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Oral therapy information
Understand how oral weight loss therapy works
Learn how Orlistat and Xenical work, what results may look like over time, how to take them correctly, and what side effects to expect when using oral therapy as part of a weight loss plan.
Clinician reviewed
Orlistat & Xenical available
Discreet delivery
At a glance
How does oral therapy work?
Orlistat and Xenical work in the gut by reducing how much fat your body absorbs from the food you eat.
How is it different from GLP-1?
Oral therapy works locally in the digestive system, not in the brain or bloodstream like GLP-1 treatments such as Wegovy or Mounjaro.
Who may prefer this option?
Patients who want a non-injectable approach and are prepared to combine treatment with lower-fat meals and lifestyle changes.
How oral therapy works
How Orlistat & Xenical work
Orlistat and Xenical work by binding to some of the enzymes in your digestive system that normally break down fat. This prevents your body from absorbing a portion of the fat from the food you eat.
What happens in the body
- Blocks roughly one third of dietary fat from being digested
- The undigested fat is then eliminated naturally through your stools
- Only works when taken with meals that contain fat
- Taking it with low-fat or fat-free foods won’t have any effect
How it differs from GLP-1
Unlike some weight loss medications, Orlistat is not a stimulant and does not suppress appetite. It works locally in the gut, so it should not affect your heart rate, mood, brain function or sleep.
Weight loss effects
What kind of results can oral therapy support?
Oral therapy works best when combined with a lower-fat diet, regular movement and long-term consistency.
5–10%
Average weight loss
Average weight loss is around 5–10% of body weight over 6–12 months when combined with a low-fat diet and exercise.
6–12
Months of steady progress
Results generally build gradually over time, rather than all at once, when treatment is used consistently.
Best
Works best with lower-fat meals
Oral therapy is most effective when dietary fat intake is moderate to low and meals are balanced consistently.
Side effects
What side effects can occur?
Because oral therapy blocks fat absorption, digestive side effects are the most common. Not everybody experiences them, and they often improve after the first few weeks.
Common side effects
- Headaches
- Abdominal discomfort and bloating
- Sudden or more frequent bowel motions
- Oily, fatty or soft stools
- Wind, with or without oily spotting
- Rectal pain
- Tooth/gum disorder
Helpful tip
Eating high-fat meals while taking Orlistat can increase both the chance and severity of gastrointestinal side effects. In general, the healthier and lower in fat your meals are, the less side effects are likely to affect you and the more effective treatment can be for steady weight loss.
Not everybody experiences side effects, but if they do occur, they usually settle after a few weeks as your body gets used to the medication.
How to take it
How to take Orlistat correctly
Taking oral therapy correctly and pairing it with balanced meals can help reduce side effects and improve long-term results.
How to take each dose
Swallow one 120mg capsule with water at each main meal that includes fat, up to three times daily.
- Take it while eating or within one hour after finishing the meal
- If you skip a meal, or the meal is fat-free, you do not need to take a capsule
- Taking more than three 120mg capsules a day will not provide extra benefit
Diet and vitamins
To help reduce digestive side effects and support steady weight loss, try to keep the fat content of each meal to no more than 30% of total calories.
Aim to spread your fat, carbohydrate and protein intake evenly across your three main meals.
Because Orlistat can reduce your body’s absorption of fat-soluble vitamins, you should take a daily multivitamin containing vitamins A, D, E, K and beta carotene at least two hours apart from your Orlistat dose.
Available through NuVue
Oral weight loss treatments currently available through NuVue
NuVue currently offers two oral weight loss treatment options: Orlistat and Xenical.
Orlistat
Oral capsuleOrlistat is a non-injectable treatment that works in the gut to reduce fat absorption from meals and support steady weight loss when combined with a lower-fat diet.
- Works locally in the digestive system
- Best used with balanced, lower-fat meals
- Suitable for patients who prefer a capsule over injections
Xenical
Oral capsuleXenical contains the same active ingredient as Orlistat and follows the same core mechanism, making it another oral treatment option for patients seeking non-injectable weight management support.
- Prescription-strength oral therapy
- Designed to support lifestyle-led weight loss
- Often chosen by patients who want a capsule-based option