WHO SHOULD TAKE XENICAL?
Xenical is indicated for individuals who are obese (BMI over 30)
or who are overweight (BMI between 25 and 30) and have or are
at risk for any of the medical conditions which are related to
their weight or body fat, such as diabetes, high cholesterol,
or hypertension.
HOW DO I START TAKING XENICAL?
Only you and your doctor can decide if Xenical treatment is right
for you. Questions that should be answered include:
- Are you overweight?
- Are you at risk for diseases associated with being overweight?
- How much weight should you and can you realistically lose?
- Can you achieve this goal with diet and exercise alone?
- Would you benefit from taking Xenical?
- Are you committed to managing your weight?
- What kinds of support will you require to help you manage your
weight (such as nutritionist, dietitian, physical therapist, or
psychologist)?
- Are these resources available?
CAN I USE XENICAL IF I JUST WANT TO LOSE A COUPLE OF POUNDS BEFORE
SUMMER?
Discuss this with your doctor. If you do not meet the criteria
described above, you may be advised to lose weight through a program
of calorie restriction and exercise. Keep in mind that you should
not allow yourself to get into a pattern of rapid weight loss
and weight regain.This "yo-yo effect” can be dangerous to your
health.
HOW IS XENICAL DIFFERENT FROM OTHER DIET MEDICATIONS?
With the exception of Xenical, all of the current prescription
drugs for weight loss act on the brain to reduce appetite. You
eat less, you lose weight - but at a price. In order to get to
the brain, these drugs must enter the blood stream.Therefore,
these drugs may have side effects (central nervous system and
cardiovascular), ranging from minor to severe and are indicated
only for short term use. But, most important, these drugs do little
or nothing to help people change their eating habits or lifestyles.Therefore,
when they stop taking the drugs, the weight is quickly regained.
Xenical, on the other hand, does not enter the blood stream, nor
does it act on the brain. Xenical does not reduce appetite. It
simply blocks the digestion and absorption of fat and helps you
to control your fat intake.
COULD I BECOME ADDICTED TO XENICAL?
No. Because Xenical does not act on the brain, it is totally
non-addictive.
WHEN I TAKE XENICAL, CAN I EAT WHATEVER I WANT?
Yes and No. For the most part, you can eat all the kinds of foods
you enjoy, but only in smaller amounts. It is recommended that
Xenical be taken in conjunction with a diet that is moderately
reduced in total calories (about 20% - or 600 less calories per
day) and reduced in fat. Please consult your physician or dietitian
for further advice. The daily intake of fat should be distributed
over three main meals throughout the day. These restrictions are
far less than most weight loss diets and, therefore, are much
easier to follow.
DO I HAVE TO FOLLOW A SPECIFIC DIET?
No. As long as you moderately reduce your calories and fat, you
do not have to follow a specific diet.
DO I HAVE TO TAKE VITAMIN SUPPLEMENTS?
Whenever you reduce the amount of foods you eat, you may be reducing
your intake of vitamins as well. It is essential that you eat
nutritiously balanced meals, rich in fruits and vegetables. Discuss
with your doctor the need for supplemental vitamins.
MUST I EXERCISE?
Yes. Physical activities are an essential part of any weight control
program and necessary for maintaining good health. Exercise doesn’t
have to mean running kilometers a day or joining a gym. Slowly
increase your level of physical activity in a way that is easy
and fun and which can become part of a permanent lifestyle change.
IF I STILL HAVE TO REDUCE MY CALORIES AND XERCISE, WHAT IS THE
BENEFIT OF TAKING XENICAL?
Xenical targets fat. By blocking one third of the fat you eat,
you further reduce the amount of calories you eat without reducing
the amount of food you eat.This makes dieting easier and far more
enjoyable. By targeting fat loss, Xenical has been shown to promote
weight loss, prevent subsequent weight regain and to lower health
risks associated with obesity, when compared with patients on
a calorie-reduced diet alone.
IF XENICAL BLOCKS FAT, DOES IT REDUCE CHOLESTEROL AS WELL?
Yes. Xenical decreases total cholesterol, decreases LDL (the bad
cholesterol) and improves the LDL /HDL ratio.
ARE THERE OTHER BENEFITS TO TAKING XENICAL?
In addition to reducing weight, Xenical reduces
- high blood pressure
- the amount of anti-diabetic medication required (if already diabetic)
- triglycerides
- body fat
- the chance of developing type II diabetes
HOW FAST WILL I LOSE WEIGHT?
Weight loss begins immediately. In international clinical studies
with thousands of patients, most individuals using Xenical lost,
on average, 10% of their initial body weight over a 6-8 month
period.
HOW MUCH WEIGHT CAN I LOSE WITH XENICAL?
It is very important that you and your doctor work together to
set realistic goals for weight loss. Keep in mind that even a
small weight loss can reward you with a big gain in your health.
A loss of 5 to 10% of your current weight can result in a significant
reduction of risk for disease.
CAN I START TAKING XENICAL IMMEDIATELY?
This depends on how quickly you are able to control your diet
so that no more than one third of calories come from fat. In this
way, you minimize the chance of experiencing the dietary events
described below. This start-up period can be vary from a few days
to a few weeks.
DOES XENICAL HAVE ANY SIDE EFFECTS?
Xenical has none of the side effects normally associated with
diet medications which act on the brain. Xenical’s side effects
are strictly gastrointestinal in nature and related to its action
of blocking the digestion of ingested fat. Xenical blocks fat
absorption.The fat that is not absorbed into the bloodstream remains
in the intestine and becomes mixed with the stool.The increased
fat in the stool can cause any of the following:
- gas (flatulence) - sometimes with oily spotting
- increased frequency of bowel movements
- fatty/ oily stool
How often or how quickly these effects occur will vary from person
to person and will depend on how much extra fat was consumed.They
can occur within hours after eating or up to a day or two later.
These side effects usually occur early in treatment, last for
only a short period, and disappear over time. Importantly, you
can control the effects if you control your fat intake. Remember:
it’s not the Xenical, its the fat you eat that causes the events.
HOW DO YOU KNOW THAT XENICAL IS SAFE AND EFFECTIVE?
Xenical is the most thoroughly tested weight control medication.
Clinical trials with Xenical were conducted with over 7,000 patients
in North America, South America, and Europe.
DOES XENICAL INTERACT WITH OTHER MEDICATIONS?
Clinical studies have shown that Xenical does not interact with
commonly used medications. However, before starting Xenical it
is essential that you tell your doctor of any and all medications
(prescription and non-prescription) that you are currently taking.
IF XENICAL IS SO SAFE, WHY IS IT AVAILABLE ONLY BY PRESCRIPTION?
Obesity is a chronic disease which requires continuous, long-term
medical management. Obesity and overweight may be associated with
serious medical conditions, such as hypertension, cardiovascular
disease, and diabetes. The management of weight, therefore, should
be under the supervision of a physician.
HOW DO I TAKE XENICAL?
One capsule (120milligrams) is taken three times daily with each
main meal - up two hours after eating.Taking a capsule with each
meal is convenient and easy to remember.
IF I TAKE MORE THAN ONE CAPSULE AT A TIME, WILL IT BLOCK MORE
FAT?
No. There is absolutely no benefit to taking more than the recommended
dose.
DO I HAVE TO TAKE A CAPSULE WITH EVERY MEAL?
If you skip a meal or your meal contains little fat (note: be
careful of the hidden fats in many foods), there is no reason
to take Xenical, although there is no harm in taking the capsule.
Taking a capsule with each meal will help you to remember and
avoid missing doses.
WHAT IF I EAT MORE THAN THREE MEALS A DAY?
It is strongly recommended that you eat several meals throughout
the day. But, you should not take more than 3 Xenical capsules
per day.
WHAT IF I MISS TAKING A CAPSULE WITH A MEAL?
Nothing. You simply miss the benefit of the medication.
CAN I OVERDOSE ON
XENICAL?
Xenical is very safe. There have been no cases of overdosing.
In experiments, patients who took doses of Xenical many times
over the recommended dose experienced no ill effects. Remember,
taking more Xenical gives no extra benefit.
WHAT HAPPENS IF I STOP TAKING XENICAL?
Within 72 hours, the medication will be out of your body. There
are no long term effects.
WILL I HAVE TO TAKE XENICAL FOR THE REST OF MY LIFE?
One of the benefits of Xenical is that while you lose weight,
you are changing your eating habits and lifestyle. By the time
you have reached your goal, you may be able to maintain your weight
through diet and exercise alone. If, however, you start to regain
weight, you can safely resume taking Xenical. Xenical has been
shown to be safe for up to two years of continuous use. Xenical
can become part of your long-term weight maintenance program.
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Xenical - Frequently Asked Questions.