A patient who started taking orlistat (Xenical)1 month ago calls the clinic to report some "embarrassing" adverse effects.She tells the nurse that she has had episodes of "not being able to control my bowel movements." Which statement is true about this situation?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Orlistat (Xenical) works by decreasing the absorption of fat in the intestines, which can lead to gastrointestinal symptoms such as loose stools, diarrhea, and flatulence. These adverse effects are expected and may diminish over time as the patient's body adjusts to the medication. However, it is recommended that patients on orlistat follow a low-fat diet to help reduce these adverse effects. Therefore, the patient will need to restrict fat intake to less than 30% to help reduce these adverse effects. The patient should not stop the drug immediately without consulting their healthcare provider. Increasing fat intake will only exacerbate these adverse effects.

A Patient Who Started Taking Orlistat (Xenical)1 Month Ago Calls