Orlistat is an intestinal lipase inhibitor sold in the U.S. under 2 brand and generic names, for obesity. Below: what the FDA label says, every product that contains it, what the pills look like, and its recall record.
From the FDA label for Xenical (application NDA020766). Other orlistat products — different forms, different strengths — are dosed differently. Follow the label for the one you were prescribed.
One 120-mg capsule three times a day with each main meal containing fat (during or up to 1 hour after the meal). ( 2 ) Advise patients to take a nutritionally balanced, reduced-calorie diet that contains approximately 30% of calories from fat. ( 2 ) Distribute the daily intake of fat, carbohydrate, and protein over three main meals. ( 2 ) Advise patients to take a multivitamin containing fat-soluble vitamins to ensure adequate nutrition. ( 2 ) Take the vitamin supplement at least 2 hours before or after the administration of XENICAL, such as at bedtime. ( 2 ) For patients receiving both XENICAL and cyclosporine therapy, administer cyclosporine 3 hours after XENICAL. ( 2 ) For patients receiving both XENICAL and levothyroxine therapy, administer levothyroxine and XENICAL at least 4 hours apart. ( 2 ) 2.1 Recommended Dosing The recommended dose of XENICAL is one 120-mg capsule three times a day with each main meal containing fat (during or up to 1 hour after the meal). The patient should be on a nutritionally balanced, reduced-calorie diet that contains approximately 30% of calories from fat. The daily intake of fat, carbohydrate, and protein should be distributed over three main meals. If a meal is occasionally missed or contains no fat, the dose of XENICAL can be omitted. Because XENICAL has been shown to reduce the absorption of some fat-soluble vitamins and beta-carotene,…
Most common treatment emergent adverse reactions (≥5% and at least twice that of placebo) include oily spotting, flatus with discharge, fecal urgency, fatty/oily stool, oily evacuation, increased defecation and fecal incontinence. ( 6.1 ) To report SUSPECTED ADVERSE REACTIONS, contact the Safety Call Center at 1-888-236-5445 or FDA at 1‑800‑FDA‑1088 (1-800-332-1088) or www.fda.gov/medwatch. 6.1 Clinical Trials Because clinical trials are conducted under widely varying conditions, adverse reaction rates observed in the clinical trials of a drug cannot be directly compared to rates in the clinical trials of another drug and may not reflect the rates observed in patients. Commonly Observed (based on first year and second year data) Gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms were the most commonly observed treatment-emergent adverse events associated with the use of XENICAL in the seven double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trials and are primarily a manifestation of the mechanism of action. (Commonly observed is defined as an incidence of ≥5% and an incidence in the XENICAL 120 mg group that is at least twice that of placebo.) Table 2 Commonly Observed Adverse Events Adverse Event Year 1 Year 2 XENICAL Treatment designates XENICAL three times a day plus diet or placebo plus diet % Patients (N=1913) Placebo % Patients (N=1466) XENICAL % Patients (N=613) Placebo % Patients (N=524) Oily…
Same active ingredient — different manufacturer, form, price and FDA recall record. That last one is what our independent score measures.
| # | Drug | Rating | Type | Form | Generic? | Typical price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 72/100 | Over-the-counter | Capsule | Generic | $207 | View → | |
| 2 | Not yet rated | Prescription | Capsule | Generic | $207 |
Imprint codes, colour and shape from the FDA’s labelling data. Match the imprint on your pill — or search any imprint.
| Imprint | Strength | Colour | Shape | Maker |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Orlistat;60 | 60 mg | turquoise, blue | capsule | — |
| XENICAL;120 | 120 mg | turquoise | capsule | — |
| XENICAL;120 | 120 mg | turquoise | capsule | — |
| Orlistat;60 | 60 mg | turquoise, blue | capsule | — |
Sources: FDA openFDA drug label, National Drug Code Directory, and Enforcement (recall) database. This page reproduces public FDA data and is not medical advice. Dosing is set by your prescriber.
XENICAL is contraindicated in: Pregnancy [see Use in Specific Populations (8.1) ] Patients with chronic malabsorption syndrome Patients with cholestasis Patients with known hypersensitivity to XENICAL or to any component of this product Pregnancy ( 4 , 8.1 ) Chronic malabsorption syndrome ( 4 ) Cholestasis ( 4 ) Known hypersensitivity to XENICAL or to any component of this product ( 4 )
Cyclosporine: Reduction in cyclosporine plasma levels was observed when XENICAL was coadministered with cyclosporine. ( 7.1 ) Fat-soluble Vitamin Supplements and Analogues: All patients should take a daily multivitamin that contains vitamins A, D, E, K, and beta-carotene. ( 7.2 ) Levothyroxine: Patients treated concomitantly with XENICAL and levothyroxine should be monitored for changes in thyroid function. ( 7.3 ) Warfarin: Patients on chronic stable doses of warfarin who are prescribed XENICAL should be monitored closely for changes in coagulation parameters. ( 7.4 ) Amiodarone: A reduction in exposure to amiodarone was observed when XENICAL was co-administered. ( 7.5 ) Antiepileptic Drugs: Convulsions have been reported in patients taking XENICAL with antiepileptic drugs. Patients should be monitored for possible changes in frequency or severity of convulsions. ( 7.6 ) Antiretroviral Drugs: Loss of virological control has been reported in HIV-infected patients. Patients should be monitored frequently for changes in HIV RNA levels. ( 7.7 ) 7.1 Cyclosporine Data from a XENICAL and cyclosporine drug interaction study indicate a reduction in cyclosporine plasma levels when XENICAL was coadministered with cyclosporine. XENICAL and cyclosporine should not be simultaneously coadministered. Cyclosporine should be administered 3 hours after the administration of XENICAL [see Dosage…