Orlistat is a prescription weight loss capsule that can help reduce the amount of fat your body absorbs from food. It can support weight loss when used alongside a reduced-calorie, lower-fat diet and regular physical activity.

At Well Pharmacy, treatment starts from £42.99, subject to an online consultation and pharmacist approval. If Orlistat is suitable for you, our clinical team will explain how to take it, what diet changes may help, what side effects to expect, and how to stay on track during treatment.

Orlistat is a prescription medicine used for weight management. It comes as a capsule and is usually taken up to 3 times a day with meals that contain fat.

Unlike weight loss injections such as Mounjaro or Wegovy, Orlistat does not work by reducing your appetite. Instead, it works in your gut by blocking some of the fat from your food from being absorbed. This undigested fat then leaves your body in your stool.

Orlistat works best when used with a reduced-calorie, lower-fat diet and regular physical activity. It’s not a quick fix, but it may help support steady weight loss when taken correctly.

Orlistat can support weight loss when used consistently with diet and physical activity.

In clinical studies, some people taking Orlistat lost 10% or more of their body weight over a year, although results can vary from person to person. Your weight loss may depend on your starting weight, diet, activity level, side effects, other health conditions, and how consistently you take the treatment.

Orlistat is usually reviewed after 12 weeks. If you have not lost enough weight after taking it as advised, your prescriber may recommend stopping treatment or discussing other options.

Orlistat may be suitable if you are an adult and have:

• A BMI of 30 or above
• A BMI of 28 or above and at least one weight-related health condition, such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, or type 2 diabetes

Orlistat may not be suitable if you are pregnant, breastfeeding, planning a pregnancy, allergic to Orlistat, or have certain medical conditions such as chronic malabsorption syndrome or cholestasis.

During your consultation, our pharmacy team will check your BMI, health history, current medicines, and treatment goals before deciding whether Orlistat is appropriate.

Orlistat comes as a capsule that you swallow whole with water. The usual prescription dose is 120mg up to 3 times a day. It should be taken with each main meal that contains fat. This usually means breakfast, lunch, and dinner. To get the best results from Orlistat:

• Take it as prescribed by your pharmacist
• Eat a reduced-calorie, lower-fat diet
• Try to spread your fat intake across your meals
• Avoid very high-fat meals, as they can make side effects worse
• Keep physically active whenever possible

A common target is to keep fat intake to no more than around 30% of your daily calories, but your prescriber or pharmacist can help you understand what this means in practice.

If you forget to take Orlistat and it is still within 1 hour of your meal, you can take it when you remember. If more than 1 hour has passed since eating, skip that dose and take your next dose with your next main meal that contains fat.

Do not take extra capsules to make up for a missed dose.

You should only take Orlistat with meals that contain fat.

If you miss a meal, only have a small snack, or eat a meal that contains no fat, you don’t need to take Orlistat. The medicine works on dietary fat, so it will not be useful if there is no fat in the meal.

Like most medicines, Orlistat can cause side effects. Because Orlistat works in your gut, the most common side effects are stomach and bowel symptoms. Common side effects may include:

• Oily spotting from your bottom
• Wind, sometimes with oily discharge
• Needing to poo more often
• Urgent bowel movements
• Loose or oily stool
• Stomach pain or discomfort
• Rectal pain or discomfort
• Headache

These side effects are more likely if you eat meals that are high in fat. Following a lower-fat diet can help reduce them.

Some people may experience more serious side effects. Get medical advice if you have severe or ongoing stomach pain, yellowing of the skin or eyes, dark urine, pale stool, severe weakness, rash, itching, swelling, or difficulty breathing or swallowing.

Orlistat can reduce how much fat your body absorbs. Because some vitamins are absorbed with fat, Orlistat may also reduce absorption of fat-soluble vitamins such as vitamins A, D, E, and K.

Try to eat a balanced diet that includes fruit and vegetables. If you take a multivitamin, your pharmacist may advise taking it at bedtime, away from your Orlistat doses. Don’t start utilising supplements if you are unsure whether they are suitable for you. Ask your pharmacist for advice, especially if you take other medicines.

Tell your pharmacist about any medicines you take before starting Orlistat. This includes prescription medicines, over-the-counter treatments, vitamins, and supplements. This is especially important if you take:

• Warfarin or other blood thinners
• Ciclosporin
• Levothyroxine
• Medicines for epilepsy
• Medicines for diabetes
• Amiodarone
• HIV medicines
• Medicines for depression or mental health conditions

Your prescriber may need to check whether Orlistat is suitable, adjust how you take your medicines, or recommend extra monitoring. Don’t stop taking prescribed medicines without speaking to a healthcare professional.

Orlistat is one of the most affordable medicated weight management treatments available through Well Pharmacy.

Currently, we prescribe 120mg Orlistat through our Weight Management clinic.

Prices may change. Your treatment will depend on your consultation, suitability and pharmacist approval.

Learn more about weight management