How does orlistat work?

Orlistat blocks intestinal lipase, reducing the absorption of part of the fat you eat. It does not act on appetite, so its effect depends on maintaining an appropriate diet while taking it.

Do I need vitamin supplementation with orlistat?

Yes — a multivitamin with A, D, E and K taken separately from orlistat is recommended. The doctor tells you how to schedule it in your consultation.

Can I get a consultation for Orlistat from Vigo?

Yes. Hi-Doctor runs 100 % online across the EU, so if you live in Vigo you can fill in the questionnaire and receive the medical review without travelling. The electronic prescription issued by the licensed doctor is valid in any EU pharmacy under Directive 2011/24/EU; in Spain it is dispensed directly from the prescription QR.

Who is a candidate for a medical weight-management programme?

Adults with BMI ≥ 30, or ≥ 27 with comorbidities (hypertension, type-2 diabetes, dyslipidaemia). The doctor reviews your history, current medication and goals before proposing any treatment. It is not a cosmetic programme.

What is the private electronic prescription and why is it valid across the EU?

The private electronic prescription (Receta Médica Privada Electrónica) is issued by a licensed doctor in Spain. It is a PDF carrying every field required by EU Directive 2011/24/EU (patient, prescriber with country of registration, active ingredient, dose), which makes it legally recognised across all 27 EU member states. In Spanish pharmacies it is dispensed from the QR; outside Spain, the pharmacist dispenses the locally marketed equivalent of the same active ingredient.

How does Hi-Doctor work step by step?

1) Fill in an online medical questionnaire in about 4 minutes. 2) An EU-licensed doctor reviews your case and replies in under 24 h through the private chat in your account. 3) If eligible, the doctor issues an electronic prescription. 4) You collect it at any EU pharmacy. The consultation costs €25 and, if the doctor decides it is not safe to prescribe, the full amount is refunded.

How much does it cost and what does the price include?

The medical consultation costs €25 and includes a licensed doctor's review of your case and, if approved, the electronic prescription. If the doctor decides the treatment is not appropriate, the €25 is refunded. The medication price is separate and paid at the pharmacy; it varies by country, pharmacy and product across the EU. Because your electronic prescription is valid at any EU pharmacy, you can compare and choose where to fill it.

Orlistat · VigoPrescription only

Online medical consultation for Orlistat in Vigo.

An EU-licensed doctor reviews your case and, if eligible, issues an electronic prescription valid in any pharmacy in Spain. Consultation €25, refunded if the doctor decides it is not safe to prescribe.

A capsule — no injections
Acts locally in the gut, not system-wide
An alternative when GLP-1s aren't the right fit

€25Refund if treatment not approved

Start consultation · €25 See how it works

Medication, if prescribed, is dispensed and paid for separately at a pharmacy.

FormOral capsule

FrequencyWith each main meal

ResultsReviewed at month 3

StatusPrescription only

About

What is Orlistat?

Active ingredient: Orlistat · Dosages: 120 mg with each main meal

Orlistat is a lipase inhibitor: it blocks the intestinal enzyme that digests fat, reducing the absorption of part of the fat you eat. Unlike GLP-1s, it does not act on appetite — its effect depends on keeping an appropriate diet while taking it.

It's a valid alternative for people who cannot or do not want injectables, although average weight loss is usually lower. A licensed doctor proposes the approach that best fits your clinical history.

How it works in the body

Orlistat blocks intestinal lipase, so part of the dietary fat passes through unabsorbed. Because it works locally in the gut rather than on hunger signals, results depend on a suitable, lower-fat diet.

How it helps

Three ways it supports weight loss.

No injections

A capsule taken with meals — the non-injectable route in this category.

Local, not systemic

Acts in the gut rather than on the whole body's hormone signalling.

Adjunct to diet

Reinforces a structured nutrition plan; adjusting fat intake also eases side effects.

What to expect

How to take it.

One capsule with each main meal that contains fat. Your doctor explains the routine and the vitamin supplementation that goes with it.

Days 1–7 · Adjust meals towards lower fat
Weeks 2–8 · Consistent use with each main meal
Month 3 · Response reviewed by your doctor
Ongoing · A, D, E, K multivitamin taken separately, as advised

Doses your doctor can prescribe

Standard dose120 mg with each main meal
Pharmacy price~€55–75 / month

Your schedule is personal

These are typical steps only. Your doctor adjusts the plan to how you respond and tolerate it — and you can message them at any point.

Safety first

Safety, in full.

Orlistat is an effective medicine — and like any medicine it carries risks. Your doctor screens for all of this before prescribing. Here's the honest picture, not just reassurance.

Mostly gastrointestinal: oily stools, bowel urgency and flatulence — especially after fatty meals. Adjusting the diet reduces symptoms.

Not suitable if you

Are pregnant or breastfeeding
Have a chronic malabsorption syndrome or cholestasis
Expect it to work without dietary changes

When to seek urgent care

For severe, sudden or unexpected symptoms, call your local emergency number or go to the nearest emergency department. Then let your doctor know through your account chat.

PRICING

One price. No surprises.

€25 per online medical consultation. If the doctor does not approve treatment, we refund you in full within 48 hours.

SINGLE CONSULTATION

What our patients say.

Verified reviews from Hi-Doctor patients · names changed for privacy · individual results vary.

The slow dose increase made it manageable. The nausea early on faded, just like my doctor said.

Thomas K.

6 months in treatment

Being able to message the doctor when I had questions about dosing made me feel looked after.

Nadia V.

4 months in treatment

Honest advice — they told me it only works alongside changes to how I eat. That built trust.

Elena D.

5 months in treatment

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Questions about Orlistat.

Find out if it's right for you

See if Orlistat is appropriate for you.

Answer a few questions and a licensed EU doctor reviews your case within 24 hours. Refunded in full if it's not right for you.

Start consultation · €25 See Weight loss

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ALSO AVAILABLE IN

The Orlistat consultation works the same way across the EU.

AVAILABLE ACROSS SPAIN