Orlistat is a drug that is available either as a prescription medication named Xenical and non-prescription medication named Alli. The hard gelatin capsules of Xenical are available in a dark blue color, and need to be orally administered. 120 mg of orlistat is to be found in each capsule of Xenical.

Orlistat – what is it?

Orlistat, also known as tetrahydrolipstatin, is not an appetite suppressant but a fat blocker. This drug was a result of isolating this natural inhibitor from the Streptomyces Toxytricini bacterium. This highly effective saturated derivative on lipstatin is known for its stability and simplicity. The human diet includes a variety of fats that are an integral component of the various foods. This fat accumulates in the body and results in obesity if not healthily managed. Orlistat prevents around one third of the fat in the diet from being digested by the body. This helps the body lose weight. However, the intake of orlistat is just a part of the treatment process. A fat -reduced diet and exercise are the other two elements of your anti obesity treatment.

The working of orlistat

Gastric and pancreatic lipases are enzymes whose function is to break down the fats that are consumed as a part of our diet.  This fat is then absorbed by the body. The role of orlistat is to work in the gastrointestinal tract and inhibit the functioning of these two enzymes. It attaches itself to these lipases and stops them from working at optimum levels. This means that the triglycerides are not converted into absorbable fats (free fatty acids). This results in a large portion of the fats remaining undigested in the body. The body removes these fats in the form of faeces and normal everyday bowel movements.

Orlistat – The weight loss pill

The intake of the orlistat lowers the fat content of the body. However, the use of this drug should be in conjunction with a healthy diet that is low on fat and calories. Exercise is also an essential requirement for this medication to be effective. The combination of increased physical activity and a healthy diet with the intake of orlistat will effectively lead to weight loss.

Experts suggest that around a third of the daily caloric intake of a person must come from fats. It's also of paramount importance that meals should not be heavily loaded with just one particular nutrient. Nutrients must be evenly spread over the three meals that a person usually consumes in a day. Orlistat (Xenical) is prescribed three times a day, to be taken with the daily meals. If there is an even distribution of fat content through the three meals, it can optimize its functionality.

Other weight loss drugs

There are quite a few weight loss drugs available out there. However, there is a marked difference in the way they function. Some of them like orlistat (Xenical) are fat blockers; there are others that suppress the appetite of a person.

One such weight loss medication is Reductil. Its active ingredient is known as Sibutramine and it's a serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor. It directly works in the brain and increases the levels of satisfaction by reducing the reuptake of neurotransmitters like dopamine, serotonin, and norepinephrine. Reductil (Sibutramine) is a prescription medication that needs to be taken in a prescribed dosage for it to be effective.

The kind of weight loss pill that you choose depends on your specific needs and requirements. More importantly, it also depends on whether you are allergic to any of the components of a particular drug or not. It's important that you take your doctors advice before you zero in on the kind of weight loss drug that you want to use.