Orlistat's Side Effects - Brief Article - Statistical Data Included

0 Comments | Family Practice News, Jan 1, 2000

The gastrointestinal side effects of the weight-loss drug orlistat disappear after the first year of use, said Dr. Samuel Klein, professor of gastroenterology at Washington University, St. Louis.

Three large trials showed that unpleasant effects--including flatulence, oily stools, and fecal incontinence--usually persist only a few months. It is not known why the side effects disappear, he said at the annual meeting of the American College of Surgeons in San Francisco.

When taken with meals, orlistat binds to lipase in the intestines and inhibits absorption of about 30% of ingested fat. The daily recommended dose of 120 mg appears to block the maximum amount of fat absorption. In clinical trials, 40% of patients lost 10% or more of their body weight within a year, twice the weight loss seen with placebo.

Patients using any weight-loss drug also should be in a weight-management program, he added. Otherwise, "you'll expose patients to all the risks of drug therapy without the full benefits."