Xenical (orlistat) approved by Nice

Nice, the UK watchdog that approves new drugs for use within the NHS (National Health Service in the UK) has recommended the use of Xenical. The date of the approval was 9th March, 2001.

The drug has been recommended for use with the following caveats:

• The patient must be trying to lose weight themselves by using diet and exercise, and demonstrate this by losing at least 2.5 kg before their first prescription.
  
  
• They must have a BMI in excess of 30, or a BMI in excess of 28 which additional risk factors, such as Type 2 diabetes, high cholesterol or hypertension.
  
  
• They should be obese (a BMI of 30 or more) or overweight (a BMI of 27 or more with other risk factors including high cholesterol or type II diabetes).
  
  
• They should only continue to be prescribed Xenical after 3 months of treatment if they have lost at least 5% of their initial body weight, and should only continue to be prescribed Xenical at 6 months if they have lost at least 10% of their initial body weight.
  
  
• In any event, treatment should usually be stopped after one year and never continued after two years.