Orlistat (Alli 60mg)

Orlistat comes in tablets. You should always take Orlistat as your prescriber or pharmacist has recommended. Generally it’s taken 3 times a day, once for every main meal.

The tablet is taken with liquids during the meal or up to 1 hour after eating. If you occasionally miss a meal or eat a meal that contains no fat, you should skip the dose of Orlistat. If there’s no fat for Orlistat to bind to, it won’t have anything to do anyway.

In clinical studies, people treated with Orlistat plus diet successfully lost, on average, 8.5% of their body weight after 1 year of treatment. Source

In comparison, people treated with Semaglutide (Ozempic) lost more than 14% of their body weight after 1 year, down to 15% after 68 weeks (source). This is why Juniper’s clinical team recommends and prescribes Semaglutide (Ozempic), along with lifestyle advice and a personal health coach, to fully benefit from the treatment.

Yes, it can have side effects. Fatty/oily stool, oily spotting, intestinal gas with discharge, a feeling of needing to have a bowel movement right away, increased number of bowel movements, or poor bowel control may occur.

Rare but serious side effects that might occur are: Symptoms of liver disease (such as nausea/vomiting that doesn't stop, severe stomach/abdominal pain, dark urine, yellowing eyes/skin), symptoms of kidney stones (such as back pain, pain when urinating, pink/bloody urine).

A very serious allergic reaction to this drug is rare. However, get medical help right away if you notice any symptoms of a serious allergic reaction, including: Rash, itching/swelling (especially of the face/tongue/throat), severe dizziness, trouble breathing.

This isn't’ a complete list of possible side effects. If you notice other effects not listed above, contact your doctor or pharmacist.

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Orlistat is a drug designed to treat obesity. It’s also known under the branded names Alli,  Xenical or Orlos. Orlistat, Alli, and Xenical all contain exactly the same active ingredient, orlistat. They all work in the same way.

It’s a prescription medication used in the management of obesity, including weight loss and weight maintenance when used with a reduced-calorie diet. It works in the digestive system to block about one-third of the fat in the food you eat from being digested.

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Orlistat is a gastrointestinal lipase inhibitor, while Semaglutide (Ozempic) is made of GLP-1, a naturally occurring hormone which is produced in the gut regulating appetite.

Practically speaking, Orlistat works in your digestive system preventing the digestion and absorption of fat in the food you eat. Semaglutide (Ozempic) instead works by reducing hungry cues, efficiently processing fat, and keeping you feeling fuller for longer.

In clinical studies, people treated with Orlistat and dieting lost on average 8.5% of their body weight after 1 year of treatment. Source

In comparison, people treated with Semaglutide (Ozempic) lost more than 14% of their body weight after 1 year, and 15% after 68 weeks. Source

We believe that successfully keeping weight off is just as important as losing it in the first place.

That’s why we provide a holistic programme which focuses on three important areas:

1. A biological reset - we prescribe the latest available weight loss medication which targets the receptors in the brain that control your appetite. The medication works to lower your body’s ‘set point’, which is the weight it fights to maintain at a biological level. This helps you to lose weight.

2. A behavioural reset - our clinicians, health coaches and community supports you every step of the way. During the course of our programme you’ll learn sustainable nutritional, exercise and lifestyle choices, tracking your progress to help you form long term habits that stick. This will not only help you lose weight, but keep it off for good.

3. Our community - Numerous studies (e.g. here) have shown that people in group communities achieve greater weight loss than those who do it alone. That’s why we’re here. We’re dedicated to helping women to make lifestyle changes that are often difficult to achieve on their own.

Semaglutide (Ozempic) is proven for long-term weight loss and has been shown to help patients lose 10 to 15% of their body weight on average in one year. Made up of a naturally occurring hormone (GLP-1) — which is produced in the gut — this medication works by regulating appetite and keeping you feeling fuller for longer.

By targeting the receptors in the brain that control your appetite, the medications work to lower your body’s ‘set point’, which is the weight your body fights to maintain on a biological level.

The benefit of using Ozempic is that it gives you the time and confidence to work on changing your lifestyle and unhelpful behaviours whilst your appetite is reduced.

The medication is available on the UK market in three different dosages: 0.25, 0.5 and 1mg.

If eligible, at the start of the Juniper Reset Programme you will be prescribed the 0.25mg dose. Once you are stable on that dose, it can then be increased to the 0.5mg dose. Our clinical team will check in regularly to assess your progress and discuss the right dosage for you.

You can then be prescribed the 1mg dose once you're stable on the 0.5mg dose. Not everyone needs the 1mg dose, some may only require a 0.5mg maintenance dose.

As with most prescription medications, weight loss medication can cause some side effects or allergic reactions. Mild and temporary side effects (as your body adjusts to the treatment) are expected in 1 in 10 (or 10%) of patients.

Common side effects, for the minority of patients that experience them, are mild and temporary and include:

• loss of appetite
• nausea (feeling sick)
• vomiting (being sick)
• dizziness
• fatigue
• headache
• abdominal pain
• acid reflux / heartburn
• diarrhoea or constipation
• burping and flatulence

Note: Many of these side effects are caused by knock-on impacts rather than the medication itself. For example vomiting or diarrhoea can lead to dehydration which presents itself as a headache and fatigue. It’s important to make sure you continue to hydrate and eat balanced regular meals throughout the day whilst taking the medication.

If you do experience any of these side effects, our team is here to help you. Contact us at hello@myjuniper.co.uk and we’ll be able to advise you on the best course of action to mitigate your symptoms, or arrange a consult with your clinician to review your dosage and treatment plan.Should your side effects be acute, or if you have symptoms of a severe allergic reaction (such as swelling of your face, lips or throat, problems breathing or swallowing or a rapid heartbeat), we recommend seeking immediate medical assistance through your GP or nearest A&E service.

Here is a more comprehensive guide on side effects.

Administer the medication once every 10 days, at any time of the day, with or without meals. Inject into the abdominal fat, thigh, or upper arm. You can check out this instructional video for a detailed overview of how to take the medication.

The day of administration can be changed if necessary as long as the time between 2 doses is at least 2 days (>48 hours) If a dose is missed, administer it as soon as possible within 5 days after the missed dose. If more than 5 days have passed, skip the missed dose and administer the next dose on the regularly scheduled day. For whatever questions or doubts, don't hesitate to contact our team at hello@myjuniper.co.uk.

If a dose is missed, administer it as soon as possible within 5 days after the missed dose.If more than 5 days have passed, skip the missed dose and administer the next dose on the regularly scheduled day. If you have missed more than 2 consecutive weeks of treatment, restarting may cause an increase in gastrointestinal side effects and you need to first discuss your treatment plan with your prescriber. You may need to restart on the lowest dose and follow the dosing schedule from there to reduce the likelihood of side effects.Let us know if you have missed more than 2 weeks of treatment by emailing hello@myjuniper.co.uk and they will book you in for a free review consult to discuss your plan.As always, if you have any questions, do not hesitate to reach out at hello@myjuniper.co.uk.

Our programme costs £6.50 a day and includes your weekly medication, unlimited access to our prescribers, health coaches, and an online community of women sharing your journey. We bill this monthly at a regular cost of £195 which does not change as your medical dosage increases. Many pharmacies charge this price (or higher) for the medication alone.

Results vary from person to person. Every weight loss journey is different – some women find they lose several kilos in the first few weeks of treatment, for others it can take a few weeks to get going before they see results. As part of Juniper, most people will lose at least 5% of their body weight in the first 20 weeks on our medication and coaching programme - 1 in 4 will lose more than 10%. You’ll be supported every step of the way by your prescriber, our medical team and your health coach - and of course, your community.

Read this article for all the information you need about expected weight loss.

No. We won’t ask you to follow strict eating plans, but your health coach will be helping you make healthier food and lifestyle choices.