Uses of Orlistat as a new form of Weight loss Drug

Orlistat is an internationally recognized new form of weight loss drug. Its commercial name is Sainike and first went on sale in New Zealand in 1998. Orlistat is a long-term and highly effective specific gastrointestinal lipase inhibitor, and it is insoluble in water, soluble in chloroform, and easily soluble in ethanol.

Orlistat is used with a doctor-approved exercise, behavior change, and reduced-calorie diet program to help you lose weight. It is used by certain overweight people, such as those who are obese or have weight-related medical problems. Taking orlistat can also help keep you from gaining back weight you have lost. Using Orlistat can lower the occurrences of weight-related risk factors and diseases, including hypercholesterolemia, type-2 diabetes, impaired glucose tolerance, hyperinsulinemia, and hypertension, and it can reduce the fat content in organs. Orlistat also adjusts blood lipid levels: it can decrease serum triglycerides (TG) and low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), and it can increase the ratio of high density lipoproteins to low density lipoproteins in obese patients. Usually, a dose of 120mg is taken three times a day within one hour of a meal. Weight loss begins to occur after two weeks of usage.It can be used continuously for 6-12 months, and its effects will cease to increase after daily dosage exceeds 400mg.
Dietary fats need to be broken down into smaller pieces before the body can absorb them. Orlistat works by blocking the enzyme that breaks down fats in your diet. This undigested fat then passes out of your body in your bowel movement. Orlistat does not block the absorption of calories from sugar and other non-fat foods, so you still need to restrict your total intake of calories.
If you are taking the over-the-counter product to self-treat, read all directions on the product package before taking Orlistat.

If your doctor has prescribed Orlistat read the Patient Information Leaflet if available from your pharmacist before you start taking orlistat and each time you get a refill. Take this Orlistat as directed by your doctor, by mouth with liquid sometime during each meal that contains fat or within 1 hour after the meal, usually 3 times daily. If you miss a meal or your meal contains no fat, skip that dose of the medication. To decrease the chance of unpleasant side effects, it is very important that no more than 30% of the calories in your diet come from fat. Your daily intake of fat, protein, and carbohydrates should be evenly spread over 3 main meals.

Do not increase your dose or use this drug more often or for longer than prescribed. Your condition will not improve any faster, and your risk of side effects will increase.

Because this drug can interfere with the absorption of certain vitamins (fat-soluble vitamins including A, D, E, K), a daily multivitamin supplement containing these nutrients is recommended. Take the multivitamin at least 2 hours before or 2 hours after taking orlistat (such as at bedtime).

If you take cyclosporine, take it at least 3 hours before or after orlistat to make sure the full dose of cyclosporine is absorbed into your bloodstream. If you take levothyroxine, take it at least 4 hours before or after orlistat.

You should see some weight loss within 2 weeks after you start orlistat. Tell your doctor if your condition does not improve or if it worsens.

References

https://www.webmd.com/drugs/2/drug-17220/orlistat-oral/details
Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, Toxicological Profile for Chromium, ATSDR, Atlanta, GA, 1992.
R. A. Andersen, Chromium as an essential nutrient for humans. Regul. Toxicol. Pharmacol. 26, 835–841 (1997).

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