|
Orlistat - General Information
Orlistat - General Information
Orlistat is fast becoming one of the most successful obesity drug treatments for many years. The drug is also marketed under the names of Xenical (by Roche) and Alli (by GlaxoSmithkline), with Alli being the only over the counter obesity treatment to be approved by the Food and Drugs Administration (FDA) in America.
In simple terms Orlistat is able to control the body’s absorption of fats which occur in the human diet, thereby reduce the caloric intake. While a very successful treatment on its own, the drug is normally used as part of an overall controlled diet - often in conjunction with a trained professional. As with any treatment, and especially obesity, there is a need to gradually reduce the overall fat intake, giving the patient more chance of success.
In clinical terms, Orlistat works by reducing the production of pancreatic lipase, which is an enzyme vital to the breakdown of triglycerides in the intestine. Due to the reduced production of the pancreatic lipase enzyme, the body is not able to absorbing as much of the fatty content of digested food. The unprocessed fatty particles are excreted naturally in the human faeces.
Taken before meals, the general dosage for Orlistat can vary between patients, although the standard prescription is 120mg to be taken three times a day. This level of intake has shown to offer the best results, as higher dosages do not always result in a marked change in results. The fact that the drug is taken orally is a benefit for many who may have concerns about differing delivery methods.
Orlistat is a treatment which has an appeal to the masses, and trials have been both long and very thorough. The one year efficiency statistics showed that on average between 35.5% and 54.8% of patients lost 5% or more of their body fat and between 16.4% and 24.8% lost 10% or more of their body fat. While these results themselves are very encouraging, it was perhaps the fact that the trial subjects regained up to 35% of their body fat once they stopped taking the treatment. These trials were presented in a manner which convinced the FDA that the dug should be made available over the counter, marketed as Alli.
As you would expect from a drug which physically stops the body absorbing and changing fatty content into fatty acids, there are some side effects with Orlistat. Though not serious they can be a little uncomfortable in the early days resulting in loose or oily stools and a marked increase in flatulence. While these main side effects will reduce with time, there have also been instances of sudden unexpected bowel movements which although not serious, can be a little embarrassing in certain situations. To minimise any of the above side effects it is recommended that users avoid high fat diets, instead concentrating on low fat and reduced calorific intake. Dietary fat contents in the region of 15 grams per meal have shown a marked reduction in the side effects of taking Orlistat.
The fact that the drug has received the FDA seal of approval (in the form of Orlistat, Xenical and Alli), Orlistat is set to take the dietary market by storm. Already available in the US and Australia, many trading partners of the USA are set to follow suit, content with the ruling from the often hard to please FDA.
Orlistat is much needed in many western countries with obesity rates showing major increases over the last decade, especially in children in the USA. These rates are at such a level that there is real concern that many thousands of children will be at serious risk of heart problems in the future, and that is not to mention the number of adults in the same situation.
One of the main attractions of Orlistat seems to be the physical ability to reduce the fatty content absorbed into the body, offering an easy to understand process for the patient. There is only one major difference between Orlistat, which is only available on prescription and Alli, which available over the counter, that being the fact that Orlistat can be prescribed up to 120mg per dosage, however Alli is reduced to a maximum of 60mg per dose.
Researchers have been trying for many years to produce a treatment which was able to supress the human enzyme which assisted in the absorption of fatty foods, and while a number of treatments have come close in the past, many have had major side effects. Orlistat seems to be the only one which is able to reduce the natural absorption process and directly reduce the fatty intake in any one meal. The fact that there are no stomach bands, no injections and no uncomfortable surgical procedures is a massive plus for many.
Much of the power has been given back to the patient and the fact the Orlistat allows them a great degree of comfort than other “wonder drugs” has been a great attraction for many. Often a difficult subject to discuss, and for many suffers difficult to accept, obesity is set to become an even greater problem for the worldwide society over the next decade. If doctors are able to nip this explosion in the bud then there is every chance that later generations will be better educated in the area of dietary requirements.
The Orlistat drug has been thoroughly tested over a number of years and in many different types of patient. During in these test it was also shown that Orlistat may also have a direct impact on the number of diabetic suffers, a condition which can often be linked to “over eating”. While the doctors were aware of this strong link to diabetes, it was a surprise to see the direct link between the treatment and the condition - another plus for many who had also been monitoring a very large increase in the number of diabetic suffers.
There is no doubt that Orlistat is here to stay, and will soon be available across the major markets of the world. Perhaps doctors have now found an assistant in the constant battle to reduce the growing cases of obesity worldwide.
|
Linear Mode
