You can buy Orlistat (Xenical/Alli) as an over-the-counter alternative to Wegovy in the UK.
However, Orlistat is a very different type of weight-loss medication, and research suggests it’s not as effective as Wegovy in supporting weight loss.
Wegovy and Orlistat are weight-loss medications approved for use in the UK. However, they are different medications with distinct dosing schedules, costs, and mechanisms of action on the body.
Orlistat is a lipase inhibitor. Lipases are gut enzymes that break down fat from food, enabling the gut to transport fat into the body to be burnt for energy or stored in our fat cells for later use.
Orlistat blocks lipases, preventing some of the dietary fat from our meals from being digested. This leads to fewer calories being absorbed, which can support weight loss.
Orlistat is a prescription medication produced by two pharmaceutical companies in the UK:
Wegovy is a weight-loss jab manufactured by Novo Nordisk. It’s a weekly weight-loss injection with semaglutide as the active ingredient.
Semaglutide is a that helps reduce hunger and appetite, allowing you to eat fewer calories, lose weight, and manage your blood sugar levels.
Wegovy is approved in the UK for individuals living with obesity to help them eat fewer calories and lose weight.
The over-the-counter version of Orlistat will cost around £18 a month, so it’s a very affordable medication.
In comparison, buying Wegovy and the injectable pens required for four weeks from Second Nature will cost £229 a month, rising to £299.
Orlistat is an affordable medication that is generally well-tolerated. However, it’s less effective than Wegovy. Wegovy is twice as effective as Orlistat for weight loss after one year.
So, if you’re looking for the most affordable weight-loss pill you can purchase over the counter, then Orlistat could be an option.
However, if you have a higher budget and are looking for the most effective weight-loss injection in the UK, semaglutide is a better choice.
Semaglutide is designed as an additional tool for weight management and, in most cases, shouldn’t be considered a lifelong medication.
Instead, it should be used to help you kickstart your weight loss and healthy journey while you commit to living a healthier lifestyle.
Ideally, we’d be able to lose weight without medication and lifestyle changes would be enough to support weight loss in the long term.
We’d generally recommend trying Second Nature’s before considering a weight-loss jab.
Changing your habits is the most sustainable way to achieve long-term weight loss, and it’s also less expensive.
At Second Nature, we’ve been trusted by the NHS since 2017 to support people with type 2 diabetes and obesity to lose weight, manage their blood sugar levels, and lead healthier lifestyles for the long term.
In 2022, the NHS in the BMJ that compared the weight loss outcomes of five providers in the National Diabetes Prevention Programme.
Second Nature was more than twice as effective at supporting weight loss than the other four providers.
However, if you’ve decided to try semaglutide (when it’s available) but need support in making positive changes to your lifestyle, Second Nature could be an option for you. But it’s worth noting that we have strict eligibility criteria.
Potential cost savings for Wegovy: Second Nature / Novo Nordisk / SemaglutideOrlistat has been shown to cause mild side effects in some individuals. Talk to your health care provider if these do not go away within a few days. If you begin to experience more serious effects, seek medical attention immediately.
Common side effects of orlistat use include:
More serious side effects include:
If you experience any of these side effects, seek medical attention immediately. These are symptoms of a serious adverse reaction–or allergic reaction–to this medication and require treatment right away.
Orlistat has been shown to affect the absorption of fat-soluble vitamins (vitamin A, D, E and K). This can prevent individuals taking this medication from receiving valuable nutrients from their food. Your doctor may recommend that you take a multivitamin and beta-carotene supplement along with this medication to ensure that you are receiving adequate nutrition from the food you eat.
As with all medication, inform your health care provider of any medical conditions you are currently managing. Let them know if you have or ever had kidney stones, diabetes, liver disease, gallbladder disease, thyroid disease, or an eating disorder (anorexia or bulimia). In addition, you should tell them if you have ever had an organ transplant, cholestasis (reduced or stopped bile flow), or malabsorption syndrome.
Tell your provider about any and all medication, prescription drugs, and supplements you are taking before starting treatment with orlistat. Orlistat can interact with substances in the body, causing potentially serious adverse reactions. Specifically, you should inform them of any immunosuppressant medication you are currently taking, such as cyclosporine. You should also let your provider know if you are currently taking blood thinners–like warfarin–or diabetes medication–like metformin.
In addition, let your doctor know if you are planning to become pregnant, are pregnant, or are currently breastfeeding before starting treatment with this medication.
paralysisProvide you with a list ofdietary changes you are likely to make. This is a list of changes you should make to ensure that the changes don’t stick and to help prevent relapse. You should includen>]
Tell your provider if you are taking any of the following medications:
Other than that, provide your provider with list of changes you are likely to make.
Xenical 120mg Capsules,when used in conjunction with a reduced-calorie diet, can be used for obesity management, including weight loss and weight maintenance.Xenicalworks in your digestive system to block one-third of the fat in the food you eat from being digestedThe daily intake of fat, carbohydrate and protein should be distributed over three main meals.pills can also block the absorption of some vitamins. You may wish to take a multivitamin supplement along with making sure to keep a well-balanced diet, rich in fruit and vegetables.
The active substance isOrlistat. Each capsule contains120 mg of Orlistat
The other ingredients are microcrystalline cellulose (E460), sodium starch glycolate (type A), povidone (E1201), sodium laurilsulfate and talc. The capsule shell consists of gelatine, indigo carmine (E132), titanium dioxide (E171) and edible printing ink.
84 Capsules
We only need: 120 capsulesThe 120 mg dose is particularly effective for those who are prone to fat-soluble infertility treatments, such as those containing niac should be used with caution.
Who should not use Xenical?
Do not take this medicine if you:
Xenical may cause side effects or they may range from mild to serious and include:
If you experience any of the following serious or severe side effects you should stop taking Xenical:
If you notice any of the following side effects you should stop taking Xenical:
Xenical or Alli in Malaysia is a weight loss drug and the generic version of Xenical (or Alli) is not sold in Malaysia. Alli is a prescription drug and it is not sold over the counter.
The drug is used to treat obesity in overweight and obese people. It is a combination of two drugs called Xenical and the generic orlistat orlistat. The combination is used to treat obesity in people with type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol and the condition called ketoacidosis. The drug is available in the form of a capsule or liquid.
The medicine works by inhibiting the enzyme called lipase, which helps the body absorb fat from the food you eat. This fat is then excreted from the body in the stool. Xenical and Alli both inhibit lipase and increase the amount of dietary fat that the body can absorb. The medicine is then taken by mouth.
The medicine in Malaysia is available in the dosage form of capsule or liquid. The dosage is as follows:
The following side effects are not uncommon in Malaysia. They may include:
If you experience any of the above side effects, tell your doctor immediately. You may contact your doctor at once if you experience:
The following interactions are not common in Malaysia. You must consult a doctor before you consume Xenical in Malaysia to avoid any possible drug interactions.
If you are allergic to Xenical or any other component of the medicine, you must consult your doctor before taking Xenical. If you are pregnant or breastfeeding, you must consult your doctor before taking Xenical.
You must consume 1 capsule of Xenical daily with or without food.
Xenical in Malaysia is available as a capsule or liquid medicine. You must consume it with or without food.
The dosage of Xenical depends on the condition you are being treated for. The recommended dosage is 1 capsule (2.3mg) daily. You must consult your doctor if you have a history of weight loss, pancreatitis, or are on high blood pressure or heart disease.
Do not exceed the recommended dosage in Malaysia, unless directed by your doctor.
The side effects of Xenical in Malaysia are listed in the following table. If you experience any of the above side effects, contact your doctor immediately.
You must seek medical attention if you experience any of the above side effects.
You must consult your doctor before taking Xenical in Malaysia to avoid any possible drug interactions.
The dosage of Xenical in Malaysia is as follows:
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