Health Guides
Generic Orlistat 120 mg: How to Take It and the Xenical Price
Generic orlistat 120 mg explained: how to take it with meals, managing oily stools, vitamins, key interactions, the 12-week review and what affects the price.
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Generic orlistat 120 mg is a prescription weight loss medicine and the generic for Xenical. It works in the gut to stop part of the fat you eat from being absorbed, and it is used alongside a reduced-calorie, low-fat diet to help with weight loss in adults with obesity or overweight with related health problems.
This guide explains how orlistat works, how to take it with meals, the side effects and interactions to know about, and what affects the orlistat price. It also covers the capsules we stock. A valid prescription is required for every order of a prescription medicine, and your doctor should decide whether orlistat is right for you.
Key takeaways
- Orlistat 120 mg blocks some of the fat in your food from being absorbed. It works best with a low-fat, reduced-calorie diet.
- Take one capsule with each main meal that contains fat, up to three capsules a day. Skip the dose if you miss a meal or the meal has no fat.
- Oily stools, wind and urgency are common, and are more likely after a high-fat meal.
- Take a multivitamin at bedtime to help replace vitamins A, D, E and K.
- Orlistat interacts with ciclosporin, levothyroxine, warfarin, some epilepsy medicines and some HIV medicines. Tell your doctor about everything you take.
- Your doctor will usually review your progress after about 12 weeks.
What is generic orlistat?
Orlistat is a lipase inhibitor. Lipases are enzymes in the gut that break down fat from food so the body can absorb it. Orlistat blocks some of these enzymes, so part of the fat in each meal passes through the body undigested instead of being absorbed. Fewer calories are taken in, which supports weight loss when combined with a healthy diet.
Orlistat does not act on the brain or suppress appetite. It only works on fat that is in the meal you take it with, so it has little effect on meals with almost no fat.
Generic orlistat 120 mg contains the same active ingredient at the same strength as Xenical. Inactive ingredients and capsule colour may differ between makers. For more background on how orlistat fits into a weight loss plan, see our guide to orlistat for weight loss.
Is orlistat right for you?
Orlistat is a prescription medicine, and your doctor decides whether it suits you. They usually look at your body mass index (BMI), which compares your weight to your height, together with your general health.
In general, orlistat 120 mg may be considered for adults with:
- A BMI in the obese range, or
- A slightly lower BMI in the overweight range, plus a weight-related health condition such as type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure or high cholesterol
The exact BMI thresholds are set by your doctor. They will also check your medical history and current medicines before prescribing.
How to take generic orlistat
Always follow your doctor’s instructions and the patient leaflet. The usual adult dose is:
- One 120 mg capsule with each main meal that contains fat
- Taken with water, just before, during or up to one hour after the meal
- No more than three capsules a day
If you miss a main meal, or the meal contains no fat, skip that dose. Taking extra capsules does not increase weight loss and makes side effects more likely.
Follow a low-fat diet
Orlistat works best with a balanced, reduced-calorie diet in which fat is spread fairly evenly across your three main meals. Aim to keep each meal moderate in fat. A meal very high in fat is the most common cause of oily stools, wind and urgency, because more undigested fat passes through the gut.
Regular physical activity is still important. Orlistat supports a healthy lifestyle but does not replace it.
Take a multivitamin at bedtime
Because orlistat reduces fat absorption, it can also reduce how well the body absorbs fat-soluble vitamins: A, D, E and K, as well as beta-carotene. A daily multivitamin taken at bedtime, at least two hours after your last orlistat dose, helps keep these levels up.
The 12-week review
Your doctor will usually review your progress after about 12 weeks. If you have not lost a meaningful amount of weight by then, they may stop orlistat or change your plan. Do not keep taking it long term without regular check-ins.
Side effects and safety
Most side effects of orlistat affect the gut and are linked to the fat that passes through undigested. They are often worse in the first weeks and after high-fat meals.
Common side effects
- Oily or fatty stools, and oily spotting from the bottom
- Wind, sometimes with an oily discharge
- Urgent need to open your bowels, or more frequent bowel movements
- Stomach pain or discomfort
- Soft or loose stools
Do not take orlistat if you
- Are pregnant or breastfeeding
- Have chronic malabsorption syndrome, where the gut does not absorb nutrients properly
- Have cholestasis, a condition where bile flow from the liver is reduced
- Are allergic to orlistat or any ingredient in the capsules
Interactions
Tell your doctor about every medicine and supplement you take. Important interactions include:
- Ciclosporin: orlistat can lower ciclosporin levels. They are usually not taken together, or doses are separated and levels checked closely.
- Levothyroxine: orlistat can reduce absorption of thyroid medicine. Take them at different times, at least four hours apart, and your doctor may check your thyroid levels.
- Warfarin and other blood thinners: lower vitamin K absorption can change how warfarin works, so blood tests may be needed more often.
- Some epilepsy medicines: seizure control may be affected. Contact your doctor if seizures become more frequent.
- Some HIV medicines: orlistat may reduce how well they are absorbed. Your doctor needs to know before you start.
- Oral contraceptives: severe diarrhoea can make the pill less reliable. Use extra contraception if this happens.
When to get help
Stop taking orlistat and contact a doctor straight away if you notice severe or persistent stomach pain, yellowing of the skin or eyes, dark urine, itching, or signs of an allergic reaction such as swelling of the face, lips or throat, or difficulty breathing. Report any bleeding from the bottom to your doctor.
Generic orlistat: why generic costs less
The company that first developed orlistat paid for research, trials and marketing, and recovered those costs while it held the patent. Once the patent expired, other makers could produce the same active ingredient without repeating that early research. Competition between several makers then brings prices down.
This is why generic capsules usually cost less than the brand, even though the capsule contains the same 120 mg of orlistat. Because the Xenical price is set by one brand owner, generic versions give patients a lower-cost option for a treatment that is often taken for several months.
What affects the orlistat price?
We do not list prices in this guide because they change. Instead, here is what makes one pack cost more or less than another.
| Factor | How it changes the price | What to check |
|---|---|---|
| Brand vs generic | Generic capsules usually cost less than the Xenical price for the same strength. | The active ingredient is orlistat and the strength is 120 mg. |
| Pack size | Larger packs often lower the cost per capsule. | At up to three capsules a day, how many days the pack lasts, and that it is covered by your prescription. |
| Maker | Different makers set different prices for the same medicine. | The leaflet, batch number and expiry date are clearly shown. |
| Strength | Lower-strength orlistat is a different product with a different price. | That the strength matches your prescription. |
| Delivery | Shipping method and destination affect the total cost. | Expected delivery time, so you do not have a gap in treatment. |
Orlijohn-120: the generic orlistat we stock
Orlijohn-120 orlistat 120 mg capsules contain 120 mg of orlistat per capsule, the same strength as Xenical. They are taken in the same way: one capsule with each main meal that contains fat, up to three a day.
Orlijohn-120 is a prescription medicine. Check the pack size against your prescription and plan how long it will last at your dose. You can see our other products in the weight loss range.
How to buy generic orlistat online safely
When you buy medicine online, take the same care you would with any prescription. To buy generic orlistat online:
- Get a valid prescription. Orlistat 120 mg is a prescription medicine. A valid prescription is required for every order of a prescription medicine.
- Check the strength. Make sure the capsules are orlistat 120 mg and match what your doctor prescribed.
- Check the pack and quantity. Work out how many capsules you need for the period your doctor has set, usually up to three a day.
- Plan for delivery. Orders are shipped worldwide by EMS or registered mail in discreet packaging. Our how to order page explains each step, including how to send your prescription.
- Tell your doctor. Keep your doctor informed, attend your 12-week review, and mention orlistat to anyone prescribing you other medicines.
For wider advice on choosing a supplier when you buy medicine online, read our guide to buying generic medicines online. If you have a question about an order, please contact us.
Frequently asked questions
Is orlistat 120 mg the same as Xenical?
Generic orlistat 120 mg contains the same active ingredient at the same strength and is taken in the same way. Inactive ingredients and capsule appearance may differ.
What happens if I take orlistat with a meal that has no fat?
Orlistat only works on fat in the meal, so there is little point taking it with a fat-free meal. Skip that dose.
How can I reduce oily stools?
Keep each meal moderate in fat and spread fat evenly across your three main meals. High-fat meals are the most common cause of oily stools and urgency.
Why do I need a multivitamin?
Orlistat can reduce absorption of vitamins A, D, E and K. A multivitamin at bedtime, away from your orlistat doses, helps keep these levels up.
Can I take orlistat with levothyroxine?
Yes, but take them at least four hours apart, and tell your doctor, as your thyroid levels may need checking.
How long will I take orlistat?
Your doctor will usually review your progress after about 12 weeks and decide whether to continue, based on how much weight you have lost and how you are tolerating it.
The information on this page is for general guidance only and does not replace professional advice. Always consult your doctor or pharmacist before starting any medicine. Read our full medical disclaimer.
Medicines mentioned in this guide
All medicines are supplied only against a valid prescription. Prices shown are for the smallest pack.
About this guide
Written by the rxptteam8. We base our guides on official sources such as the NHS, the US FDA, the EMA and MedlinePlus, and we update them when guidance changes. Last updated .