Alli 60 mg vs Xenical 120 mg (Orlistat)

Alli and Xenical, in essence, are the same medicine as they both contain the same active ingredient, Orlistat. The only real difference between the two brands is that Xenical contains 120mg of active ingredient, double the 60mg dose of Orlistat found in Alli.

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Xenical

What is the difference between Xenical and Alli?

Although both medications contain the same active ingredient, the differing dose means that they are prescribed in different ways. Xenical must be prescribed on prescription by a doctor, whereas Alli can be prescribed over the counter by a pharmacist. The criteria for both treatments are similar, however a doctor has more discretion in deciding how long to continue treatment for, whereas a pharmacist has much stricter prescribing guidelines. Strict guidelines on OTC provision of Alli means that the drug cannot be issued to patients with BMI < 28. Xenical on private prescription on the other hand can be provided up to BMI 25.

The maximum treatment times of these medications can also differ. Xenical Orlistat 120mg can be used for up to 2 years, pharmacists must not exceed 6 months of treatment with Alli Orlistat 60mg.

How should these medicines be taken?

One capsule of Orlistat should be taken with each of your three main meals. If you skip a meal or eat one which contains no fats at all, you can skip your dose of Orlistat too. One 84 capsule pack of Orlistat should last about 4 weeks.

One recommendation for taking Orlistat based medicines is to start with the lower dose drug and increase to the higher after one month. Do not increase the dose from 60mg to 120mg if side effects can not be tolerated. Start by taking Alli moving onto Xenical later on once you have learnt how to manage Orlistat’s side effects.

Which will help me lose weight fastest?

With only half the dose, treatment with Alli is slower compared with weight loss treatment using Xenical. It is recommended that obese patients or patients with weight related illnesses choose Xenical to lose weight faster. This is especially important if the patient has high cholesterol, high blood pressure or diet controlled diabetes. * Patients treated for diabetes with insulin should let the physician know, so that any special dosing advice can be given to avoid contraindications between medications.
Alli and Xenical alone will both bring gradual weight loss results. Alli will help a patient increase their weight loss potential by 30%, whereas Xenical will make a difference of up to 50%. Using medications alone without making any lifestyle changes is not recommended and weight loss potential can be increased by following a diet and an exercise programme.
The choice of whether a patient should use Xenical or Alli will depend on a patient’s medical history and whether their weight loss programme needs to be followed by a doctor or can be supported by a pharmacist instead.