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Xenical is a weight-loss drug, prescribed for treatment of obesity. While other weight-loss drugs function to suppress appetite or to speed up metabolism, Xenical works in the digestive system to block fat from being digested. It attaches to the lipases (enzymes that help digest fat) and blocks them from breaking down about a third of the fat recently consumed. The undigested fat cannot be absorbed and is eliminated in your bowel movements. Xenical may be prescribed to you if you have a Body Mass Index of 30 or greater, or have a BMI of 27 or greater in conjunction with other risk factors, such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, heart disease or diabetes.

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

Store at room temp. and out of the reach of children. Protect from moisture. Keep container tightly closed. Throw away any expired medicine.

If you occasionally miss a meal or have one without fat at all, you can skip your dose of Xenical. Missing a dose does not pose a medical problem; it only means that you lose the benefit of Xenical in blocking one-third of the fat in the food you eat at that meal. Simply resume taking Xenical with your next meal.

Xenical commonly causes unpleasant changes in bowel habits, as a result of its blocking the fat from being absorbed. These changes usually occur in the first weeks of Xenical use, but they may continue for several months. Changes may include gas with oily discharge, increase in number or urgency of bowel movements, and an inability to control them, particularly after meals containing excessively high amounts of fat.

If you are using Pravastatin, take it at night to avoid a drug interaction with Xenical. If you are using cyclosporine, consult a physicain before using Xenical.

Xenical is for people who are considerably overweight and for people who are overweight and also have other risk factors such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, heart disease or diabetes. Xenical should be used by these patients along with a nutritionally sound, reduced-calorie diet which contains no more than 30% of calories from fat. You must not take Xenical if you are pregnant, nursing, or have food absorption problems or reduced bile flow. Xenical also reduces the absorption of vitamins, so it is recommended that you take a daily multivitamin while you are using Xenical.

Hoffmann-La Roche Inc. (Roche) is the U.S. prescription drug unit of the Roche Group -- a global research-oriented health care group with core businesses in pharmaceuticals and diagnostics. The company is active in 150 countries and employs approximately 65,000 people worldwide. Roche U.S. is based in Nutley, N.J.