Xenical alternatives

piglet74

hi all,

anyone on Xenical and is wondering how they are going to manage now that there is a shortage which may not be resolved until the end of May? even beyond:eek:

i am half thinking maybe i can manage alone with just following the SW plan, but then i am also thinking...:eek::eek::mad: noooooo!!!!

Roche have emailed a response to say....

"There are alternative orlistat preparations in the UK, including a generic product, and you should discuss this further with your prescriber.."


does anyone know what to ask for on my perscription to get the alternative?

thank you

Piggy

loztredders

Well I know that the generic also isn't available as I work in a pharmacy and we have no luck what so every with getting any of it it!
The only alternative I can think of is Alli which its the same drug but half the strength as it is suitable to buy over the counter. Possibly your go could put thison prescription for you with the directions as 'two capsules three times daily' instead of one of the double strength capsules you usually have. I've only ever seen Alli on a script once though, so not sure how willing your go will be to prescribe it!

Humphrey10

The doctor could just put orlistat, then the pharmsist could dispense any make of it (Xenical or generic or 2x Alli). Ask a pharmacist, they'll know for sure.

Skyllo

Humphrey10 wrote: »

The doctor could just put orlistat, then the pharmsist could dispense any make of it (Xenical or generic or 2x Alli). Ask a pharmacist, they'll know for sure.

They won't do that as the pharmacy will only get paid for what's on the prescription. If it says orlistat, they'll get paid the price of that, whereas Alli will be much more expensive. (I used to work in a pharmacy).

Pennylane

piglet74 wrote: »

hi all,

anyone on Xenical and is wondering how they are going to manage now that there is a shortage which may not be resolved until the end of May? even beyond:eek:

i am half thinking maybe i can manage alone with just following the SW plan, but then i am also thinking...:eek::eek::mad: noooooo!!!!

Roche have emailed a response to say....

"There are alternative orlistat preparations in the UK, including a generic product, and you should discuss this further with your prescriber.."


does anyone know what to ask for on my perscription to get the alternative?

thank you

Piggy

Piglet - I love reading your posts and you have done SO well in losing all that weight. :j I hadn't realised you are on Xenical though. Is that why your weight loss is so spectacular? Which order did you do things in if you don't mind me asking?

Pennylane

Piglet - sorry just remembered something else ....... will the Xenical be doing much for you anyway as you will hardly be having any fatty stuff on SW anyway.

I had a friend who was on this but she was a very unhealthy eater and she used to say it was like an oil slick!:rotfl:

piglet74

Pennylane wrote: »

Piglet - I love reading your posts and you have done SO well in losing all that weight. :j I hadn't realised you are on Xenical though. Is that why your weight loss is so spectacular? Which order did you do things in if you don't mind me asking?

of course not,

i started SW on 4th July 2011, and i started Xenical on 10th August 2011, so i had my first 5 weigh ins at SW by then, and my first stone off

a lot of people were saying that I prob didnt need the Xenical at all, but i had read that they worked a lot better with a low fat diet, so i thought i was an ideal candidate for taking them, and my GP agreed

i dont eat enough fat from Sunday until Friday to suffer the (soemtimes horrific i hear) side effects. I find that everything passes off naturally, albeit a little softer, usually first thing in the morning, sorry if TMI

on saturday i have my chinese takeway, but i only have one Xenical as all i eat on Sat before the takeway is fruit and muller lights, i dont take any HEs (breads and milks for anyone not on SW plan) so again i dont suffer the side effects.

hth

piglet74

Pennylane wrote: »

Piglet - sorry just remembered something else ....... will the Xenical be doing much for you anyway as you will hardly be having any fatty stuff on SW anyway.

I had a friend who was on this but she was a very unhealthy eater and she used to say it was like an oil slick!:rotfl:

:rotfl::rotfl:

i have read / heard about these side effects, i do stick to the SW plan so i would not be intaking the same amount of fat as someone just taking them alongside their regular diet;)

piglet74

Humphrey10 wrote: »

The doctor could just put orlistat, then the pharmsist could dispense any make of it (Xenical or generic or 2x Alli). Ask a pharmacist, they'll know for sure.

that is what it says on my script, "Orlistat 120" and the pharmachy gives me Xenical

i am just off the phone to the GP, i have to ring back at 12, receptionsist will ask GP about alternatives and get back to me,
will update when i hear more, thank you everyone:A

piglet74

Skyllo wrote: »

They won't do that as the pharmacy will only get paid for what's on the prescription. If it says orlistat, they'll get paid the price of that, whereas Alli will be much more expensive. (I used to work in a pharmacy).

i have rung the GP back and said to the receptionist there was an alternative called Alli but it is half the strength of Xenical if the GP would issue a script for that, so i am to check back later,

yest the pharmacy told me "there is other options available but we cannot give you the name of them, we are not allowed, you will have to ask your Doc for the name"?

piglet74

update

GP has said there is no alternative available!!! so no script for anything issued!