The primary side effects of the Xenical are gastrointestinal-related.
Side effects are most severe within the first year of therapy. Because
orlistat's main effect is to prevent dietary fat from being absorbed,
the fat is excreted unchanged in the feces and so the stool may become
oily or loose. Increased flatulence is also common. Bowel movements may
become frequent or urgent. Rare occurrence of fecal incontinence have
been seen in clinical trials. To minimize these effects, foods with
high fat content should be avoided.
The absorption of fat-soluble vitamins and other fat-soluble nutrients
are inhibited by the use of orlistat. A multivitamin tablet containing
these vitamins (A, D, E, K, and beta-carotene) should be taken once a
day, at least 2 hours before or after taking the drug.
Despite claims that orlistat increases the risk of breast cancer
amongst clinicial trial participants, there is evidence to suggest that
the introduction of specific varied preparations containing orlistat
can induce cell death in tumor cells and block their growth.
A recent animal study addressed a connection orlistat shares with
aberrant crypt foci (ACF) in the colon, which is believed to be one of
the earliest precursors of colon cancer.
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Linked from
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Xenical
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