Weight loss · Orlistat
Orlistat
Orlistat 120mg · capsule with each main meal
A non-hormonal option that works in your gut, not your brain. Orlistat blocks around a third of the fat in each meal from being absorbed — proven, well-tolerated, and a good fit when GLP-1s aren't right.
Choose your pack size
Orlistat is a fixed 120mg dose — the pack size is what changes.
How many?
£19.99
£19.99 each
£37.98
£18.99 each
After first review
£53.97
£17.99 each
After first review
1 pack · 2 Weeks
£19.99
One-off, no subscription. Every repeat is still reviewed by a pharmacist.
Orlistat is a fixed dose, so multi-packs are available from your first order. Every repeat is still reviewed by a pharmacist.
- Prescribed by a UK-registered pharmacist
- Tracked, plain packaging · delivered in 2–3 working days
- One-off pricing — no subscription, pause or stop any time
- Active ingredient
- Orlistat 120mg
- How you take it
- One capsule with each main meal, up to three a day
- Trial result
- Around 10% body weight over 12 months, with diet
- Review cadence
- Every 4 weeks with your pharmacist
How it works
Works in the gut, not the brain.
Orlistat blocks the enzyme that breaks down dietary fat. Fat that isn't broken down can't be absorbed, so it passes through — roughly 30% of what you eat.
01
Blocks lipase
Lipase is the enzyme your gut uses to digest fat. Orlistat switches about a third of it off, meal by meal.
02
Fat passes through
Undigested fat leaves the body naturally. Fewer calories are absorbed from the same plate of food.
03
Diet does the rest
Orlistat works best alongside a lower-fat diet — and it gives immediate, unmissable feedback when a meal is too fatty.
How to take it
One capsule, three meals, no titration.
Orlistat is a fixed 120mg dose. There's no stepping up — just one capsule with, or up to an hour after, each main meal that contains fat.
Skip the capsule if you skip a meal or eat one with no fat. Take a daily multivitamin at bedtime, as orlistat can reduce absorption of vitamins A, D, E and K. If you're on a stable dose of another medicine, tell your prescriber — orlistat can affect how some are absorbed.
Who it's for
Is Orlistat right for you?
Orlistat is prescribed for adults who meet UK licensing criteria for weight management.
Likely suitable if
- You're 18 or over
- Your BMI is 30 or above, or 28 or above with a weight-related risk factor
- You'd prefer a non-hormonal treatment, or GLP-1 medicines aren't suitable for you
- You're willing to follow a lower-fat diet — orlistat rewards it
Not suitable if
- You're pregnant or breastfeeding
- You have a chronic malabsorption syndrome
- You have cholestasis (a bile flow problem)
- You're taking ciclosporin, warfarin or certain HIV, epilepsy or thyroid medicines without prescriber review
This is a guide, not a decision. A UK-registered prescriber reviews your full consultation and decides whether Orlistat is clinically appropriate for you. Completing a consultation does not guarantee a prescription.
Safety
What to expect.
Orlistat's side effects are almost all digestive, directly related to fat in your diet, and settle as you adjust what you eat.
Common
- Oily or fatty stools
- Wind, sometimes with oily discharge
- Urgent or more frequent bowel movements
- Stomach discomfort
Less common
- Headache
- Low blood sugar if you have type 2 diabetes
- Reduced absorption of fat-soluble vitamins
- Changes to how some other medicines are absorbed
Get help straight away
- Severe stomach pain
- Signs of an allergic reaction — swelling, breathing difficulty
- Yellowing of skin or eyes
- Blood in stools
In an emergency call 999. Report any suspected side effect to us and to the MHRA Yellow Card scheme at yellowcard.mhra.gov.uk. Always read the patient information leaflet supplied with your medicine.
What's included
Everything in the price.
Prescriber review
A UK-registered pharmacist reads your full consultation.
Your capsule pack
Dispensed from our GPhC-registered pharmacy.
Diet guidance
Practical lower-fat eating advice that makes orlistat work — and side effects rarer.
4-weekly reviews
Progress check-ins and side-effect support.
No injections, no fridge
A capsule you keep in the cupboard.
Discreet delivery
Plain, unbranded packaging within 2–3 working days.
Good to know
Common questions.
How does it compare to Mounjaro or Wegovy?
Orlistat produces less weight loss on average — around 10% versus 15–21% for the GLP-1s. But it's non-hormonal, has a long safety record, and suits people who can't take GLP-1s or don't want to.
Will I have accidents?
Side effects are dose-dependent on fat, not on orlistat. Keep each meal under about 15g of fat and most people have no problems. The first two weeks are the adjustment period.
Can I take it with a GLP-1?
Not routinely. Your prescriber will advise — combining them adds digestive side effects without clear benefit.
Do I need a multivitamin?
We recommend one, taken at bedtime or at least two hours away from orlistat, because fat-soluble vitamin absorption drops slightly.
How long can I take it?
Orlistat is licensed for long-term use. Your prescriber reviews at 12 weeks — if you've lost at least 5% of starting weight, you continue.
Start here
Start with a confidential consultation.
A short consultation, reviewed by a pharmacist who decides whether Orlistat is right for you.