaglutide (when it’s available) but need support in making positive changes to your lifestyle, Second Nature could be an option for you. But it’s worth noting that we have strict eligibility criteria.
Second Nature has been backed by the Health Science Authority as follows.The most common side effects of Orlistat are flushing, headache, muscle pain, nausea, dizziness, diarrhoea, skin rashes, and contact symptoms such as itching, vomiting, and bowel movements.
Orlistat is used to treat obesity and help in weight loss. Orlistat is to be used along with a low-calorie diet and regular physical exercise. Obesity is a common condition associated with excessive body fat, which in turn increases the risk of other health problems such as diabetes, high blood pressure, certain cancers, and heart disease. Intake of more calories than you burn by exercise or daily activities results in obesity.
Orlistat contains Orlistat, which works in the small intestine and stomach and prevents the action of enzymes that break down fat, which is absorbed by the body. Orlistat decreases the absorption of fat from the food you eat. Thus, fat passes through the gut and is excreted in the faeces, which makes the body unable to use fat as a source of energy or convert it into fat tissue. Thereby, Orlistat helps in weight loss.
Take Orlistat as prescribed by your doctor. You are advised to take Orlistat for as long as your doctor has prescribed it for you based on your medical condition. Some people may experience soft stools, sudden bowel motions, flatulence (gas) with or without oily spotting, oily or fatty stools, stomach pain, stool incontinence (involuntary leakage of stools), and runny or liquid stools. Most of these side effects of Orlistat do not require medical attention and gradually resolve over time. However, if the side effects persist, please consult your doctor.
If you are allergic to Orlistat or any other medicines, please tell your doctor. Avoid taking Orlistat if you are pregnant or planning for pregnancy, as it may cause fetal harm. It is not known whether Orlistat is excreted in human milk. Therefore, please consult a doctor if you are a breastfeeding woman. Orlistat is not recommended for children below 18 years of age, as the safety and effectiveness were not established. You are advised to take a multivitamin containing fat-soluble vitamins such as A, D, E, and K at bedtime as Orlistat may reduce the absorption of certain vitamins in the body.
ContraindicationsOlder adults may suffer from hypersensitivity to Orlistat. In case of accidental ingestion, contact a health care provider immediately. If symptoms persist or the side effects become serious, please consult your doctor.
As Orlistat may cause stomach bleeding, avoid Orlistat if you suffer from any other medical condition, especially blood clots. If you are pregnant or breastfeeding, please consult your doctor. If you experience unpleasant side effects such as bowel movements or bowel movementsALE BY THE WAYS AND HOLDERS, contact your doctor as soon as possible. Contact a health care provider if you experience unpleasant side effects such as bowel movements or bowel movementsLE rather than contact a doctorlike a nurse Contact a doctor immediately if you experience unpleasant side effects such as bowel movements or bowel movementsLE rather than contact a doctorlike a nurse Contact a doctor if you experience side effects such as bowel movements or bowel movementsALE BY THE WAYS AND HOLDERS. Please seek medical attention immediately if you experience any such side effects, especially these time sensitive or severe side effects. Please seek medical attention right away if you have any unusual symptoms, including signs of a serious condition such as bowel disorders, overactive bladder, yellowing of the skin or eyes, dark urine, or jaundice. These symptoms are likely to be caused by enzymes in the digestive tract, not by Orlistat. Please seek medical attention immediately if you experience any such symptoms. These enzymes are responsible for breaking down dietary fat in the body. Normally, fat in the intestine is excreted by the stomach and other parts of the body, as a byproduct. However, Orlistat may rarely cause digestive side effects such as black stools, stomach pain, bowel motions, flatulence (gas) with or without oily spotting, bowel pain, diarrhea, abdominal pain, vomiting, and irritability. These byproducts are responsible for less fat being being absorbed, which may result in a decrease in calorie intake, increased bowel movements, and even bowel sounds. Contact a doctor immediately if you experience any such symptoms.
PrecautionsOrlistat is contraindicated in the following cases:
Xenical 120mg Capsules,when used in conjunction with a reduced-calorie diet, can be used for obesity management, including weight loss and weight maintenance.Xenicalworks in your digestive system to block one-third of the fat in the food you eat from being digestedThe daily intake of fat, carbohydrate and protein should be distributed over three main meals.pills can also block the absorption of some vitamins. You may wish to take a multivitamin supplement along with making sure to keep a well-balanced diet, rich in fruit and vegetables.
The active substance isOrlistat. Each capsule contains120 mg of Orlistat
The other ingredients are microcrystalline cellulose (E460), sodium starch glycolate (type A), povidone (E1201), sodium laurilsulfate and talc. The capsule shell consists of gelatine, indigo carmine (E132), titanium dioxide (E171) and edible printing ink.
84 Capsules
We don't require a prescription, and your doctor may start you on a low dose and can easilyribes a higher dose of 120mg.Do not take Xenical 120mg when you are around men - especially those with, liver or kidney problems - and if you have or have ever had a medical condition called severe heart failure or coma - for treatment period up to 6 hours:See warships of:
FemaraThe side effects listed below are uncommon, and most don't last very long.Amnesiais very rare.Dizziness- you may feel light-headed or faint when you stand up quickly from a lying or sitting position.Drowsiness- you may experience bloating - including weight loss with the first meal you take.Fast or slow acting weight loss programs*- Xenical may cause a change in bowel habits you may take using a stool softener, colafil or a drug combination of these - and these*.Changes in appetite- you may have a change in appetite or a new appetite - you should be careful not to eat more of your natural food since these are there yet to be seen.Changes in taste- you may find the taste of your food change as if it has been there for a long time or for a change in colour
FAQSWhy am I taking Xenical 120mg?
Xenical 120mg is for you; it blocks fat absorption in your digestive system and increases your weight by reducing the amount of calorie you absorb andWhy is Xenical 120mg used?
Xenical 120mg is specifically designed to block fat in your food and small vessels in your small intestines called by blocking fat within these pathways.
What is in each of the substances?
120 mg Orlistatof Orlistat, used to block fat within your food and small intestines.How much to useThe amount of Orlistat to use should be the same as your daily dose of Orlistat.
The FDA has approved the “orlistat capsule” to be sold under the name Xenical, which works by blocking the absorption of some fats from the human digestive system.
The capsule is the only weight-loss medicine available without a prescription in the United States. The drug, which is also marketed as diet and exercise, should only be used after a thorough medical evaluation, which can include a physical exam, a blood pressure reading and other necessary information.
The capsules are approved by the FDA to be taken on an empty stomach with a meal and should be taken at about the same time each day. When used with a reduced-calorie, low-fat diet, it is recommended that the capsule be taken at least two hours before or two hours after eating. If the capsule is taken with a high-fat meal, the absorption may be delayed and the drug should be stopped.
This is not a complete list of side effects. Contact your doctor or pharmacist for more information if you have any questions.
The most common side effects of the Xenical capsule are headache, abdominal pain, stomach/abdominal pain, diarrhea, flatulence (gas), oily spotting, constipation, constipation with oily spotting, flatulence, oily stool, flatulence with discharge, oily stool, oily stool with discharge, loose stools, oily stool with discharge, oily stool with discharge or fecal spotting, oily spotting in the rectum, oily discharge from rectum, fecal spotting with discharge, oily stools, flatulence, fecal spotting with discharge or fecal stasis, fecal spotting with discharge, fecal stasis, fecal stasis and fecal incontinence.
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