I'm feeling very discouraged that depsite all the hard work and effort I am putting forth, I'm just not losing. I am going to my doc about Reductil or Xenical this week. My BMI is 31. I do know that the BMI formula isn't exactly foolproof but apparently it's what the doctors use to decide if you qualify. I barely squeak over the line as the cutoff is 30. I'm just wondering if the prescription is available through the NHS or is it a private prescription only?

I have read reports that say it won't be cigarette smokers or alcoholics that bring the NHS to its knees but rather it will be obesity and all the ensuing health issues that tag along with it. You'd think it'd behoove them to do something to help reduce the rate.

I just Googled to answer my own question and it seems that yes, it is available on the NHS. Cool. My hubby is not keen for me to take meds for this but at least he can't add the cost to his list arguements!

I'm sure you've already researched these drugs so I'm probably just telling you something you already know, but I'd thought I'd share this with you anyway. I don't know about reductil, but I know that xenical (orlistat) acts by stopping some of absorption of fat from the intestine (thus calories), and that is anal leakage and explosive diarrhoea the major side effects if you have any sort of fatty food while taking this.

Make sure you weigh the pros and cons of any medication you're thinking of taking. Some could seriously inhibit your lifestyle (more so than diet and exercise).

I was prescribed Xenical on the NHS last year when my BMI was around 32. However I had to lose 7lb first without any medication in order to prove I was capable of following a weight loss/low-fat diet.

I also saw the sheet that my GP filled out in order to prescribe Xenical to me and it looked as though the patient had to have 2 medical issues in order to qualify on the NHS - e.g. I had high blood pressure aswell as being obese, but were I just obese I might not have got it.

Of course this criteria might vary by area but hope this helps.

Ewwwww!

I think I'd rather be fat!

Sounds much the same as IBS - if only there were malasorbtion issues too then I'd be THIN!

Bio yoghurt each day sorted out my IBS.

Yup I tried that - it worked and I haven't had a problem in a long long time

Such a simple thing... yet I was 'under the doctor' (sounds rude!) with IBS for a couple of years before someone told me about bio yoghurt.

The doctor told me that I had it because I 'live on my nerves'.

I was prescribed fybogel for it, but those vitality yog drinks did the trick for me Then I haven't had any yogs for a long time, but my belly seems to be liking the new healthy lifestyle I've got. I really think it was my body protesting to all the processed/fried/refined junk I was assaulting it with.

I got prescribed fybrogel as well - and you are right it is COMPLETELY (I'm sure they could make it taste better than that if they wanted to!)

I've not tried going without my daily 100g of bio yoghurt because I enjoy it (and its fairly cheap!)

the worst thing about Fybrogel is the texture!!

Hi there just thought i would write a bit too lol
I was on xenical for 3 months it was a nightmare as it didnt agree with me so as you could imagine no matter what I put in my mouth it shot out just as fast!! so now im on reductil and its brilliant in 3months i have lost a stone and a half! Im pleased with it but it isnt for everyone as there are alot of side effects etc that can be hard to deal with!
hope you are getting there anyway!

hi, im on xenical and so far no problems or side effects. i went for a routine check up and my gp suggested i would feel better if i lost a bit of weight, then they suggested xenical to me. i had to lose about 7 lbs first. i have asthma, so possibly thats why along with a bmi of 42 . in total i have lost nearly 2 and a half stone so far though it is slowing right down at present. my gp`s practise have been very positive about xenical, but i know there are some surgeries where they are very reluctant to prescribe it.
i pay the normal nhs prescription price ( around £6.50 a month)i imagine if you went private or got them online it would be very expensive, especially if it was needed long term.
the main benefit to me is that it acts as a deterrent to pigging out on high fat foods and hopefully helps to re - educate my eating habits. i have slipped off the wagon a few times, but have so far avoided the dreaded "orange". mad

I tried xenical several years ago. As has been stated previously it has horrible side effects if you dont eat a low fat diet. I found it was fine while I was being good, but if I knew I was going to be eating something high in fat, I just didnt take it...so a bit pointless to me!Did lose some weight while I was on it, but was eating such a low fat diet cos I was scared of the side effects that I think I would have lost the weight anyway!
Lost 5 stone(70 lbs) since then, but in the last few months have got stuck and kept putting weight on then losing it again. Went back to dr to ask about reductil. He said it can really mess with your head as it changes the level of seratonin in your brain, so that it can only be prescribed to certain people. I've had post natal depression in the past so he wouldnt give me it.