FDA approval for orlistat

Orlistat capsules (Xenical®) has been approved in the USA as an over-the-counter (OTC) weight loss aid for overweight adults, at a lower dose of 60mg capsule up to three times a day with each fat-containing meal. It will be sold under the name Alli and indicated for use in adults ages 18 years and older along with a reduced-calorie, low-fat diet, and exercise programme. The drug remains a prescription-only medicine at a higher dose than the OTC version.