Cetilistat
About Cetilistat
Cetilistat is a prescription medicine designed to aid in weight loss and obesity management. Its primary medical purpose is to help individuals with a high body mass index (BMI) lose weight and maintain that weight loss over time. Cetilistat is generally prescribed for adults with a body mass index (BMI) of 30 kg/m² or higher, or 27 kg/m² or higher if they have obesity-related health conditions, as determined by their doctor.
This medicine is typically taken during or shortly after meals that contain fat. For the best results, you must take it consistently as directed by your healthcare provider, alongside a reduced-calorie, low-fat diet and regular physical activity.
Common side effects are mostly digestive, such as oily stools or increased gas, which occur as the body expels unabsorbed fat. You should consult your doctor immediately if you experience severe abdominal pain, persistent nausea, or yellowing of your eyes or skin.
Talk to your doctor before starting this medicine if you have a history of kidney stones or other metabolic issues. Do not take this if you suffer from chronic malabsorption syndrome or cholestasis, or if you are pregnant or breastfeeding.
This medicine can interact with blood thinners, thyroid therapies, and certain immune-suppressing drugs, as well as lower the absorption of vital fat-soluble vitamins. Always discuss these interactions with your healthcare provider, especially if you belong to specific user groups like the elderly.
Uses of Cetilistat
Medicinal Benefits
This medicine offers several benefits when used as directed. Key benefits include:
- Steady weight loss: Helps you achieve steady weight loss by modifying how your body handles dietary fat.
- Long-term weight control: Unlike some weight management treatments, it does not suppress your appetite or affect your central nervous system, making it a suitable choice for long-term weight control under medical supervision.
- Cardiovascular health support: By helping you lose excess body weight, it supports overall cardiovascular health and helps improve obesity-related risk factors, such as blood pressure and cholesterol levels, when combined with a healthy lifestyle.
Directions for Use
- Cetilistat can be taken with or without food, or as advised by a doctor.
- Follow your doctor's recommendations on the dosage and timing of this medication to achieve optimal results.
- Swallow it as a whole with a glass of water.
- Do not crush, chew, or break it.
Storage
Side Effects of Cetilistat
Common Side Effects (Usually mild):
- Oily or fatty stools
- Gas (flatulence) with oily discharge
- Urgent need to have a bowel movement
- Increased number of bowel movements
Serious Side Effects (Consult your doctor right away):
- Severe or persistent stomach pain
- Signs of liver damage, such as yellowing of the skin or eyes, dark urine, or severe nausea
- Signs of an allergic reaction, including skin rash, itching, or swelling of the face, lips, or throat
Medicines Containing this Salt
View AllDrug Warnings
- Check the packaging: Inspect the capsule blister pack before use; do not take the medicine if the packaging is damaged or torn.
- Fat-free meals: If your meal is completely fat-free, skip your dose of Cetilistat to avoid unnecessary use of the medicine.
- Monitor blood sugar: If you have diabetes, weight loss can improve blood sugar levels, so monitor your blood glucose closely and talk to your doctor about potential adjustments to your diabetes medicines.
- Track your progress: Keep a consistent record of your weight and discuss your progress with your healthcare provider during routine check-ups.
Drug Interactions
- Fat-soluble vitamins (A, D, E, K): Cetilistat can decrease the absorption of these vitamins. Take your multivitamin supplement at least 2 hours apart from this medicine.
- Cyclosporine: Cetilistat may reduce the levels of cyclosporine in your blood, which could decrease its immune-suppressing effect and increase the risk of organ transplant rejection. Regular blood monitoring and dose adjustments may be required.
- Levothyroxine: May lower the absorption of thyroid hormones. Discuss timing adjustments with your doctor.
- Warfarin: May affect blood clotting times; your doctor may need to monitor your blood test values more frequently.
Drug-Drug Interactions Checker List:
Safety Advice
Alcohol
cautionInteraction of Cetilistat with alcohol is unknown. Please consult a doctor before consuming alcohol while using Cetilistat.
Pregnancy
unsafeCetilistat is a Category X pregnancy drug and is considered unsafe for pregnant women as it may cause harm to the unborn baby. So, if you are pregnant or planning for pregnancy, please inform your doctor before taking Cetilistat.
Breast Feeding
cautionIt is unknown whether Cetilistat is excreted in human milk. Therefore, it is given to breastfeeding mothers only if the doctor thinks benefits are greater than risks.
Driving
safe if prescribedCetilistat usually does not affect your ability to drive or operate machinery.
Liver
cautionTake Cetilistat with caution, especially if you have a history of Liver diseases/conditions. The dose may be adjusted by your doctor as required.
Kidney
cautionTake Cetilistat with caution, especially if you have a history of Kidney diseases/conditions. Cetilistat may cause kidney stones in patients suffering from chronic kidney disease. Please consult a doctor if you have kidney problems so that the dose may be adjusted by your doctor as required.
Children
unsafeCetilistat is not recommended for children below 18 years of age, as the safety and effectiveness were not established.
Habit Forming
Diet & Lifestyle Advise
- Limit dietary fat: Limit your daily dietary fat intake to about 30% of your total daily calories to reduce digestive side effects like oily stools.
- Balance your meals: Distribute your daily allowance of fats, carbohydrates, and proteins evenly across your three main meals.
- Take a multivitamin: Take a daily multivitamin containing fat-soluble vitamins (A, D, E, and K) at least two hours before or after taking Cetilistat to help prevent nutritional deficiencies.
- Stay physically active: Incorporate moderate physical activity, such as brisk walking, into your daily routine to support your weight loss goals.
Special Advise
Certain blood tests are recommended while taking Cetilistat to monitor kidney and liver functioning.
Regular monitoring of blood sugars is advised as Cetilistat may effect the blood sugar levels.
Patients Concern
Disease/Condition Glossary
Obesity: Obesity is a common condition associated with excessive body fat which in turn increases the risk of other health problems such as diabetes, high blood pressure, certain cancers and heart disease. Intake of more calories than you burn by exercise or daily activities results in obesity. Some common causes of obesity include insufficient sleep, growing older, pregnancy, genetics, hypothyroidism (underactive thyroid gland) or polycystic ovary syndrome (imbalance of female reproductive hormones). Proper diet and exercise are advised, along with medication to treat obesity.
FAQs
Cetilistat belongs to the class of medications called anti-obesity drugs used to treat obesity and help in weight loss. Cetilistat is to be used along with a low-calorie diet and regular physical exercise.
Cetilistat belongs to the class of medications called anti-obesity drugs used to treat obesity and help in weight loss. Cetilistat is to be used along with a low-calorie diet and regular physical exercise.
Cetilistat contains Cetilistat that works in the small intestine and stomach and inhibits the action of enzymes that breakdown fat which is absorbed by the body. Cetilistat decreases the absorption of fat from the food you eat. Thus, fat passes through the gut and is excreted in the faeces, which makes the body unable to use fat as a source of energy or convert it into fat tissue. Thereby, Cetilistat helps in weight loss.
Cetilistat should be used with caution in diabetic patients as it may increase the risk of low blood sugar levels. Therefore, inform your doctor if you have diabetes before taking Cetilistat so that the dose of antidiabetic medicine may be adjusted accordingly.
You are not advised not to take cyclosporine (used for organ transplant rejections, severe rheumatoid arthritis) with Cetilistat as it may reduce the effectiveness of cyclosporine. However, if you are supposed to take both medicines, you are advised to take cyclosporine after 3 hours of taking Cetilistat. However, please consult a doctor before taking Cetilistat with any other medicines.
You are advised to avoid high fat meals that includes butter, meat, dark chocolate, olive oil, nuts and seeds (brazil nuts) with Cetilistat as it may increase the risk of adverse effects on stomach or intestines.
You are recommended to use Cetilistat for as long as your doctor has prescribed it. However, avoid taking Cetilistat for more than 6 months. If you do not notice weight loss after taking Cetilistat for 12 weeks, please consult a doctor.
You are advised to take multivitamin containing fat-soluble vitamins such as A, D, E and K at bedtime or at least 2 hours after taking Cetilistat. Generally, Cetilistat may reduce the absorption of certain vitamins in the body. Therefore, your doctor may advise you to take multivitamins.
No, do not take this medicine if you are pregnant, planning to become pregnant, or breastfeeding. Weight loss is not recommended during pregnancy, and the effects on nursing infants are not fully known. Talk to your doctor for safe alternatives.
If you eat a meal that contains no fat, or if you skip a meal, you should skip your dose of Cetilistat. The medicine only works when there is dietary fat to block. Talk to your doctor or pharmacist if you are unsure about your dietary plan.
Oily stools occur because the medicine prevents a portion of the fat you eat from being digested. This undigested fat passes directly through your system. You can minimise this effect by limiting your daily fat intake to about 30% of your total calories. Talk to your doctor if these symptoms become severe.
Alcohol does not directly interact with the medicine, but alcoholic beverages are often high in calories and can slow down your weight loss progress. Talk to your doctor about your alcohol consumption while managing your weight.
You should not combine this medicine with other weight loss products unless specifically instructed to do so by your doctor. Combining therapies can increase the risk of side effects. Talk to your doctor before starting any new treatments.
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