Is it normal to experience diarrhea after taking orlistat capsules?
Disease description:
I’ve recently been taking medication for weight loss and developed diarrhea—so severe that I’m passing only watery stools and feel too weak to stand up. Is it normal to experience diarrhea while taking orlistat capsules?
Doctor's answer (1)
Dr. Shen Yonghua
Diarrhea is a common and normal side effect of the oral weight-loss medication orlistat capsules. After taking this drug, patients may experience diarrhea or pass oily, fatty stools. This phenomenon is considered normal; however, obese individuals should undergo early medical evaluation. As long as there is no severe abdominal pain, no immediate concern is warranted. Orlistat primarily works by inhibiting dietary fat absorption, and diarrhea-like symptoms are a known, expected effect of this mechanism.
