Clinical Trials Data
Side effects of the drug are systematized relative to each of the organ systems depending on the frequency of occurrence, using the following classification: very often (more than 1/10); often (more than 1/100, less than 1/10); infrequently (more than 1/1000, less than 1/100); rarely (more than 1/10000, less than 1/1000); very rarely, including single messages (less than 1/10000).
Adverse reactions with orlistat appeared mainly from the gastrointestinal tract (GIT) and were due to the pharmacological action of orlistat, which prevents the absorption of food fats. Very often, such phenomena as oily discharge from the rectum, the release of gases with a certain amount of discharge, imperative urges for defecation, steatorrhoea, frequent bowel movements, loose stools, flatulence, pain or discomfort in the abdomen were very often noted. Their frequency increases with increasing fat content in food. Patients should be informed of the potential for side effects from the gastrointestinal tract and how to eliminate them by diet, especially regarding the amount of fat contained in it. The use of a low-fat diet reduces the likelihood of side effects on the part of the gastrointestinal tract and thereby helps patients to monitor and regulate the consumption of fats.
As a rule, these adverse reactions are mild and transient. They occur in the early stages of treatment (in the first 3 months), and in most patients there was not more than one episode of such reactions.
When treating orlistatom often the following undesirable phenomena from the gastrointestinal tract: "soft" stool, pain or discomfort in the rectum, fecal incontinence, bloating, dental damage, gum lesion.
They were also noted very often: headache, upper respiratory tract infections, influenza; often: lower respiratory tract infections, urinary tract infections, dysmenorrhea, anxiety, weakness.
In patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus, the nature and incidence of adverse events were comparable to those in people without diabetes mellitus with excessive body weight and obesity.
The only new side effects in patients with type 2 diabetes were hypoglycemic conditions that occurred with a frequency of more than 2% and an incidence of at least 1% compared to placebo (which could result from improved carbohydrate metabolism compensation), and often bloating.
In a 4-year clinical trial, the overall safety profile did not differ from that obtained in 1- and 2-year studies. At the same time, the overall incidence of adverse events from the gastrointestinal tract decreased annually during the 4-year period of drug intake.
Postmarketing surveillance
We described rare cases of allergic reactions, the main clinical manifestations of which were skin rash, itching, urticaria, angioedema, bronchospasm and anaphylaxis.
Very rare cases of bullous rash, increased activity of transaminases and alkaline phosphatase, as well as separate, possibly serious, cases of hepatitis development (cause-and-effect relationship with orlistat administration or pathophysiological mechanisms of development have not been established).
With the simultaneous use of orlistat with anticoagulants of indirect effect, cases of a decrease in prothrombin, an increase in the values of the international normalized ratio (INR) and unbalanced therapy with anticoagulants have been registered, which led to a change in the haemostatic parameters.
Reported cases of rectal bleeding, diverticulitis, pancreatitis, cholelithiasis and oxalate nephropathy (incidence is not known).
With the simultaneous administration of orlistat and antiepileptic drugs, cases of seizures were observed (see section "Interaction with other drugs").