Xenical is used as an aid to help you lose weight. The medicine prevents the digestion of some of the fat you eat. Fats that are not digested cannot be absorbed and therefore do not contribute calories. To give the greatest weight loss, Xenical must be used with a weight-reduction diet.

Xenical is available only with your doctor's prescription .

Special precautions

In deciding to use a medicine, the risks of taking the medicine must be weighed against the good it will do. This is a decision you and your doctor will make. For Xenical , the following should be considered:

Allergies— tell your doctor if you have ever had any unusual or allergic reaction to Xenical . Also tell your health care professional if you are allergic to any other substances, such as foods, preservatives, or dyes.

Pregnancy— Xenical 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 with your doctor the use of this medication during pregnancy.

Breast-feeding— It is not known whether Xenical passes into breast milk. Although most medicines pass into breast milk in small amounts, many of them may be used safely while breast-feeding. Mothers who are taking this medicine and who wish to breast-feed should discuss this with their doctor.

Children— Studies on this medicine have been done only in adult patients, and there is no specific information comparing use of Xenical in children with use in other age groups.

Older adults— there is no specific Xenical comparing use of Xenical in the elderly with use in younger adults. However, this medicine is not expected to cause different side effects or problems in older people than it does in younger adults.

Other medicines— although certain medicines should not be used together at all, in other cases two different medicines may be used together even if an interaction might occur. In these cases, your doctor may want to change the dose, or other precautions may be necessary. When you are taking Xenical , it is especially important that your health care professional know if you are taking the following:

• Warfarin— Xenical may decrease the absorption of vitamin K and may change your bleeding time

Other medical problems— the presence of other medical problems may affect the use of Xenical . Make sure you tell your doctor if you have any other medical problems, especially:

• Kidney stones or

• Gallbladder problems— Xenical may make the condition worse

Side Effects

Along with its needed effects, a medicine may cause some unwanted effects. Although not all of these side effects may occur, if they do occur they may need medical attention. Check with your doctor as soon as possible if any of the following side effects occur:

• More common

• Bodyache; chills; cough; fever; headache; nasal congestion; runny nose; sneezing; sore throat

• Less common

• Tightness in chest; tooth or gum problems ; troubled breathing; wheezing

• Rare

• Bloody or cloudy urine; change in hearing ; contagious diarrhea; difficult or painful urination; earache; frequent urge to urinate; pain in ear

Other side effects may occur that usually do not need medical attention. These side effects may go away during treatment as your body adjusts to the medicine. However, check with your doctor if any of the following side effects continue or are bothersome:

• More common

• Gas with leaky bowel movements; inability to hold bowel movement; increases in bowel movements ; oily bowel movements; oily spotting of underclothes

• Less common

• Anxiety; back pain; menstrual changes; rectal pain or discomfort

After you stop using this medicine, your body may need time to adjust. Side effects caused by Xenical usually disappear within 2 to 3 days after stopping it.

Other side effects not listed above may also occur in some patients. If you notice any other effects, check with your doctor.

Keep all appointments with your doctor and the laboratory.

Do not let anyone else take your medication.