Orlistat is associated with which adverse effect?

• A. Headache
• B. Fecal incontinence
• C. Nausea
• D. Dizziness

Answer: (B)

Orlistat works by inhibiting pancreatic lipase, which reduces fat digestion. The undigested fat then travels through the gut, causing steatorrhea and stools that are oily and difficult to control. This makes fecal incontinence a characteristic and most typical adverse effect. While headaches, dizziness, and nausea can occur with many drugs, they are not as directly tied to Orlistat’s mechanism or as specifically associated with its fat-malabsorption effects. To help manage these GI effects, patients are usually advised to eat a fat-restricted diet and consider fat-soluble vitamin supplementation, since absorption of vitamins A, D, E, and K can be affected.