The drug Xenical, produced by the Swiss company F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd, belongs to the pharmacological group of drugs for the treatment of obesity. It is an inhibitor of gastrointestinal lipases. The action of the drug in the stomach and small intestine is based on the effect of its active substance (Orlistat) on enzymes that break down and help digest fats. Enzyme inactivation causes them to lose their ability to break down fats into monoglycerides and fatty acids. These nutrients are not absorbed into the bloodstream through the walls of the intestines, the body receives a reduced amount of calories, weight is reduced.
Xenical has a very low absorption, it does not enter the circulatory system through the intestinal walls, it is excreted through the kidneys, rectum, a minimum amount with bile. The drug is available in the form of turquoise hard capsules. The action of Xenical appears 1-2 days after the start of treatment. Return to the original level of absorption and processing of fatty acids occurs 2-3 days after drug withdrawal.
Composition:
The main active ingredient is Orlistat;
Excipients – microcellulose, talc, primogel, povidone, lauryl sulfate;
Substances that make up the capsule shell – gelatin, titanium dioxide, dye.
Pharmacokinetics
The safety of the drug, even with its long-term use, is evidenced by the data of clinical studies conducted on volunteers with normal and overweight.
Absorption – in the blood plasma, the amount of the drug, even after 1-2 years of taking it, turned out to be negligible, the activity of hepatic, pancreatic lipases, lipoprotein lipases, even after long-term use, did not change at all compared to the control results.
Distribution – minimal absorption does not make it possible to accurately determine the volume of distribution of the drug.
Metabolism – occurs in the walls of the digestive tract.
Withdrawal – the bulk of the drug is excreted with feces (97%), of which 83% is excreted unchanged.
Indications for use
As an element of complex therapy in the treatment of obesity, in patients with risk factors due to the appearance of overweight;
As an adjunct to drugs against hyperglycemia (insulin, metformin), or in overweight patients with non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (type 2).
Противопоказания
Conditions in which Xenical is contraindicated to take:
Cholestasis;
Individual intolerance to the components of the drug;
Syndrome of chronic maaalsorption.
dosage
It is recommended to take Xenical one hour after each meal or with meals. Dosage for adults and for children over 12 years old – one capsule (120 mg). The total frequency of daily intake is 3 times, further increasing the dose is not effective, since this will not lead to an increase in the effect.
Food that does not contain fat in its composition does not have to be accompanied by taking Xenical. The diet during treatment with the drug should not have a high calorie content, be balanced in terms of the ratio of fats, proteins and carbohydrates. A large number of fruits and vegetables in its composition, no more than 30% of the calories obtained from their fats, can effectively reduce weight in the treatment of Xenical.
Overdose during treatment with the drug was not observed even with a deliberate excess of the dose by 2-3 times for 2 weeks.
Side effects
Most often, side effects from the use of the drug appear in the digestive tract, they are associated with the pharmacokinetics of Orlistat, which prevents the absorption of fats. The more fat in the patient’s diet, the more intense these symptoms appear.
Side effects that appear in the first 3 months of treatment:
Frequent intense urge to defecate;
Flatulence, accompanied by the release of a small amount of feces;
Diarrhea;
Oily, fatty stools;
Discomfort or pain in the intestinal area;
Headache;
Susceptibility to respiratory and urinary tract infections;
dysmenorrhea;
Increased anxiety.
Over time, these side effects steadily decrease or disappear.
Rare side effects:
Pain in the rectum;
Softening and incontinence of feces;
Damage to the teeth, gums;
Weakness.
With hypersensitivity reactions to the components of the drug, the following side effects are observed:
Hives;
Itching;
Bronchospasm;
Anaphylactic shock;
Angioneurotic shock.
Symptoms in patients with diabetes mellitus and in those without a history of this disease were practically the same. The only difference is that in patients with diabetes, a decrease in blood sugar is observed in 2% of cases.
Xenical does not have a teratogenic and carcinogenic effect, does not pose a danger to the human reproductive system, is not toxic, does not reduce the concentration of beta-carotene, vitamins A, D, E, K in the body. To fully supply the body with vitamins and microelements, it is recommended to take multivitamin complexes.