Jump to: How much does Orlistat cost? | What is Orlistat? | How much weight will I lose on Orlistat? | How do you get an Orlistat prescription? | Second Nature’s medication programmes
You can purchase Orlistat from high street and online from registered pharmacies in the UK like Superdrug and Boots.
Orlistat is an oral weight-loss drug that comes in tablet form. It’s administered once daily.
You need a prescription to buy Orlistat 120 mg, which you can complete using a simple health questionnaire. However, you can purchase Orlistat 60 mg (Alli) over the counter without a prescription.
Second Nature doesn’t provide Orlistat because the research suggests that Wegovy and Mounjaro lead to more significant weight loss.
There are two weight-loss injections available in the UK that are available on Second Nature:
- Wegovy (semaglutide – 16% weight loss)
- Mounjaro (tirzepatide – 25% weight loss)
You can purchase weight-loss injections from Second Nature as part of our weight-loss programmes. We have a Wegovy weight-loss programme and a Mounjaro weight-loss programme. To check your eligibility, you can take your health quiz.
How much does Orlistat cost?
The cost of Orlistat can vary from £18-£49 per month, depending on the type of Orlistat you purchase and where you purchase it from.
Orlistat comes in two strengths:
- 60mg (brand name Alli): This is the cheaper form, and you can purchase it over the counter for around £18 per month
- 120mg (brand name Xenical, but also sold as Orlistat): This is the more expensive form, and you’ll need a prescription. It will cost around £49 a month.
What is Orlistat?
Orlistat is a lipase inhibitor. Lipases are gut enzymes that break down fat from food, enabling the gut to transport fat into the body to be burnt for energy or stored in our fat cells for later use.
Orlistat blocks lipases, preventing some of the dietary fat from our meals from being digested. This leads to fewer calories being absorbed, which can support weight loss.
Orlistat is a prescription medication produced by two pharmaceutical companies in the UK:
- GlaxoSmithKline: Alli, 60 mg and available over the counter (no prescription)
- Roche: Xenical, 120 mg and available with a prescription
- Orlistat is also sold unbranded under its active ingredient name, ‘Orlistat’ and comes in the 120mg form
However, it’s recommended that you consult with a healthcare professional or a pharmacist before purchasing weight-loss medications.
How much weight will I lose on Orlistat?
Orlistat (Xenical/Alli) has been shown to lead to a 4% body weight loss after three months and around 8% after one year. It’s generally well-tolerated, with fewer than 10% of people stopping the medication due to adverse effects.
However, research has shown that other weight-loss medications, like Wegovy and Mounjaro, lead to significantly more weight loss, with 16% and 25% weight loss, respectively.
At the same time, a clinical trial with 237 participants investigated the impact of orlistat in a real-world setting to determine adherence to the medication and whether they were well tolerated.
The results showed that participants lost around 4% of body weight after three months. 80% of participants reported being satisfied with the drug due to its positive effect on weight loss.
This suggests that despite its modest effects on weight loss, the medication’s tolerability may support some people to stay on it for longer and change their diet and lifestyle.
How do you get an Orlistat prescription?
You must complete an online form outlining your medical history, weight, and other medications.
A pharmacy will then confirm within 48 hours whether your application for an Orlistat prescription has been approved.
The exact eligibility criteria for an Orlistat prescription are kept confidential for patient safety.
However, you can purchase Orlistat 60 mg over the counter without a prescription.
Should you buy Orlistat?
Lipase inhibitors like Xenical and Alli can lead to weight loss of 4-8% after one year, alongside changes to diet and lifestyle.
They’re also well-tolerated, with human clinical trials indicating less than 10% of people stop taking the medication due to adverse effects.
Additionally, if you need to achieve clinically meaningful weight loss of over 10% to improve your health and independence and reduce your risk of chronic diseases like type 2 diabetes, you may look to Wegovy or Mounjaro.
Weight-loss injections aren’t a magic pill
Weight-loss injections are most effective when combined with a healthier lifestyle. They can help kickstart weight loss while you commit to developing healthier habits.
Mounjaro and other weight loss injections, like Ozempic and Wegovy, can allow you to make lifestyle changes to support long-term weight loss.
These medications can help silence food-related thoughts and give you a boost of confidence with more immediate weight-loss results.
They can also buy you the time and headspace to understand why your body may have struggled to lose weight and build new long-term healthy habits.
The core focus of our medication programmes is to calm down the feeling of food noise, lower your cravings, and allow you to build healthier habits to keep the weight off for good.
The ultimate goal is to make losing weight feel second nature.
Second Nature’s medication programmes
Second Nature has two medication-supported programmes: a Wegovy weight-loss programme and a Mounjaro weight-loss programme.
Why should you choose Second Nature over other medication providers if you’ve decided to try Mounjaro or Wegovy (assuming you’re eligible)?
For peace of mind.
Second Nature has worked with the NHS for over 6 years, providing weight-loss programmes across the UK.
While our Wegovy and Mounjaro weight-loss programmes are private and not currently used by the NHS, we’ve built the programmes focusing on scientific evidence, patient safety, and data security.
We hope that our 6+ years of working with the NHS and building a track record of effective weight-loss results will give you peace of mind to give us a try.
