Alli vs. Xenical

• Are Alli and Xenical the Same Thing?
• What Are Possible Side Effects of Alli?
• What Are Possible Side Effects of Xenical?
• What Is Alli?
• What Is Xenical?
• What Drugs Interact with Alli?
• What Drugs Interact with Xenical?
• How Should Alli Be Taken?
• How Should Xenical Be Taken?

Orlistat and Xenical are gastrointestinal lipase inhibitors used to help with weight loss by preventing the digestion and absorption of fat in food by inhibiting the enzyme lipase in the intestine.

Xenical is a brand name for orlistat. Another brand name for orlistat is Alli.

Common side effects of Alli include:

• changes in your bowel function because of the unabsorbed fat,
• fatty/oily stool,
• oily spotting in your undergarments,
• orange or brown colored oil in your stool,
• intestinal gas with discharge,
• loose stools,
• a feeling of needing to have a bowel movement right away,
• increased number of bowel movements,
• poor bowel control,
• stomach pain,
• nausea,
• vomiting,
• diarrhea, or
• rectal pain.

These side effects of Alli may worsen if you eat more fat than you should. Other side effects of Alli include:

• weakness,
• dark urine,
• clay-colored stools,
• itching,
• loss of appetite,
• jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes),
• problems with your teeth or gums,
• cold symptoms (stuffy nose, sneezing, cough),
• fever,
• chills,
• sore throat,
• flu symptoms,
• headache,
• back pain, or
• skin rash.

Stop taking Alli and tell your doctor if you have rare but serious side effects including:

• symptoms of liver disease (such as persistent nausea and vomiting, severe stomach or abdominal pain, dark urine, yellowing eyes or skin), or
• symptoms of kidney stones (such as back pain, pain when urinating, pink or bloody urine).

Common side effects of Xenical include:

• oily spotting on underwear
• flatulence
• urgent bowel movements
• fatty or oily stools
• increased number of bowel movements
• inability to control bowel movements
• gas with discharge
• loose stools
• stomach pain
• nausea
• vomiting
• diarrhea
• rectal pain
• weakness,
• dark urine
• clay-colored stools
• itching
• loss of appetite
• jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes)
• problems with your teeth or gums
• cold symptoms (stuffy nose, sneezing, cough, fever, chills, sore throat, flu symptoms)
• headache
• back pain, or
• skin rash.

Tell your doctor if you experience serious side effects of Xenical including blood in your urine, urinating less than usual or not at all, drowsiness, confusion, mood changes, increased thirst, swelling, weight gain, feeling short of breath, severe pain in your upper stomach spreading to your back, or fast heart rate.

Alli (orlistat) Capsules works by blocking absorption of 25% of the fat in a meal and is used for weight loss in overweight adults, 18 years and older, when used along with a reduced-calorie and low-fat diet.

Xenical (orlistat) is a gastrointestinal lipase inhibitor used to help with weight loss by preventing the digestion and absorption of fat in food by inhibiting the enzyme lipase in the intestine.

Alli may interact with warfarin, cyclosporine and medicines for thyroid disease. Tell your doctor all prescription and over-the-counter medications and supplements you use.

Xenical may reduce the absorption and blood levels of cyclosporine when both drugs are administered together. Xenical may also cause vitamin K levels to decline, and patients taking warfarin (Coumadin) must have their blood clotting monitored closely.

The recommended dose of Alli for overweight adults 18 years and older is 1 60-mg capsule with each meal containing fat, not to exceed 3 capsules daily. Use with a reduced-calorie, low-fat diet.

Xenical is taken as oral capsules.