Xenical is currently the only licensed drug for weight loss in the EU so it is frustrating to hear rumours about its potential association with kidney problems. Canadian research has tentatively suggested that there is a link between Xenical (Orlistat) and kidney problems and their findings are published in the Archives of Internal Medicine.
953 new Orlistat users were monitored and they found that 0.5% of new users were admitted to hospital for kidney problems in the year prior to taking the drug. The following year this number jumped to 2%. There is little evidence to suggest that Xenical is itself a cause of kidney disease and it has not been listed as a side effect. A few users presented with kidney problems at trial stage but not in numbers significant enough to suggest that Xenical was the root cause.
Orlistat is available over the counter in the UK and US as Alli and there have been serious suggestions that this is not appropriate. The latest research does underline why it is important for medicines to be prescribed by a doctor and the patient’s progress properly monitored. If patients purchase treatment over the counter and they are not subsequently monitored, side effects that may appear inconsequential to the patient may go without note but would cause alarm bells to ring with a doctor. The Online Clinic prescribes Xenical online but we require all patients to complete regular reports to that their progress can be monitored.