Orlistat
Oral weight loss capsules, available in 60mg (pharmacy) and 120mg (prescription strength).
Blocking fat absorption at source
Orlistat is a lipase inhibitor. It works in the gut to block the enzyme that breaks down dietary fat. At 60mg it stops about a quarter of the fat in your meals from being absorbed, and at 120mg about a third. That fat passes out of the body instead. Unlike GLP-1 medications, orlistat does not affect appetite or the brain. It works directly in the digestive system to reduce calorie absorption from fat.
Orlistat at Solira, key facts
- Medicine
- Orlistat capsules, taken with meals
- Strengths
- 60mg (pharmacy) and 120mg (prescription)
- Price
- 60mg from £42.99 for 84 capsules; 120mg £26.99 for 84 capsules
- Delivery
- Royal Mail Tracked 48, plain packaging, £2.99
- Reviewed by
- Jimah Alsaai MPharm, Superintendent Pharmacist (GPhC 2232652)
- Last reviewed
- October 2026
Xenical 120mg summary of product characteristics and patient leaflet; alli 60mg patient leaflet. Individual results vary.
Choose the right strength for you
One capsule with each main meal
Take one capsule immediately before, during, or up to one hour after each main meal, up to three times a day. If you miss a meal, or a meal contains no fat, skip that dose.
Is orlistat right for you?
Orlistat 120mg may be suitable if you're aged 18 to 75 and have a BMI of 30 or above, or a BMI of 28 or above with type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure or high cholesterol. Orlistat 60mg is for adults aged 18 and over with a BMI of 28 or above, for no more than 6 months of treatment. Orlistat is not suitable if you are pregnant, planning a pregnancy or breastfeeding, have chronic malabsorption syndrome, cholestasis, or liver or kidney problems, or your weight gain is caused by a hormone condition or a medicine.
May be suitable
- Orlistat 120mg: aged 18 to 75, with a BMI of 30 or above, or 28 or above with type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure or high cholesterol
- Orlistat 60mg: aged 18 or over, with a BMI of 28 or above, for up to 6 months
Not suitable if you have
- Pregnant, breastfeeding or planning pregnancy
- Chronic malabsorption syndrome or cholestasis
- Liver or kidney problems
- Weight gain caused by a hormone condition or a medicine
- A medicine that rules it out, such as warfarin, an epilepsy medicine or an HIV medicine
- Known allergy to orlistat
Evidence from a long-term trial
Orlistat 120mg has been licensed in the UK since 1998. In the four-year XENDOS trial (Diabetes Care, 2004), 3,305 adults with obesity took orlistat 120mg or placebo three times a day alongside lifestyle advice. After four years, people on orlistat had lost an average of 5.8kg compared with 3.0kg on placebo, and 6.2% had developed type 2 diabetes compared with 9.0% on placebo. The difference in diabetes was seen in people who had impaired glucose tolerance at the start. Individual results vary.
Source: Torgerson JS et al. Diabetes Care 2004 (PMID 14693982); NICE NG246 Overweight and obesity management (2025)
Sources
- Torgerson JS et al. XENDOS study. Diabetes Care 2004. doi.org
- NICE NG246, overweight and obesity management. nice.org.uk
- Xenical 120mg summary of product characteristics. medicines.org.uk
- alli 60mg summary of product characteristics. medicines.org.uk
- Report a side effect, MHRA Yellow Card scheme. yellowcard.mhra.gov.uk
What you need to know before starting orlistat
Diet is essential
Eat a balanced diet with slightly fewer calories, rich in fruit and vegetables, with about 30% of your calories from fat. Spread your fat, carbohydrate and protein over three main meals. Side effects in the gut are more likely after a meal high in fat.
Take a multivitamin
Orlistat reduces absorption of fat-soluble vitamins (A, D, E, K). Take a daily multivitamin containing vitamin D, at least 2 hours after a dose of orlistat, or at bedtime.
Side effects are manageable
Oily stools, wind and urgency are common, and more likely after a meal high in fat.
12-week review
Orlistat is reviewed at 12 weeks and only continued if you have lost at least 5% of your starting weight. After that, our pharmacist reviews it at every order.
Contraception
If you experience severe diarrhoea, use an additional contraceptive method as orlistat may reduce the effectiveness of oral contraception.
Other medicines
Tell us about every medicine you take. Orlistat is not suitable alongside some, such as warfarin, epilepsy medicines and HIV medicines. Take levothyroxine and orlistat at least 4 hours apart.
What to expect
Most side effects of orlistat are gastrointestinal and directly related to the mechanism of action. They occur when dietary fat intake is high. Following the recommended low-fat diet substantially reduces their likelihood and severity.
Very common (more than 1 in 10)
Oily or fatty stools · Liquid stools · Oily discharge · Increased frequency of bowel movements · Wind · Flatulence with discharge · Oily spotting from the rectum · Faecal urgency · Abdominal discomfort · Headache · Nose and throat infections · Flu · Low blood sugar, in people with type 2 diabetes
Common (up to 1 in 10)
Faecal incontinence · Soft stools · Abdominal distension · Rectal discomfort · Chest infections · Urinary tract infection · Tooth and gum problems · Fatigue · Menstrual irregularity · Anxiety
Get urgent medical advice if you have severe stomach pain, vomiting that will not stop, or signs of pancreatitis or gallbladder problems.
Tell us or your GP if you notice bleeding from your bottom, especially if it is heavy or keeps happening.
Tell your pharmacist or GP about any side effects. You can also report them to the MHRA Yellow Card scheme.
Orlistat pricing
| Strength | Supply | Price |
|---|---|---|
| 60mg | 84 capsules (1 pack) | £42.99 |
| 60mg | 168 capsules (2 packs) | £83.99 |
| 60mg | 252 capsules (3 packs) | £122.99 |
| 120mg | 84 capsules (1 pack) | £26.99 |
| Delivery | £2.99, Royal Mail Tracked 48 | |
One price for everyone. The price you see for each dose is what you pay, on your first order and every one after. No introductory prices, no codes.
60mg: No prescription required. Pharmacist assessment required before each order.
120mg: Prescription required. Issued by our GPhC-registered pharmacist following consultation review.
Common questions
alli is a brand of orlistat 60mg, and it is the 60mg pharmacy strength we supply. Orlistat 120mg is the prescription strength: the same active ingredient at twice the dose.
Orlistat works from the first dose: it reduces how much of the fat in your meals your body absorbs. It is reviewed at 12 weeks and only continued if you have lost at least 5% of your starting weight.
Some medications interact with orlistat. Our pharmacist will review your medication list during the consultation. Tell us if you take ciclosporin, amiodarone, lithium, acarbose, warfarin or another blood thinner, levothyroxine, an epilepsy medicine, an HIV medicine, a diabetes medicine, another weight-loss medicine or a GLP-1 medicine, or the contraceptive pill. Orlistat is not suitable alongside some of them, such as warfarin, epilepsy medicines and HIV medicines. Take levothyroxine and orlistat at least 4 hours apart.
Eat a balanced diet with slightly fewer calories, rich in fruit and vegetables, with about 30% of your calories from fat. Spread your fat, carbohydrate and protein over three main meals. Side effects in the gut are more likely after a meal high in fat. Your pharmacist can provide dietary guidance.
Orlistat is reviewed at 12 weeks and only continued if you have lost at least 5% of your starting weight. After that, our pharmacist reviews it at every order. Orlistat 60mg should not be taken for more than 6 months.
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Every option is reviewed by a GPhC registered pharmacist before any supply.
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