Orlistat

Orlistat is a weight loss capsule you take with meals. Unlike the weekly injections, it works inside your gut rather than on appetite. After a short consultation, our pharmacist can supply it here in Leith.

How Orlistat works

It blocks lipase, an enzyme your body uses to break down fat from food. As a result, about a third of the fat you eat passes straight through instead of being absorbed. That is why it works best alongside a lower-fat diet, and why fatty meals can cause oily stools.

Who can take it

• Adults with a BMI of 30 or more
• Adults with a BMI of 27 or more who have a weight-related condition, such as high blood pressure

Taking your capsules

• Take one 120mg capsule three times a day
• Swallow it with water just before, during or up to an hour after each main meal
• Skip the dose if you miss a meal or the meal has no fat in it
• A multivitamin at bedtime can help, as the capsules reduce how much of some vitamins you absorb

Price and reviews

A pack of 84 capsules costs £50, which is roughly 4 weeks of treatment. We review you before each new supply. If you have not lost 5% of your starting weight after 12 weeks, treatment should stop. You pay only once the pharmacist confirms Orlistat is suitable.

Find out more

The NHS guide to Orlistat covers side effects in detail. You can also compare other weight management options with our team.