Xenical

8/3/2005

Xenical (orlistat), a weight loss medication from Roche, has recently won European approval for use by adolescents, said a company statement.

The label change has been approved following the results of a study that shows Xenical to be highly effective in helping obese young people lose weight. As a result of this change, UAE physicians may now consider the drug as an effective option in the management of obesity in adolescents in the country, the statement said.

According to the World Health Federation, there are approximately 22 million children under the age of five who are obese. In the last few years there has been a significant increase in the number of obese children and adolescents. Another study said obesity is now three times more common in the UAE than it was a decade ago, said a Roche spokesman.

'By studying the use of Xenical in obese adolescents aged 12 and over, we have now shown that the drug can benefit young people as much as adults. Xenical is now the only weight loss treatment in the US and EU approved for the use in this population,' said Rima Khadra, communications manager at Roche.

The label change is based on data from a study in which 539 obese adolescent patients received either 120 mg Xenical or placebo three times daily, alongside a reduced-calorie diet and exercise for one year.

Weight loss was tracked using changes in the adolescents' Body Mass Index (BMI), a measure that takes into account not only the changes in body weight but also the changes in height which occur in growing adolescents, the company said

Xenical Uses?

Unlike other weight-loss drugs that act in the brain or central nervous system to suppress appetite or to speed up metabolism, XENICAL works in your digestive system to block fat from being digested. Enzymes in your digestive system, called lipases, help digest (or break down) fat. Xenical attaches to the lipases and blocks them from breaking down some of the fat you have eaten. The undigested fat can't be absorbed and is eliminated in your bowel movements. By working this way, Xenical helps block about one-third of the fat in the foods you eat from being absorbed by your body. XENICAL may be right for you if you have a Body Mass Index of 30 or greater, or have a BMI of 27 or greater and have other risk factors, such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, heart disease or diabetes. Click here to calculate your BMI and find out if you might be a candidate for XENICAL.

Xenical Directions?

The recommended dose is one 120-mg capsule by mouth with liquid at each main meal that contains fat. You should take Xenical up to three times a day in combination with a reduced-calorie diet. Each time you take Xenical, your meal should contain no more than about 30% of calories from fat. You should evenly divide your daily intake of fat, carbohydrates and protein over your three main meals. You can take Xenical during meals or up to 1 hour after a meal. If you occasionally miss a meal or have a meal without fat, you can omit your dose of XENICAL. Doses above 120-mg three times daily have not been shown to provide an additional weight-loss benefit.

Xenical Warnings?

Xenical helps those who have a body mass index of 30 or higher, or are severely overweight. Individuals who have a body mass index of 27 or higher and also suffer from health conditions such as high blood pressure, heart disease, high cholesterol, or diabetes may also be able to use Xenical. Xenical needs to be taken when the individual is following a weight-loss meal plan that restricts the fat calories in a meal to no more than 30%. It will be beneficial to take a multivitamin while using Xenical to replace essential vitamins that might not get absorbed. If you are breast-feeding an infant, are pregnant, have reduced bile flow, or have food absorption problems, you should not take Xenical.

Xenical Drug Interactions?

Some medicines or medical conditions may interact with this Xenical. INFORM YOUR DOCTOR OR PHARMACIST of all prescription and over-the-counter medicine that you are taking. Contact your doctor or pharmacist if you have any questions or concerns about using this medicine.

Xenical Missed Dose?

Xenical blocks one-third of the fat in the food you eat at that meal. If you occasionally miss a meal or have a meal without fat, you can omit your dose of Xenical. Simply resume taking XENICAL at your next meal containing fat. It is a waist of time to take more Xenical than prescribed by your doctor, there is no evidence that has proven that using additional Xenical will help you loss additional weight.

Xenical Storage?

Keep your medicine away from moisture and at room temperature. Make sure it stays out of children’s reach. Keep the container tightly closed. If you do not use all of the medication before its expiration date, throw the remainder in the trash.

Anything Else I Should Know About Xenical?

Xenical doesn’t work like the other weight loss drugs that are available on the market. Those drugs have an ingredient similar to an amphetamine, and can cause problematic side effects, some of them serious. For instance, Redux and Pondimin have been shown to have some relation to damaged lung and heart tissue. The good news is that Xenical has been created to help you lose weight by working right where it is needed the most. It works in the intestinal tract to help your body break down fat better. Unlike the above-mentioned drugs that work by stimulating your brain, increasing your heart rate, and absorbing into the blood stream (not even 1% of Xenical is absorbed into the blood stream). If you take Xenical, you should make sure to regularly take a multivitamin. Xenical can keep some people from absorbing the important vitamins from their regular diet. It is best that you take your multivitamin separately from your Xenical. We suggest you take them at least two hours apart. Consider taking the multivitamin at bedtime. Because some people become overweight due to health issues such as an overactive thyroid, rather than their diet and exercise, we recommend that you make an appointment to see your regular physician once a year for a complete physical. If you take Xenical, make sure not to share your prescription with others.

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