Venostat tablets, review of uses and side effects of Orlistat

In an age when people are looking for their ideal weight and body, slimming is one of the most important issues in the field of health and wellness. For this reason, proper nutrition and regular exercise alone may not be enough, and in some cases, there is a need for medical help to lose weight and manage thinness. One of the effective drugs in this field is “Venostat Tablet”. This drug is one of the best supplements for managing and losing weight, which is used in different ages. In the following, we will review the indications for use, mechanism of action, method of administration, precautions and contraindications for the use of orlistat.

Venostat dosage forms

1. 60 mg (Alli) and 120 mg (Xenica) capsules
2. Tablet

Uses of Venostat tablets

This medication is used along with doctor-approved exercise, behavior modification, and a low-calorie diet plan to help with weight loss. This medicine is used by people who are overweight, such as those who are obese or have weight-related medical problems. Taking orlistat can also prevent you from regaining the weight you’ve lost. Losing weight and keeping it off can reduce many of the health risks associated with obesity, including heart disease, diabetes, high blood pressure, and a shorter lifespan.

Orlistat works by blocking an enzyme that breaks down fats in your diet. This undigested fat is then removed from your body in the bowel movement. Orlistat does not block the absorption of calories from sugar and other lean foods, so you should still limit your calorie intake.

Pharmacological effects and mechanism of action of orlistat drug

The mechanism of action of Venostat inhibits gastric and pancreatic lipases, prevents the hydrolysis of triglycerides and thus reduces the absorption of dietary fats. Absorption with bioavailability is 5%, which is very little absorption and systemic absorption of orlistat is not necessary for clinical effectiveness. This drug is metabolized in the intestinal wall and the metabolites include M1 and M3 (both probably inactive). Finally, 95-97% is eliminated through feces (including bile) and less than 3% through urine.

Dosage of orlistat

If you intend to use Venostat tablets without a doctor’s prescription, first read the drug information on the drug package. Take this medication by mouth with liquids that contain fat, during or within one hour of each meal, usually 3 times a day, as directed by your doctor. If you miss a meal or your meal does not contain fat, skip that dose. To reduce the chance of unpleasant side effects, it is very important that no more than 30% of your diet’s calories come from fat. Your daily intake of fat, protein and carbohydrates should be equally divided into 3 main meals.

Time to take Venostat tablets

Do not increase, decrease or discontinue the medication without consulting your doctor. If you take more than prescribed, your condition will not improve faster and your risk of side effects will increase. Because this drug can interfere with the absorption of certain vitamins (fat-soluble vitamins including A, D, E, K), a daily multivitamin supplement containing these nutrients.

For this reason, it is recommended to take the multivitamin at least 2 hours before or 2 hours after taking orlistat (for example, at bedtime). If you take cyclosporine, take it at least 3 hours before or after orlistat to make sure the full dose of cyclosporine is absorbed into your bloodstream.

How to take Venostat tablets in adults

1. Venostat (Orlistat) is used in patients with a pretreatment BMI greater than 30 kg/m2, or a BMI greater than 27 kg/m2 in the presence of other risk factors or diseases (eg, HTN, DM, hyperlipidemia).
2. Dosing for Rx (Xenical, 120 mg orally every 8 hours with each fat-containing meal (during or up to 1 hour after a meal)) and doses greater than 120 mg TID show no additional benefit.
3. The OTC dosage (Alli) is a maximum of 60 mg taken orally every 8 hours with each fat-containing meal.
4. Note that this drug is only effective as a supplement for calorie restriction, increased physical activity, and behavior modification. Also, pay attention to the prescriptions and warnings (general display of drug interactions).

How to take Venostat (orlistat) tablets in children

1. It is used in children with a pretreatment BMI greater than 30 kg/m2, or a BMI greater than 27 kg/m2 in the presence of other risk factors or diseases (eg, HTN, DM, hyperlipidemia).
2. The safety and effectiveness of this drug for children under 12 years of age has not been proven.
3. Dosage for children over 12 years of age in Rx (Xenical, 120 mg orally every 8 hours with each fat-containing meal (during or up to 1 hour after a meal)) and doses greater than 120 mg TID No benefit Does not show extra.
4. Dosage in children over 12 years of age in the OTC form (Alli) is a maximum of 60 mg orally every 8 hours with each fat-containing meal.
5. Note that this drug is only effective as a supplement for calorie restriction, increased physical activity, and behavior modification. Also, see Prescriptions and Warnings (Drug Interaction Overview) for more information.

Precautions

Before taking Venostat (Orlistat), if you are allergic to it or any of its ingredients, avoid using it. This medicine may contain inactive ingredients that can cause allergic reactions or other problems. If you have a medical history, including a specific digestive problem (chronic malabsorption syndrome), a specific gallbladder problem (cholestasis), an underactive thyroid (hypothyroidism), kidney problems (such as kidney stones, hyperxaluria), some eating disorders (anorexia nervosa) or bulimia), HIV infection, seizures, etc. Consult your doctor regarding the risks of using the drug.

1. If a meal is missed or does not contain fat, the dose should be omitted.
2. Daily intake of fat (30% of calories), carbohydrates and protein should be evenly distributed in 3 main meals.
3. Multivitamin supplement (including vitamins A, D, E, K) is recommended. The supplement should be taken once a day at least 2 hours before or after the administration of orlistat, such as at bedtime.
4. Post-marketing reports of severe liver injury with hepatocellular necrosis or acute liver failure, in some cases leading to liver transplantation or death. Patients should be instructed to report any symptoms of liver dysfunction (anorexia, pruritus, jaundice, dark urine, light-colored stools, or right upper quadrant pain) while receiving treatment. If these symptoms occur, this drug and other suspected drugs should be stopped immediately and liver function tests and ALT and AST levels should be obtained.
5. Some patients may have elevated urinary oxalate levels following treatment. Cases of oxalate nephrolithiasis and oxalate nephropathy with renal failure have been reported. Monitoring of renal function is recommended when prescribing therapy for patients at risk of renal failure and use with caution in those with a history of hyperoxaluria or calcium oxalate nephrolithiasis. Discontinue treatment in patients who develop oxalate nephropathy.
6. Significant weight loss can increase the risk of cholelithiasis.
7. Before prescribing treatment, exclude organic causes of obesity (such as hypothyroidism).
8. This drug may increase gastrointestinal events when eating a high-fat diet (more than 30% of total daily calories from fat).
9. Weight loss in some cases affects blood sugar control in patients with diabetes. Reducing the dose of oral hypoglycemic drugs (for example, sulfonylurea) or insulin is required in some patients.

Venostat contraindications

1. pregnancy
2. Chronic malabsorption syndrome
3. cholestasis
4. Hypersensitivity

Venostat (orlistat) side effects

Fatty and oily stools, oily spotting, intestinal gas with discharge, feeling the need to have an urgent bowel movement, increased frequency of stools, or poor bowel control are some of the side effects of Venostat (Orlistat). If your doctor has prescribed this medicine for you, remember that your doctor has judged that the benefits to you are greater than the risk of side effects. Most people who use this drug do not experience serious side effects. Some of the serious side effects of this drug include abdominal pain, dark urine, yellow eyes and skin, symptoms of kidney stones (such as back pain, pain during urination, pink or bloody urine) and…

1. Fatty stools
2. greasy spots
3. Increased bowel movements
4. Fecal incontinence
5. nausea
6. Vomit
7. Decreased absorption of fat-soluble vitamins and beta-carotene
8. liver failure
9. Oxalate nephropathy
10. Leukocytoclastic vasculitis

Venostat drug interactions

1. Cyclosporine: should not be administered simultaneously with cyclosporine. Because it can reduce exposure to cyclosporine. To reduce the possibility of interaction, cyclosporine should be taken at least 3 hours before or after orlistat.
2. Levothyroxine: This drug should be prescribed with an interval of 4 hours and monitored for changes in thyroid function.
3. Amiodarone PO: A pharmacokinetic study showed a decrease in the systemic exposure of amiodarone and destil amiodarone when co-administered with orlistat.
4. Antiepileptic drugs (AEDs): Seizures have been reported with concomitant use of AEDs and orlistat, monitor AED serum levels.
5. Antiretroviral drugs: Loss of viral control has been reported in HIV-infected patients taking orlistat concomitantly with antiretroviral drugs. HIV RNA levels should be monitored frequently in patients taking orlistat and antiretroviral drugs. Discontinue orlistat if HIV viral load increases.

Drug interactions of warfarin with orlistat (venostat)

1. Absorption of vitamin K may be decreased with orlistat.
2. There have been reports of decreased prothrombin, increased INR, and unbalanced anticoagulant therapy leading to altered hemostatic parameters with concomitant administration of orlistat and anticoagulants.
3. Patients receiving chronic stable doses of warfarin or other anticoagulants should be closely monitored for changes in coagulation parameters.

Drug interactions of warfarin with orlistat

1. Orlistat may reduce the absorption of some fat-soluble vitamins and beta-carotene.
2. Instruct the patient to take a multivitamin containing fat-soluble vitamins to ensure adequate nutrition.
3. Take the vitamin supplement at least 2 hours before or after taking orlistat, such as at bedtime.

Taking venostat tablets (orlistat) during pregnancy and breastfeeding

The use of Venostat (Orlistat) in pregnant women does not have a dangerous effect on the mother and will only cause serious and fatal complications in the fetus or newborn. Minimal weight gain and no weight loss is recommended for all pregnant women, including those who are currently overweight or obese. It is also not known whether this drug has an effect on breast milk or not, so avoid taking it without a doctor’s prescription.

Orlistat storage conditions

Venostat medicine should be stored at room temperature, away from light and moisture. Also, keep all chemical and herbal medicines out of the reach of children and animals.

The last word about Venostat tablets

In this article from Positive Green Online Pharmacy magazine, we investigated the effects of Venostat tablets on weight loss and slimming management. Venostat is known as an innovative drug in the field of slimming, and studies have shown that this drug combination can help as an effective tool in achieving the desired weight and body shape. The benefits of this pill include increasing the rate of metabolism, reducing appetite, and facilitating weight loss and management. However, this pill should be taken carefully and under the supervision of a specialist doctor.

Site source: Medscape