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Royal Mail tracked 24 or 48 hour delivery in plain, unmarked packaging.
Pharmacy, clinic and prescribers based in Greater Manchester.
Where a prescription is needed, the price you see includes your consultation and prescription.
Fill in a quick online consultation for our licensed pharmacists to review.
Our pharmacists will review your treatment to ensure it’s suitable.
Your treatment will be delivered to your door quickly & discreetly.
| Medication Name | Xenical 120mg Capsules |
| Medication Form | Hard capsule |
| Used for | Treating obesity alongside a low-calorie diet |
| Who can use | Adults (aged 18 years and over) being treated for obesity |
| Active Ingredient | Orlistat 120mg |
| Usual Dose | One capsule with each main meal, up to three times a day |
| Common Side Effects | Oily or fatty stools, wind with discharge, urgent need to open the bowels, headache, stomach pain |
| Prescription Required | Yes |
| Patient Information Leaflet | Xenical 120mg Capsules Patient Information Leaflet |
Xenical 120mg capsules are a prescription medicine used to support weight management in adults with obesity. They’re prescribed for weight loss when combined with a low-calorie diet.
They’re particularly relevant if you have additional risk factors like high blood pressure, diabetes or high cholesterol, as these lower the BMI needed for treatment from 30 to 28.
Once you’ve taken Xenical orlistat capsules with a meal, the orlistat works in your digestive system. It attaches to enzymes called lipases that normally break down the fat in your food, and stops them from working.
Xenical works by blocking about a third of the fat you eat from being digested. The undigested fat can’t be absorbed, so it passes out of your body in your stools instead.
Because Xenical acts on the fat in your meals, it only works when a meal contains some fat.
Xenical has been tested in long-term clinical trials. In the four-year XENDOS study, 3,305 adults with obesity took either Xenical or a placebo three times a day, alongside lifestyle changes. After four years, people taking Xenical had lost an average of 5.8kg, compared with 3.0kg in the placebo group.
Xenical is used alongside your own efforts to lose weight through diet and exercise, and your diet plays a big part in helping Xenical work for weight loss.
Xenical can be used as a weight loss aid by adults with:
Our clinicians will only prescribe Xenical if you meet these criteria. You can check your BMI using our BMI calculator.
Xenical is intended for adults and isn’t suitable for children. You shouldn’t take it if you:
The usual dose is one 120mg capsule taken with each of your three main meals.
Your diet matters as much as the capsules themselves. Try to:
You don’t need a strict low-fat diet, as Xenical needs some fat in your meals to work.
If weight loss with Xenical is less than 5% of your starting body weight after 12 weeks, your prescriber will stop treatment.
Like all medicines, Xenical can cause side effects, although not everybody gets them. Most Xenical side effects affect your digestive system and are mild. They tend to happen at the start of treatment (especially after high-fat meals) and usually ease if you keep to your recommended diet while taking Xenical.
These may affect more than 1 in 10 people:
These may affect up to 1 in 10 people:
These have been reported, but how often they happen isn’t known:
Get medical help straight away if you notice:
If you have signs of hepatitis, stop taking Xenical and speak to your doctor.
You can report side effects through the MHRA Yellow Card Scheme.
Each main meal should contain a moderate amount of fat. A very high-fat meal makes digestive side effects more likely, so simple swaps can make a real difference.
Some easy meal ideas include:
How you cook matters too. Grilling, baking, steaming or boiling uses less fat than frying, and checking food labels helps you spot hidden fats in ready meals and sauces.
For more ideas, browse our weight loss recipes and meal plans.
Xenical contains 120mg of the active ingredient orlistat in each capsule. Xenical capsules are turquoise and printed with “XENICAL 120”.
Active ingredient: orlistat 120mg per capsule
Other ingredients: microcrystalline cellulose (E460), sodium starch glycolate (type A), povidone (E1201), sodium laurilsulfate and talc
Capsule shell: gelatine, indigo carmine (E132), titanium dioxide (E171) and edible printing ink
Xenical is a prescription-only weight loss medicine containing orlistat. You take it with your main meals, alongside a low-calorie diet.
Xenical is the original branded version of orlistat and contains the same active ingredient as generic orlistat. The difference between Xenical and the generic version is the brand name, and both work in the same way.
Xenical isn’t an appetite suppressant, so it won’t make you feel less hungry. Xenical can help reduce how much fat your body absorbs from your meals.
You’ll need a BMI of 30 or more, or 28 or more if you also have a weight-related condition such as high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes or high cholesterol. Enter your height and weight in our weight loss consultation and your BMI is calculated automatically, showing straight away if you may be eligible for Xenical.
Xenical only comes as a hard capsule containing 120mg of orlistat, although many people call it Xenical tablets.
Xenical is a prescription-only medication in the UK, so you can’t buy it over the counter. You can get Xenical on prescription from your GP if you meet the NHS criteria, or through Click2Pharmacy. A lower-strength 60mg version, Alli, is available from pharmacies without a prescription.
Xenical is available on private prescription through Click2Pharmacy, with your free online consultation and prescription included in the price of your treatment.
Yes, you can buy Xenical online. Xenical is only available after a consultation, so you’ll first fill in a short form about your health, weight and any medicines you take. A pharmacist reviews your answers to check it’s suitable for you, then your capsules are delivered in discreet packaging.
You can find out more about weight loss treatments in our weight loss clinic.
There’s no average length of treatment, as it depends on how you respond. If you’ve lost at least 5% of your starting weight after 12 weeks, you can usually carry on, and Xenical has been studied for up to 4 years in the XENDOS trial. NICE guidance recommends only continuing beyond 12 months, usually for maintaining a healthy weight, after discussing it with your prescriber.
Medications like Xenical can affect how some other medicines work. Tell your prescriber about everything you take, including medicines bought without a prescription, so they can check for any interactions.
You can take vitamins while using Xenical. If you take a multivitamin, have it at bedtime or at least 2 hours after a Xenical dose, as taking them together can stop the vitamins from being absorbed properly.
Don’t take Xenical with other weight loss medicines, such as Mounjaro or Wegovy, unless your prescriber has told you it’s safe to. This includes Alli, lower-strength weight loss capsules that contain the same active ingredient. Mention any products you’re using, including weight loss supplements, during your consultation.
Having had your gallbladder removed doesn’t automatically rule out Xenical. Mention it during your consultation so a pharmacist can check Xenical is appropriate for you.
Take the missed capsule as soon as you remember, as long as it’s within one hour of your last meal, then carry on at your usual times. Don’t take a double dose of orlistat to make up for it. If you’ve missed several doses, speak to your prescriber for advice.
Contact a doctor, pharmacist or hospital if you take more capsules than you’ve been told to, as you may need medical attention. The same applies if someone else accidentally takes your medicine.
Xenical works differently to weight loss injections, as it reduces how much fat your body absorbs from your meals rather than affecting your appetite. It’s taken alongside a low-calorie diet and regular exercise.
Dr Hussain Ahmad
Page content authored by Mr Mohammed, last reviewed by Dr Hussain Ahmad on 5th November 2026.
