Rx · Prescription required
Orlistat
Xenical® · Alli® (OTC)
FDA-approved for obesity management, including weight loss and weight maintenance, together with a reduced-calorie diet.
- Drug class
- Lipase inhibitor
- How it is given
- Capsule with each main meal
- Prescription
- Required
- Dispensed by
- DiRx Inc. · licensed pharmacy
FDA status: Xenical® and the other brand-name versions listed are FDA-approved medicines. Generic versions, where available, are FDA-approved equivalents.
Locked
Pricing is shared after you speak with our team and a licensed doctor approves treatment. Clinics see pricing after account verification.
Important safety information
Orlistat is a prescription medicine. It is not right for everyone: chronic malabsorption syndrome; cholestasis (blocked bile flow); pregnancy; people taking cyclosporine or certain thyroid or seizure medicines without dose timing. Tell your doctor about every condition you have and every medicine and supplement you take.
Common side effects are described below. Stop and seek care for any severe or unexpected reaction. This page is education, not medical advice; your doctor and pharmacist give the instructions for your treatment.
How to get started
- Message us on WhatsApp or call (954) 420-7747.
- Talk with a licensed doctor, who reviews your health history and decides if this medicine is right for you.
- If prescribed, our team shares pricing and a licensed pharmacy fills your order.
Plain-language guide
Orlistat, explained by our clinical team
What it is
Orlistat works in the gut, not the brain. It blocks the enzymes that break down dietary fat, so about a quarter of the fat you eat passes through undigested.
It is the only approved weight medicine that is not absorbed into the bloodstream in a meaningful way, which makes it an option for people who cannot take stimulants or GLP-1 medicines.
FDA-approved uses
- Obesity management in adults with a BMI of 30 or more, or 28 or more with risk factors
- Reducing the risk of weight regain after prior weight loss
Our doctors prescribe for approved uses. Any other use is a decision made only by your doctor, for you, after evaluation.
How it is taken
One 120 mg capsule with each main meal containing fat, up to three times a day. Skip the dose if a meal has no fat. A daily multivitamin taken at bedtime replaces fat-soluble vitamins.
What to expect
Modest, steady weight loss. Oily stools, gas and urgency happen when meals are high in fat — most people learn quickly to keep fat under about 30% of calories.
Who should not take it
- Chronic malabsorption syndrome
- Cholestasis (blocked bile flow)
- Pregnancy
- People taking cyclosporine or certain thyroid or seizure medicines without dose timing
Questions we hear
Is Alli® the same thing?
Alli® is the 60 mg over-the-counter version; Xenical® 120 mg needs a prescription.
Does it affect medications?
It can lower absorption of some medicines, including levothyroxine and cyclosporine; timing matters.
How much weight loss is typical?
Studies show a few extra percentage points of body weight compared with diet alone over a year.
Real molecular structure
The molecule: Orlistat
Drag to rotate. Every atom and bond below comes from the public PubChem database of the U.S. National Institutes of Health; nothing is drawn by AI.
- Formula
- C29H53NO5
- Molar mass
- 495.7 g/mol
- Heavy atoms
- 88
- PubChem CID
- 3034010 ↗
Source: PubChem, National Library of Medicine (public domain).
Watch & learn
Videos: how it works and how it is used
Independent videos from doctors, hospitals and health educators on YouTube. They are for general education; your doctor gives the instructions for your treatment.
How to use an Ozempic (semaglutide) Pen
Drugs.com · YouTubeOzempic is a game-changer. Here’s how it works.
Vox · YouTubeWhat Ozempic & Weight Loss Drugs Really Do to the Body
Institute of Human Anatomy · YouTubeEndocrinologist shares MUST KNOW tips when starting RYBELSUS
Dr. Akshay Jain · YouTubeOther treatments
Semaglutide
Ozempic® · Wegovy® · Rybelsus®FDA-approved for type 2 diabetes (Ozempic®, Rybelsus®) and for chronic weight management and cardiovascular risk reduction in eligible adults (Wegovy®).
Price after approval
Tirzepatide
Mounjaro® · Zepbound®FDA-approved for type 2 diabetes (Mounjaro®) and for chronic weight management and obstructive sleep apnea in adults with obesity (Zepbound®).
Price after approval
Liraglutide
Victoza® · Saxenda®FDA-approved for type 2 diabetes (Victoza®) and chronic weight management (Saxenda®); generic versions are now available.
Price after approval
Ready when you are
Talk to a real person today.
No checkout. Message us, talk with a licensed doctor, and only then decide.