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What is this medicine
Xenical blocks absorption of dietary fat into the bloodstream, thereby reducing the number of calories you get from a meal. At the usual dosage level, it cuts fat absorption by almost one-third. Combi
ned with a low-calorie diet, it is used to promote weight loss and discourage the return of unwanted pounds.
The drug is prescribed for the frankly obese and for merely overweight people who
have other health problems such as high blood pressure, diabetes, or high cholesterol levels. Your weight status is determined by your body mass index (BMI), a comparison of height to weight.
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special dietary instructions
Follow the diet program your doctor has given you. You should evenly divide your daily intake of fat, carbohydrates, and protein over three main meals. If Xenical is taken with a meal very high in fat
(30% total daily calories from fat), you may experience more side effects from the medication.
Xenical blocks your body's uptake of some fat-soluble vitamins and beta carotene. Therefore, wh
en you use Xenical you should take a daily multivitamin supplement that contains vitamins A, E, K, and beta-carotene. Take the vitamin once a day, 2 hours before or 2 hours after taking Xenical, or ta
ke the vitamin at bedtime.
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Cautions
.For patients with diabetes: Weight loss may result in an improvement in your condition, and your doctor may need to change your dose of oral diabetes medicine or insulin.
Visit your doctor
on a regular basis to check your progressto make sure that this medicine is working properly and to check for unwanted effects
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Significant Interactions:
If Xenical is taken with certain other drugs, the effects of either could be increased, decreased, or altered. It is especially important to check with your doctor before combining Xenical with the fo
llowing:
- Cyclosporine (Neoral and Sandimmune)
- Warfarin (Coumadin)
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Other medical problems
Pregnancy¡XXenical has not been studied in pregnant women. However, Xenical may decrease the amount of certain vitamins that your body can absorb from the food you eat. Make sure you have discussed wi
h your doctor the use of this medication during pregnancy.
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How should this medicine be used?
Xenical prevents the absorption of some of the fat you eat. Therefore, you should take it during the meal or within 1 hour of eating. If you occasionally miss a meal or eat a meal that contains no fat
, you should skip the dose of Xenical.
Because Xenical may decrease the amount of some vitamins that your body can absorb from food, you will need to take a multivitamin supplement once a da
y. Take the vitamin supplement at least 2 hours before or after taking Xenical
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