Orlistat is indicated in conjunction with a mildly hypocaloric diet for the treatment of obese patients with a body mass index (BMI) greater or equal to 30 kg/m², or overweight patients (BMI >28 kg/m²) with associated risk factors.
Treatment with orlistat should be discontinued after 12 weeks if patients have been unable to lose at least 5% of the body weight as measured at the start of therapy.
For this indication, competent medicine agencies globally authorize below treatments:
Oral
360 - 360 mg
From 120 To 120 mg 3 time(s) per day every day
The recommended dose of orlistat is 120 mg taken with water immediately before, during or up to one hour after each main meal. If a meal is missed or contains no fat, the dose of orlistat should be omitted.
The patient should be on a nutritionally balanced, mildly hypocaloric diet that contains approximately 30% of calories from fat. It is recommended that the diet should be rich in fruit and vegetables. The daily intake of fat, carbohydrate and protein should be distributed over three main meals.
Doses of orlistat above 120 mg three times daily have not been shown to provide additional benefit. The effect of orlistat results in an increase in faecal fat as early as 24 to 48 hours after dosing. Upon discontinuation of therapy, faecal fat content usually returns to pre-treatment levels, within 48 to 72 hours.
It should be taken with water immediately before, during or up to one hour after each main meal.