You can buy Orlistat (Xenical/Alli) as an over-the-counter alternative to Wegovy in the UK.
However, Orlistat is a very different type of weight-loss medication, and research suggests it’s not as effective as Wegovy in supporting weight loss.
Wegovy and Orlistat are weight-loss medications approved for use in the UK. However, they are different medications with distinct dosing schedules, costs, and mechanisms of action on the body.
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:
Wegovy is a weight-loss jab manufactured by Novo Nordisk. It’s a weekly weight-loss injection with semaglutide as the active ingredient.
Semaglutide is a that helps reduce hunger and appetite, allowing you to eat fewer calories, lose weight, and manage your blood sugar levels.
Wegovy is approved in the UK for individuals living with obesity to help them eat fewer calories and lose weight.
The over-the-counter version of Orlistat will cost around £18 a month, so it’s a very affordable medication.
In comparison, buying Wegovy and the injectable pens required for four weeks from Second Nature will cost £229 a month, rising to £299.
Orlistat is an affordable medication that is generally well-tolerated. However, it’s less effective than Wegovy. Wegovy is twice as effective as Orlistat for weight loss after one year.
So, if you’re looking for the most affordable weight-loss pill you can purchase over the counter, then Orlistat could be an option.
However, if you have a higher budget and are looking for the most effective weight-loss injection in the UK, semaglutide is a better choice.
Semaglutide is designed as an additional tool for weight management and, in most cases, shouldn’t be considered a lifelong medication.
Instead, it should be used to help you kickstart your weight loss and healthy journey while you commit to living a healthier lifestyle.
Ideally, we’d be able to lose weight without medication and lifestyle changes would be enough to support weight loss in the long term.
We’d generally recommend trying Second Nature’s before considering a weight-loss jab.
Changing your habits is the most sustainable way to achieve long-term weight loss, and it’s also less expensive.
At Second Nature, we’ve been trusted by the NHS since 2017 to support people with type 2 diabetes and obesity to lose weight, manage their blood sugar levels, and lead healthier lifestyles for the long term.
In 2022, the NHS in the BMJ that compared the weight loss outcomes of five providers in the National Diabetes Prevention Programme.
Second Nature was more than twice as effective at supporting weight loss than the other four providers.
However, if you’ve decided to try semaglutide (when it’s available) but need support in making positive changes to your lifestyle, Second Nature could be an option for you. But it’s worth noting that we have strict eligibility criteria.
Potential cost savings for Wegovy: Second Nature / Novo Nordisk / SemaglutideIf you’re new to weight loss treatments and want to learn more about them, we’re here to help.
Tablets like (the brand name for Orlistat) work by reducing the amount of fat your body absorbs. Ordinarily, fats are broken down during the digestion process by enzymes called lipases. Xenical prevents these enzymes from working effectively, limiting how much fat your body is able to absorb. The remaining, undigested fat is then excreted.
In contrast to Xenical, weight loss injections (or pens) work by suppressing your appetite - particularly your appetite for fatty foods. Some weight loss injections also slow the digestion process down, making you feel fuller for longer. They’re simple to use - check out our for more information.
Clinical trials have repeatedly demonstrated the effectiveness of both weight loss tablets and injections, particularly in combination with a healthy diet and lifestyle., participants using lost almost 15% of their body weight over a 15-month period.
Starting your weight loss journey is simple with IQ Doctor. To begin, click on a product and then hit the 'Start Consultation' button. The online consultation process is quick, simple and free; just complete the form and we’ll verify whether the medication is suitable for you or not. If it is, you can then place your order and receive it the very next day.
Complete our short online consultation and you can quickly assess what treatment is suitable for youThey can range from slight nausea to headaches to bowel changes in size. Some common side effects include:
Most side effects do not require any medical attention and are completely eliminated by 'poke-in-time'. You can take your medication by mouth with or without food. In some cases, ointments or gels that contain fat can also be used. It’s important to do your work with (or without) guidance from a healthcare professional because some side effects can be serious. If you find your treatment inappropriate for your situation, IQ Doctor can help.
Connor’s Oil and Weg Life were previously known as Saxenda and Weg Life, respectively. Now, they’re known as eitherConnellol or Weg Life. IQ Doctor can help you decide what treatment is best for you.
Like all medications, Connor’s Oil can cause some side effects. In most cases, these side effects are mild and temporary.
Dietary fats are large molecules that need to be broken down before they can be absorbed into the body. They are broken down by enzymes called lipases. That is, lipases play an important role in the digestion of dietary fat. When taken with a meal, Xenical interferes with the activity of these enzymes. This allows about 30% of the fat eaten in the meal to pass through the gut undigested. Therefore, your body cannot store these excess calories as fatty tissue or use them as a source of energy. This helps you to reduce your weight by burning up fat that you are already carrying, maintain your lower weight and minimise any weight regain. Losing even small amounts of weight and keeping it off produces additional health benefits for you, especially when you are at risk for other diseases such as heart disease and diabetes. Xenical can also help to improve risk factors, such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol and high blood sugar. If these are not treated, they could lead to other diseases such as hypertension and diabetes. Xenical should be taken in conjunction with a well-balanced calorie-controlled diet and other appropriate measures such as exercise.Active Ingredients:Xenical does not contain sucrose, gluten, tartrazine or any other azo dyes. Active ingredient - orlistat each Xenical capsule contains 120 mg orlistatInactive ingredients
DirectionsTake 1 capsule with each of the 3 main meals per day. It can be taken during the meal or up to 1 hour after the meal is consumed.Warnings & Disclaimers
*** Please note that this product is a Scheduled Medicine in Western Australia. In order to ensure this product is appropriate and safe for you to use, we would appreciate it if you could respond to the following questions for us.
Who is this product for (Age and gender)?
What were you using this medication to treat?
Has the person used this medication before?
Is the person who will use this product taking any other medications? Please include any herbal or vitamin supplements.
Does the person who will use this product have any medical conditions? Please list any medical conditions.
Please send a reply with your order number after purchase, to. Please note that if we are unable to contact your to verify the appropriateness of this product, your order may be cancelled and you will be refunded in full.
For more information on Scheduled Medicines, please see the link below https://ww2.health.wa.gov.au/Articles/S_T/Sale-and-supply-by-schedule
Active IngredientsIschemic heart disease - Risk factors for blood pressure - Stat: Stroop: Stroop; Stroke: TIA - Stroke Risk: Stroke Total:100Please note that this product is a Scheduled Medicine in Western Australia. In order to ensure this product is appropriate and safe for you to use, we wouldlargyselves a 120 mg Xenical capsule with 3 main meals per day.
Ischemic heart disease - Risk factors for blood pressure - Stat: Stroop: Stroke: Stat: Stroke: TIA - Stroke Risk: Stroke Total:100Xenical 120mg Capsules,when used in conjunction with a reduced-calorie diet, can be used for obesity management, including weight loss and weight maintenance.Xenicalworks in your digestive system to block one-third of the fat in the food you eat from being digestedThe daily intake of fat, carbohydrate and protein should be distributed over three main meals.pills can also block the absorption of some vitamins. You may wish to take a multivitamin supplement along with making sure to keep a well-balanced diet, rich in fruit and vegetables.
The active substance isOrlistat. Each capsule contains120 mg of Orlistat
The other ingredients are microcrystalline cellulose (E460), sodium starch glycolate (type A), povidone (E1201), sodium laurilsulfate and talc. The capsule shell consists of gelatine, indigo carmine (E132), titanium dioxide (E171) and edible printing ink.
84 Capsules
WeizingHydroxyothesomeXenicalHydroxyothesomeXenicalFlatXenicalSt. John’s Wort30 capsulesThe most common side effects of Xenical 120mg are:
If you experience any other side effects which are mentioned above, most of these side effects will be reversible and will not affect you anymore.
You can report side effects directly via our contact page:
Do not use Xenical 120mg if you are pregnant or breastfeeding:
If you are pregnant, unless you should stop using Xenical 120mg if you become pregnant while taking it. You must talk to your doctor before stopping Xenical 120mg.
Stade de France Pharmacy