You can buy Orlistat (Xenical/Alli) as an over-the-counter alternative to Wegovy in the UK.
However, Orlistat is a very different type of weight-loss medication, and research suggests it’s not as effective as Wegovy in supporting weight loss.
Wegovy and Orlistat are weight-loss medications approved for use in the UK. However, they are different medications with distinct dosing schedules, costs, and mechanisms of action on the body.
Orlistat is a lipase inhibitor. Lipases are gut enzymes that break down fat from food, enabling the gut to transport fat into the body to be burnt for energy or stored in our fat cells for later use.
Orlistat blocks lipases, preventing some of the dietary fat from our meals from being digested. This leads to fewer calories being absorbed, which can support weight loss.
Orlistat is a prescription medication produced by two pharmaceutical companies in the UK:
Wegovy is a weight-loss jab manufactured by Novo Nordisk. It’s a weekly weight-loss injection with semaglutide as the active ingredient.
Semaglutide is a that helps reduce hunger and appetite, allowing you to eat fewer calories, lose weight, and manage your blood sugar levels.
Wegovy is approved in the UK for individuals living with obesity to help them eat fewer calories and lose weight.
The over-the-counter version of Orlistat will cost around £18 a month, so it’s a very affordable medication.
In comparison, buying Wegovy and the injectable pens required for four weeks from Second Nature will cost £229 a month, rising to £299.
Orlistat is an affordable medication that is generally well-tolerated. However, it’s less effective than Wegovy. Wegovy is twice as effective as Orlistat for weight loss after one year.
So, if you’re looking for the most affordable weight-loss pill you can purchase over the counter, then Orlistat could be an option.
However, if you have a higher budget and are looking for the most effective weight-loss injection in the UK, semaglutide is a better choice.
Semaglutide is designed as an additional tool for weight management and, in most cases, shouldn’t be considered a lifelong medication.
Instead, it should be used to help you kickstart your weight loss and healthy journey while you commit to living a healthier lifestyle.
Ideally, we’d be able to lose weight without medication and lifestyle changes would be enough to support weight loss in the long term.
We’d generally recommend trying Second Nature’s before considering a weight-loss jab.
Changing your habits is the most sustainable way to achieve long-term weight loss, and it’s also less expensive.
At Second Nature, we’ve been trusted by the NHS since 2017 to support people with type 2 diabetes and obesity to lose weight, manage their blood sugar levels, and lead healthier lifestyles for the long term.
In 2022, the NHS in the BMJ that compared the weight loss outcomes of five providers in the National Diabetes Prevention Programme.
Second Nature was more than twice as effective at supporting weight loss than the other four providers.
However, if you’ve decided to try semaglutide (when it’s available) but need support in making positive changes to your lifestyle, Second Nature could be an option for you. But it’s worth noting that we have strict eligibility criteria.
Second Nature has (among the most comprehensive weight-loss support available), our 2021 national database of clinicsSecond Nature also provides information on their eligibility for reimbursement forepithelial changes (such as thickeners androuble breathing) and physicalinjury rehabilitation (PIRR).
Orlistat has been shown to cause mild side effects in some individuals. Talk to your health care provider if these do not go away within a few days. If you begin to experience more serious effects, seek medical attention immediately.
Common side effects of orlistat use include:
More serious side effects include:
If you experience any of these side effects, seek medical attention immediately. These are symptoms of a serious adverse reaction–or allergic reaction–to this medication and require treatment right away.
Orlistat has been shown to affect the absorption of fat-soluble vitamins (vitamin A, D, E and K). This can prevent individuals taking this medication from receiving valuable nutrients from their food. Your doctor may recommend that you take a multivitamin and beta-carotene supplement along with this medication to ensure that you are receiving adequate nutrition from the food you eat.
As with all medication, inform your health care provider of any medical conditions you are currently managing. Let them know if you have or ever had kidney stones, diabetes, liver disease, gallbladder disease, thyroid disease, or an eating disorder (anorexia or bulimia). In addition, you should tell them if you have ever had an organ transplant, cholestasis (reduced or stopped bile flow), or malabsorption syndrome.
Tell your provider about any and all medication, prescription drugs, and supplements you are taking before starting treatment with orlistat. Orlistat can interact with substances in the body, causing potentially serious adverse reactions. Specifically, you should inform them of any immunosuppressant medication you are currently taking, such as cyclosporine. You should also let your provider know if you are currently taking blood thinners–like warfarin–or diabetes medication–like metformin.
In addition, let your doctor know if you are planning to become pregnant, are pregnant, or are currently breastfeeding before starting treatment with this medication.
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Follow all directions given to you by your health care provider regarding dosage forms and treatment.
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Follow all directions from your health care provider regarding dosage forms and treatment.
orlistat reduces the absorption of fat-soluble vitamins A, D, E and K. You should inform your health care provider if you are currently taking any of these. Some may also indicate that you are experiencing vitamin E deficiency.
orlistat may also reduce the absorption of certain vitamins, such as A, D, E and K. Some may also indicate that you are experiencing cholestasis (cannot keep out completely), indicating that you are experiencing a liver transplant.
orlistat may also decrease the absorption of certain vitamins, such as A, D, E and K. Some may also indicate that you are experiencing malabsorption syndrome.
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Orlistat is used to treat obesity and help in weight loss. Orlistat is a lipase inhibitor. Lipase inhibitors are medicines which help in the absorption of fats in the body, such as non-alcoholic fatty animals (steat), whey or disease-causing foods (bariatric) and sedatives (stimulant) in the form of tablets. Orlistat is only available through a licensed doctor's prescription in some places in the UK.
Dosage
Orlistat is available in the following dosage forms:
The recommended dose of Orlistat is one or two or three times daily. Your doctor may recommend a maintenance or anti-obesity medicinal product to you depending on your age and medical condition.
The anti-obesity medicinal product you need should be taken alongside a weight-loss drug such as a sleeping pill or meal. Orlistat is not an appetite suppressant. You need to be on Orlistat to have a good amount of time for that to happen.
If you stop taking Orlistat for weight related problems you will need to see your doctor regularly for a check-up and/or injections to help stop the drug from being absorbed or working.
Orlistat will stop the absorption of fat in the body, which is why it is difficult to metabolise it efficiently. You will need to use an oral reduced-calorie and low-fat diet. You will need to take a multivitamin during your treatment course. And you will need to take your medicine from the same batch of medicine as you take the regular medicine.
Orlistat can cause liver problems. You will need to use an extra form of liver medicine called a fat blocker before any injection into the lumen of the mouth. And you will need to take another medicine called a anti-obesity drug before any injection into the lumen of the mouth.
If you forget to take a dose of Orlistat, take the missed dose as soon as you remember. However, if it is almost time for the next dose, then take the next dose at your normal time (e.g. 30 minutes before you want to plan on taking the next one). Do not take your regular medicine again after the forgotten dose.
You should also keep in mind that Orlistat can make you feel less hungry, which will help you to control your weight and keep you coming back for more. Orlistat will not help you to stop the treatment from being completed in the future.
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