Orlica 120 mg

• Reduces the absorption of fat from meals

• Lowers the number of calories absorbed from dietary fat

• Supports gradual and sustainable weight loss

• Helps maintain weight after successful weight reduction

• Reduces the chance of regaining previously lost weight

• Works mainly inside the digestive system

• Supports improvements in weight-related health risks

• Provides additional support alongside diet and physical activity

Results depend on regular use with suitable meals and continued attention to calorie and fat intake.

Dietary fat must be broken into smaller parts before the body can absorb it. Enzymes called gastric and pancreatic lipases perform this task inside the stomach and small intestine.

Orlistat attaches to these enzymes and temporarily blocks their activity. As a result, part of the fat in the meal remains undigested and passes out of the body in the stool.

At the recommended dose of 120 mg three times daily, orlistat prevents the absorption of approximately 30% of the dietary fat consumed. The medicine works mainly inside the digestive system and very little enters the bloodstream.

The recommended adult dosage is one Orlica 120 mg capsule with each main meal containing fat. It can be taken immediately before the meal, during the meal or up to one hour after finishing it. The usual maximum is three capsules in one day.

Take Orlica correctly:

• Take one capsule with breakfast, lunch and dinner when the meal contains fat.

• Swallow the capsule whole with water.

• Do not crush, chew or open it.

• Skip the dose if a main meal is missed.

• Skip the dose if the meal contains no fat.

• Do not take a forgotten dose more than one hour after the meal.

• Do not take two capsules together to replace a missed dose.

• Do not exceed three capsules daily.

• Spread the daily amount of fat evenly across the three main meals.

• Avoid very high-fat meals because they increase digestive side effects.

Taking more than 120 mg three times daily does not provide additional weight-loss benefit.

Orlistat reduces the absorption of fat-soluble vitamins. A daily multivitamin containing vitamins A, D, E and K should be taken at bedtime or at least two hours before or after Orlica.

Common Side Effects: Orlica 120 mg commonly causes oily spotting, fatty or oily stools, gas with discharge, an urgent need to use the toilet, increased bowel movements and difficulty controlling bowel movements. Abdominal discomfort, nausea and loose stools can also occur. These effects are directly linked to unabsorbed fat and become more noticeable after high-fat meals. Following a lower-fat diet helps control them.

Serious Side Effects: Stop the medicine and seek medical attention for severe or persistent abdominal pain, rectal bleeding, repeated vomiting, yellow skin or eyes, dark urine, pale stools or intense itching. Medical help is also required for severe back or side pain, blood in the urine, reduced urination, swelling of the face or throat, breathing difficulty or a widespread blistering rash. Rare serious reactions include liver injury, pancreatitis, kidney injury caused by oxalate deposits and severe allergic reactions.

Orlica 120 mg should be avoided by:

• People allergic to orlistat

• Pregnant women

• Breastfeeding women

• People with chronic malabsorption syndrome

• People with cholestasis

• Children under 12 years

• People with an active eating disorder

• People with severe kidney disease without medical assessment

Tell the healthcare provider about all medicines, vitamins and supplements being used.

Important interactions include:

• Cyclosporine

• Warfarin and other anticoagulants

• Levothyroxine

• Amiodarone

• Antiepileptic medicines

• Diabetes medicines

• HIV medicines

• Fat-soluble vitamin supplements

Orlica can reduce the absorption of certain medicines. Levothyroxine, vitamins and some other treatments need to be taken at a different time. Warfarin users require clotting checks, while people using diabetes medicines require blood-sugar monitoring.

Severe diarrhoea can reduce the reliability of oral contraceptive pills. Use an additional contraceptive method if severe diarrhoea occurs.

• Store Orlica below 25°C.

• Keep the capsules in their original blister pack.

• Protect them from direct sunlight and moisture.

• Do not freeze the medicine.

• Keep it away from children and pets.

• Do not use damaged or discoloured capsules.

• Do not use the medicine after its expiry date.

• Return unused capsules through an approved disposal service.