Pregnancy Risk Category B
How supplied
Capsules: 120 mg
Action
A reversible inhibitor of lipases that forms bond with active site of gastric and pancreatic lipases, inactivating them. Thus, enzymes can't hydrolyze dietary fat, in the form of triglycerides, into absorbable free fatty acids and monoglycerides. The undigested triglycerides aren't absorbed, resulting in caloric deficit.
Indications & dosage
Management of obesity, including weight loss and weight maintenance with a reduced-calorie diet; reduction of risk of weight gain after previous weight loss--
Adults: 120 mg P.O. t.i.d. with each main meal containing fat (during or up to 1 hour after meals).
Adverse reactions
CNS: headache, dizziness, fatigue, sleep disorder, anxiety, depression.
CV: pedal edema.
EENT: otitis, tooth and gingival disorders.
GI: oily spotting, flatus with discharge, fecal urgency, fatty or oily stool, oily evacuation, increased defecation, abdominal pain, fecal incontinence, nausea, infectious diarrhea, rectal pain, vomiting.
GU: menstrual irregularity, vaginitis, urinary tract infection.
Musculoskeletal: back pain, pain in lower extremities, arthritis, myalgia, joint disorder, tendonitis.
Respiratory: influenza, upper respiratory tract infection, lower respiratory tract infection.
Skin: rash, dry skin.
Interactions
Drug-drug. Fat-soluble vitamins (such as vitamins A and E and beta-carotene): decreased absorption of vitamins. Separate administration times by 2 hours.
Pravastatin: slightly increased pravastatin levels and additive lipid-lowering effects of drug. Monitor patient.
Warfarin: possible change in coagulation parameters. Monitor INR.
Effects on diagnostic tests
None reported.
Contraindications
Contraindicated in patients with hypersensitivity to drug or its components and in those with chronic malabsorption syndrome or cholestasis. Exclude organic causes of obesity such as hypothyroidism before starting drug therapy.
Nursing considerations
Patient teaching
*Liquid contains alcohol. **May contain tartrazine. †Canada ‡Australia §U.K. OTCOver the counter
Reactions may be common, uncommon, life-threatening, or COMMON AND LIFE-THREATENING