Xenical Side Effects
As with most prescription medications, side effects may occur after taking Xenical. As individuals react differently to medications, the degree of severity of Xenical side effects may vary from person to person. Some people may suffer greatly while others may not experience any side effects.
The digestive side effects associated with this treatment can be decreased if you follow the doctor’s advice on what to eat. Basically, a low fat diet will result in less Xenical side effects. There are some more common side effects than others, and if any persist, it is important to contact a doctor, or contact ours online for further advice.
Very common side effects
The following are very common Xenical side effects, and generally affect more than 1 in 10 people. As mentioned above, the severity of some of the below side effects can be lessened if you follow a low fat, structured diet as prescribed by a doctor or nutritionist.
- Headaches and abdominal pain
- Oily spotting from the rectum and flatulence with discharge
- Oily, fatty stools
- Urgent or increased need to open the bowels
- Low blood sugar levels
Less common side effects
These side effects are common, but not as common as the list above. They affect anywhere between 1 in 10 people and 1 in 100 people. As with any side effects, if they persist for a long period of time, or cause serious discomfort, etc, then you must contact a doctor to seek advice. The common side effects of Xenical are:
- Abdominal bloating and pain or discomfort of the rectum
- Tooth and gum disorders
- Faecal incontinence
- Chest infections and tiredness
- Irregular menstrual cycles
- Anxiety
Rare side effects
There are several side effects that are incredibly rare, but have been associated with this treatment. If you experience any of the following, contact a doctor to discuss your situation and get information about new treatments, or what you should do next.
These few rare Xenical side effects are:
- Rectal bleeding
- Inflammation of the pancreas or liver
- Raised liver enzymes
- Gallstones
Risk groups
As mentioned above, the severity of Xenical side effects can be decreased by following the directions provided in the patient leaflet. There are a few people however, that should be cautious when using this medication, as they fall into risk groups. This implies that they will be more susceptible to side effects, or at a higher risk of putting their health in danger. People that fall into these groups, need to make their doctors aware of their condition and be cautious when taking this treatment:
- People with long term kidney problems
- People with diabetes
- People suffering from epilepsy
- People with an under active thyroid gland
There is also a small group of people that cannot take Xenical at all, as it will seriously put their health at risk. These people are:
- Women who are breastfeeding
- People under 18 years of age
- People who are allergic to any of the ingredients
- People with long term gut disorders
