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Orlistat reduces absorption of some dietary fat. It does not suppress appetite, and it does not work without the agreed nutrition plan alongside it — the capsule only does its job at meals that actually contain fat.

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How to use

Two rules work together at every meal — when the capsule is taken, and what the meal contains.

Take 120 mg with a fat-containing main meal

Take one capsule immediately before, during, or up to one hour after each main meal that contains fat. If the meal is missed or contains no fat, omit that dose.

Distribute dietary fat

Follow the balanced, reduced-calorie eating plan agreed with your clinician, and spread fat across the main meals. A high-fat meal makes bowel effects more likely — do not take extra capsules to compensate.

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Dose schedule

Dose 120 mg orlistat — one capsule with each main meal that contains fat, and none with a meal that does not.
Use no more than one 120 mg capsule per qualifying main meal. If a multivitamin containing vitamins A, D, E and K is recommended, separate it from orlistat by at least two hours — often at bedtime. At a twelve-week review, the prescriber checks weight change, side effects, adherence, nutrition, and interacting medicines. EU product information advises stopping if the expected response threshold has not been reached.

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What has been reported

These bowel effects often improve when dietary fat is distributed and reduced.
Orlistat can reduce absorption of fat-soluble vitamins and affect medicines including ciclosporin, warfarin or other anticoagulants, levothyroxine, some epilepsy medicines, and some HIV treatments. These require a specific plan with your doctor.

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Contact your doctor if

  • Severe or persistent abdominal pain, vomiting, yellow skin or eyes, dark urine, or a severe allergic reaction
  • Rectal bleeding, severe diarrhoea, symptoms of kidney stones, or bowel effects that are difficult to manage
  • You start an anticoagulant, ciclosporin, levothyroxine, an epilepsy medicine, or another medicine with an absorption concern

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Storage

Keep in the original package, away from moisture and direct heat, and out of children’s reach. Follow the temperature limit on your pack and do not use it after the expiry date.

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What to expect

Progress is reviewed after 12 weeks and at intervals thereafter. Results vary, and continuation depends on response, tolerance, and clinical suitability.

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Common questions

Orlistat reduces absorption of some dietary fat from the first dose taken with a fat-containing meal. Progress is reviewed after 12 weeks, and results vary. Continuation depends on response, tolerance and clinical suitability.
Orlistat does not interact directly with alcohol, but alcohol itself adds calories and can affect judgement around food choices. Follow the balanced eating plan agreed with your clinician.
If the meal contains no fat, omit that dose. The capsule only works at meals that actually contain fat. Do not take extra capsules to compensate for a high-fat meal.
If a multivitamin containing vitamins A, D, E and K is recommended, separate it from orlistat by at least two hours — often at bedtime. Orlistat can reduce absorption of fat-soluble vitamins.
Orlistat can affect medicines including ciclosporin, warfarin or other anticoagulants, levothyroxine, some epilepsy medicines and some HIV treatments. These require a specific plan with your doctor. Tell the prescriber about all medicines you take.

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How Hi-Doctor handles it

A licensed EU doctor reviews your case and, if appropriate, issues a prescription alongside the agreed nutrition plan. Orlistat is one of the options a doctor may consider — see the full set on the orforglipron page, which lists every EU-authorised weight-management medicine Hi-Doctor’s doctors work from. See also how a consultation works, the treatment areas Hi-Doctor covers, and how eligibility is decided in safety.

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Start a consultation

Weight-loss consultation

Answer the weight-loss questionnaire and a registered doctor reviews it. They decide whether treatment is appropriate, which one, and at what dose — and declining is a normal outcome. See what it costs and how the review works.
This page is reference information, not medical advice and not a prescription. Whether a medicine is appropriate for you is decided by a registered doctor after reviewing your consultation.