Weight loss medication in the most recent health news is something known as Orlistat. There are not many prescription based weight loss pills on the market but Orlistat, also known as Xenical is one of the latest. Orlistat has been around for at least a decade and is claimed to promote weight loss by preventing digestion and absorption of fat in the intestine.

All fat when ingested is broken down by an enzyme released from the pancreas. The pancreas releases the enzyme lipase which breaks up the fat which can then be absorbed from the intestine into the body. Orlistat acts by blocking the lipase enzyme so that the fats are not broken down and hence not absorbed. The blockage on the lipase enzyme is not 100% but average about 50%-75%. The unabsorbed fat is then excreted into the stools.

Orlistat has been approved by the FDA for use in North America. There is also a lower dose of the drug available over the counter. The generic brand name sold over the counter is known as Alli and requires no prescription.

For weight loss, Orlistat has to be taken on a daily basis for 2-3 months. However, the pill itself does not always work in all individuals. Physicians recommend that Orlistat must be combined with exercise and a reduced intake of calories for the medication to have the most benefits. If the patient is suffering from weight gain as a result of hormone imbalance, the patient must first stabilize hormone levels and follow a hormone diet which achieve weightloss. The drug is often prescribed for individuals who are moderately obese (BMI > 25 kg/m2).

Studies indicate that the average weight loss with Orlistat after six months averages about 12-15 pounds.

The prescription pill (120mg) is taken three times a day, one hour before each meal.
Because Orlistat inhibits fat absorption, patients taking fat soluble vitamins (A, D, E, K) should not take Orlistat at the same time.

While Orlistat is generally a safe drug it does have a few unpleasant side effects. The most common side effect includes soiling of the underwear. The soiling is from the unabsorbed fat which can occur at any time. Passage of excess gas, loose and oily stools is also common. Some individuals also develop abdominal cramps and bloating. The inability to control bowel movements is also a common complaint. These side effects do not occur in all individuals but when they do occur, they are disturbing. The side effects generally start a few weeks after starting treatment and in a few patients may resolve. However, in the majority of individuals the symptoms will persist as long as the pill is taken. To decrease the side effects, it is recommended that one eat a low fat diet and decrease the dose of Orlistat.

A rare side effect of the drug is the development of kidney stones.

Orlistat is not an inexpensive product. The average cost for 30 pills is about $60-$90. And remember one takes 3 pills a day and so it is an expensive undertaking with no guarantee of any benefit plus a definite chance of developing some type of side effect.

Speak with your physician if you feel you would like to try this medication before you embark on your weight loss program.

Menopause affects mood and this tragic health news update underlines the effect of the loss of hormones, especially in women.  Menopause can cause irritability, depression and mood.  It is now known that hormones must be replaced and it is much preferable that hormones be replaced with a bioidentical hormone replacement therapy because they are safer than synthetic hormones.  Bioidentical hormones will remove the worst symptoms of menopause including hot flashes, sleep problems and mood issues.  Bioidentical hormones can be prescribed by doctors who have special training in monitoring hormone levels at menopause.

This story comes from the BBC health news site.

Woman’s death blamed on menopause

A woman who refused to take hormone replacement therapy (HRT) died while suffering from a menopausal episode, an inquest has heard.

Margaret Drew from Hayle in Cornwall was killed when she walked out of her family home on to nearby railway line and was hit by a train.

The Truro inquest was told the 55-year-old had no history of depression or suicidal behaviour.
Cornwall Coroner Dr Emma Carlyon recorded an open verdict.  The former secretary’s husband, Clifford Drew, said his wife had suffered from menopausal problems, including hot flushes and mood swings, for about five years.

Mr Drew said 99% of the time she was an “absolutely delightful, lovely and friendly lady”, but she would become depressed and angry during the mood swings, sometimes for a few days.
“When my wife was in one of those bad moods she was totally irrational and the only way to get over it was to give each other space,” he said.

He suggested his wife try HRT or homeopathic remedies, but she refused to have any treatment.
Mr Drew told the inquest when he returned from shopping on Friday 3 July, his wife was “clearly angry about something”.
He went into another room and, unknown to him, his wife left their home and wandered on to the railway tracks opposite Chapel Lane.
Train driver Stuart Bilby told the inquest Mrs Drew she was about 50ft in front of him when he saw her on the tracks.
She was looking down and walking along the sleepers, he said.
‘Nature’s way’
Mr Bilby said when he sounded the horn and applied the engine brake, Mrs Drew appeared “startled” and seemed to step out of the way. “I then heard a heavy, dull thud and I knew I had hit her,” he said.

The court heard Mrs Drew’s GP was unable to shed any light on her death as she had never attended surgery.
Mr Drew, a retired railway station manager, said he and his wife had discussed suicides on several occasions, because he had come across many instances in his long career.
“She always expressed the view that it was a selfish thing to do,” he said.

Recording an open verdict, Dr Carlyon said: “There’s often no reason for the menopause, it’s just the way nature doles it out really.”

The coroner said although it was “strange” Mrs Drew was on the railway line, the facts did not point to anything in particular.
“There is no trigger to this at all, except the hormones making her do things that she normally wouldn’t do,” Dr Carlyon concluded.

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The Tank Chair gives all-terrain freedom to the disabled

Health news for those seeking a new wheelchair on the market:  There is a new behemoth on the market today, tearing up the streets and carving a path of destruction wherever it goes; a new vehicle that will put hairs on your chest and turn you into a great big strong manly man full of testosterone the very moment you sit down. It’s not a new pick-up truck, however, and it’s not a tank (although you’re close). No, it’s a wheelchair.

The Tank Chair, created solely for the purpose of conquering off-road terrain, offers people who are disabled the chance to go anywhere. Using tracks (like the ones that you find on a tank) instead of wheels, the chair is equipped to travel over any obstacle; snow, sand, mud, rocks, you name it. The bulky size might make it somewhat of a hassle to maneuver around narrow paths and corridors but for an outdoor setting, it’s perfect. It is even capable of climbing up stairs. The following link will be able to tell you more.

Such a revolutionary idea does not come without a catch, though. The Tank Chair has to be custom built to suit people of different weights and disabilities.  A 300 pound person with a T1 spinal break would have a different chair than a paraplegic who weighs 150 pounds. This is an issue for their safety but what this means, unfortunately, is that you won’t be purchasing one on a whim any time soon. But if you’re a wheelchair-bound person and you miss the great outdoors, this may be the perfect investment for you.