N
The Daily Insight

Does orlistat raise blood pressure?

Author

Ava Robinson

Updated on February 23, 2026

CONCLUSIONS: Orlistat promotes clinically meaningful weight loss that is associated with significant reductions in blood pressure and heart rate, and may therefore have a role in the management of hypertension in overweight and obese patients.

Also asked, can you take orlistat with high blood pressure?

Orlistat (prescription and nonprescription) is used with an individualized low-calorie, low-fat diet and exercise program to help people lose weight. Prescription orlistat is used in overweight people who may also have high blood pressure, diabetes, high cholesterol, or heart disease.

Similarly, can Xenical increase blood pressure? Orlistat and weight-loss diets also were effective at reducing the patients' blood pressure, the researchers said. But sibutramine treatment did not lower overall blood pressure and appeared to increase systolic blood pressure -- the top number in blood pressure readings, the researchers said.

One may also ask, what are the side effects of orlistat?

More common

  • Abdominal or stomach pain or discomfort.
  • back pain.
  • difficulty with moving.
  • gas with leaky bowel movements.
  • inability to hold bowel movement.
  • increases in bowel movements.
  • loss of bowel control.
  • oily bowel movements.

Is orlistat bad for your heart?

Orlistat was well tolerated. Conclusions: Treatment with orlistat in conjunction with diet promotes significantly greater weight loss and cardiovascular risk factor reduction than diet alone amongst obese patients at high risk of future coronary events.

Related Question Answers

What happens if you take orlistat without eating?

If there is no fat in one of your meals, or if you miss a meal, there is no need for you to take a dose of orlistat. Common side-effects include wind, loose stools and back passage (rectal) spotting, particularly at the beginning of treatment. These effects can be reduced by eating less fat in your meals.

Who should not use orlistat?

The following people should not take orlistat: Pregnant or breastfeeding women. People under the age of 18 years. People who have a condition where food is not absorbed properly (a malabsorption syndrome).

How long does orlistat stay in your system?

How long it takes depends on one's gastrointestinal (GI) or bowel transit time, the length of time it takes for food to travel through the digestive tract. This can vary between individuals, but, in general, the time to reach complete excretion (fecal and urinary) of orlistat is about 3 days.

How much weight can you lose in a week with orlistat?

Orlistat is effective in preventing fat absorption from your diet which will help reduce you total calorie intake. It is advisable to cut down your dietary calories by about 500 calories per day. This will result in loss of 1 lb per week, which is a healthy weight loss.

How do I get the best results from orlistat?

To get the best results from orlistat you need to make sure you optimise your diet and exercise regularly while taking it. Optimising your diet with orlistat means: Having a hypocaloric diet (consuming less than you burn) Consuming a well-balanced diet rich in fruits and vegetables.

How long is it safe to take orlistat?

Dosage and duration of treatment

Treatment with orlistat should only continue beyond 3 months if you've lost 5% of your body weight. It usually starts to affect how you digest fat within 1 to 2 days. If you have not lost weight after taking orlistat for 3 months, it's unlikely to be an effective treatment for you.

Is orlistat bad for the liver?

Introduction. Orlistat is an inhibitor of pancreatic and gastric lipase and a commonly used weight loss agent that is available both by prescription and over-the-counter. Orlistat has been linked to rare instances of acute liver injury, some of which have been severe.

Is orlistat bad for kidneys?

Orlistat use can cause oxalate kidney stones or oxalate nephropathy. Oxalate nephropathy due to orlistat is often asymptomatic and develops insidiously. Recovery of kidney function after stopping orlistat may be incomplete with resultant chronic kidney disease.

Does orlistat work if you don't eat fat?

You don't need to completely cut out fatty foods when you're taking orlistat – in fact if you eat a very low fat diet, Orlistat won't work properly.

Can orlistat make you gain weight?

Tell your doctor if you experience serious side effects of Xenical including blood in your urine, urinating less than usual or not at all, drowsiness, confusion, mood changes, increased thirst, swelling, weight gain, feeling short of breath, severe pain in your upper stomach spreading to your back, or fast heart rate.

What is the most likely side effect of orlistat?

General. The most commonly reported adverse events have included oily spotting, flatus with discharge, fecal urgency fatty/oily stool, oily evacuation, increased defecation and fecal incontinence.

What is the strongest weight loss pill?

Phentermine-Topiramate extended release (Qsymia) is the most effective weight loss drug available to date. It combines an adrenergic agonist with a neurostabilizer. Daily doses with four strengths start at 3.75/23mg to 15mg/92mg.

How can I reduce the side effects of orlistat?

To reduce the side effects of Orlistat, consume no more than 1-15 grams of fat per meal if you're taking Orlistat 120 mg capsules. You can also reduce Orlistat's side effects by sticking to the correct dosage of Orlistat.

Is orlistat safe to take?

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) published a safety review of orlistat in 2010 because of rare reports of serious liver injury in people using it. The FDA found no evidence to confirm that orlistat was the cause of the reported liver injuries.

Can you drink alcohol while taking orlistat?

As the slowing of GE by fat is dependent on lipolysis, orlistat may increase the rise in blood alcohol when alcohol is consumed with, or after, fat. The aim of the study was to evaluate the effects of orlistat on GE and blood alcohol after an alcohol-containing drink following a fat 'preload', in healthy subjects.

Does Orlistat reduce blood pressure?

Conclusions: Orlistat promotes clinically meaningful weight loss that is associated with significant reductions in blood pressure and heart rate, and may therefore have a role in the management of hypertension in overweight and obese patients.

Who should take Xenical?

Xenical is approved for use in adults with a BMI of 30 or more (obese), and those with a BMI of 27 to 29 (overweight) who have other health risk factors such as high blood pressure or diabetes.

Can I take Xenical with antidepressants?

It is recommended that Orlistat is used with caution if you take antidepressants or antipsychotic drugs alongside Orlistat as it may affect how well these drugs work.

When do you take Xenical?

The usual dose of Xenical is one 120 mg capsule taken with each of the three main meals per day. It can be taken immediately before, during a meal or up to one hour after a meal. The capsule should be swallowed with water.

Does Alli increase heart rate?

alli (orlistat 60 mg) can help an individual achieve gradual and healthy weight loss and lose 50% more weight than dieting alone. It works in the digestive system, not the central nervous system, so it does not affect the heart or brain.

What is Xenical tablets used for?

XENICAL is used to assist with losing weight, maintaining a certain weight and preventing weight regain. XENICAL is used to treat adults with an initial Body Mass Index (BMI) which measures 30 or more. One way to measure if you are overweight, and how overweight you are, is to calculate your Body Mass Index (BMI).

Is orlistat safe for diabetics?

The pill, which works by blocking the absorption of fat in the body, is considered an option for people with diabetes who have a Body Mass Index (BMI) of 28 or more.

What Contrave does to the body?

Contrave has been shown to improve weight loss as well as triglyceride and cholesterol levels. Because bupropion is often used as an antidepressant, it can also help those with obesity and depression. Notable side effects of the drug include nausea and constipation.

What are the side effects of hydroxychloroquine 200 mg?

Hydroxychloroquine may cause side effects. Tell your doctor if any of these symptoms are severe or do not go away:
  • headache.
  • dizziness.
  • loss of appetite.
  • nausea.
  • diarrhea.
  • stomach pain.
  • vomiting.
  • rash.

Can you take orlistat long term?

Orlistat and sibutramine, approved for up to 2 years of continuous use, produce 1–4-year average placebo-subtracted weight losses of <5 kg, are costly, and can cause significant adverse events. Orlistat frequently causes gastrointestinal distress and sibutramine may raise blood pressure and heart rate.

How can I lose my stomach fat?

20 Effective Tips to Lose Belly Fat (Backed by Science)
  1. Eat plenty of soluble fiber.
  2. Avoid foods that contain trans fats.
  3. Don't drink too much alcohol.
  4. Eat a high protein diet.
  5. Reduce your stress levels.
  6. Don't eat a lot of sugary foods.
  7. Do aerobic exercise (cardio)
  8. Cut back on carbs — especially refined carbs.

Has anyone lost weight with orlistat?

One clinical trial studying the effects of orlistat on weight loss in 743 overweight patients, found that after the first year, those taking orlistat had lost on average 10.3kg of weight. Another clinical trial has looked at the effects of Orlistat over a 6-month period in 80 obese individuals.

Does Alli cause kidney damage?

Could Alli be damaging my kidney? Alli (orlistat) interferes with the absorption of fat by the gut. It can cause diarrhea which could lead to dehydration, but I am not aware of any direct effect on the kidneys. Weight loss can be associated with an increased risk of passing kidney stones.