Xenical Sibutral

Drugs have emerged in recent years on the French market for treating obesity. If these treatments are very useful in people with a genuine overweight, they are not adapted to those cases or those wishing to lose a few pounds for summer. Moreover, their use is controlled enough to prevent abuse, and their price is a deterrent.



Xenical- The first of these drugs have emerged is Xenical ®. Marketed in Europe since 1998, this product has a mechanism of action wholly original. Indeed, it occurs inside the digestive tract by preventing certain enzymes, lipase, produced by the stomach and pancreas to break down triglycerides into smaller components, fatty acids and monoglycerides.

Result: about 30% of fats are eliminated in the stool without passing through the bowel wall and therefore not be assimilated by the body.

Modest but undeniable effect

The results are interesting with Xenical on weight loss but nothing miraculous. In fact, data from five comparative studies with this medication prescribed at the usual dose of 120 mg three times daily, showed that 20% of obese people manage to lose at least 10% of their weight when they took the Xenical for a year, while following alongside a reduced calorie diet. And this is only a difference of 3.2 kg between patients treated with Xenical and those receiving a placebo (dummy drug Xenical by mimicking its appearance but devoid of active substance).

A product reserved for genuine overweight

Anyway, Xenical can in no way be used to get rid of some curves. The French legislation is strict. This treatment is permitted only in those considered obese, that is to say in those in whom the BMI exceeds 30, or in individuals who are overweight a bit lower, but are At the same time carry cardiovascular risk factors (hypertension, diabetes).

Moreover, taking Xenical must be accompanied in all cases the monitoring of a mildly reduced calorie diet. And it will be stopped after 12 weeks if weight loss does not exceed 5% since the introduction of drug treatment. In this one main reason: the clinical work showed that if patients do not respond initially to Xenical, it is highly unlikely to do so thereafter.

Furthermore, this therapy is still prohibited in children, because its effects have not been studied in the latter, and is not recommended for pregnant women or mothers in breastfeeding their babies.

Troublesome side effects

The drug is not dangerous, but it has some drawbacks. Because of its mode of action, the stool becomes oily in 20% of cases and one quarter of patients complain of gas seeps along anal. In addition, Xenical sometimes impedes the absorption of fat soluble vitamins A, D, E and K. These explain possible side effects that doctors usually recommend to patients who follow this treatment, not to consume too much fat, divide the amount on three meals, eat fruit and vegetables in abundance and possibly even take vitamins. This should already be the case if the rules which must accompany the dietary treatment are followed. Roche Laboratories who market Xenical also offer patients a personalized follow: it is the Program Successful Weight. Every month a dietician called for patients to review the monitoring plan and the difficulties in proposing solutions.

It should also be aware that patients with diabetes (which is not uncommon for obesity and diabetes are often associated), weight loss is on average less important. Among those with diabetes, the administration of Xenical may lead to strengthening the monitoring of other drugs to fight against the excessive sugar in the blood or even prohibit certain. Finally, Xenical requires precautions in case of simultaneous administration of certain classes of drugs such as anticoagulants.

The latest: the Sibutral

In September 1999, the appetite suppressants have been withdrawn from the French market, because after many years of use when it was found that some as Isomeride Ponderal and can trigger a very serious disease, the pulmonary hypertension. However, anorectics are perhaps not totally said their last word.