Can I take orlistat while pregnant or breastfeeding?
A plain-words look at what the NHS, the US drug label and LactMed say about orlistat.
In short
Pregnancy: Let your doctor know if you're pregnant, or if you become pregnant while using orlistat.
Breastfeeding: Let your doctor know if you're breastfeeding.
Your doctor, midwife or pharmacist can help you decide.
What this means for you
Pregnancy
- Orlistat is not used in pregnancy, because there isn't enough information to say it's safe for your baby.
Breastfeeding
- Doctors do not usually use orlistat during breastfeeding, because it's not known whether it gets into breast milk.
Talk to your doctor or pharmacist
This page is educational, not advice for your own situation. Talk to your doctor, midwife or pharmacist before you start, stop or change any medicine in pregnancy or while breastfeeding.
The details: what each source says
Orlistat in pregnancy
The NHS says
Let your doctor know if you're pregnant, or if you become pregnant while using orlistat.
Orlistat is not used in pregnancy, because there isn't enough information to say it's safe for your baby.
In our words, from the NHS page Orlistat (nhs.uk). Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0 (OGL v3.0). The NHS does not endorse this site.
What these words mean
- contraindicated
- there is a reason not to use this medicine, because it may be harmful
Definitions adapted from the NCI Dictionary of Cancer Terms (National Cancer Institute).
The US drug label says
If pregnant or breast-feeding, do not use.
Drug Facts label: ALLI (oral), Haleon US Holdings LLC. Label on DailyMed. Quoted verbatim; US labels are written for US prescribers and patients.
8.1 Pregnancy Pregnancy Category X XENICAL is contraindicated during pregnancy, because weight loss offers no potential benefit to a pregnant woman and may result in fetal harm. A minimum weight gain, and no weight loss, is currently recommended for all pregnant women, including those who are already overweight or obese, due to the obligatory weight gain that occurs in maternal tissues during pregnancy. No embryotoxicity or teratogenicity was seen in animals that received orlistat at doses much higher than the recommended human dose. If this drug is used during pregnancy, or if the patient becomes pregnant while taking this drug, the patient should be apprised of the potential hazard of maternal weight loss to the fetus.
Prescribing label, section “8.1 Pregnancy” (opening excerpt): Xenical (oral), H2-Pharma LLC. Read the full section on DailyMed. Quoted verbatim; US labels are written for US prescribers and patients.
Orlistat while breastfeeding
The NHS says
Let your doctor know if you're breastfeeding.
Doctors do not usually use orlistat during breastfeeding, because it's not known whether it gets into breast milk.
In our words, from the NHS page Orlistat (nhs.uk). Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0 (OGL v3.0). The NHS does not endorse this site.
LactMed says
Orlistat is poorly absorbed orally, but a small amount has been detected in the milk of one woman. It is unlikely that orlistat will be absorbed by the infant in amounts that would adversely affect the breastfed infant. Because it inhibits the absorption of fat-soluble vitamins, mothers using it should take a multivitamin supplement at bedtime.
“Summary of Use during Lactation”, LactMed record “Orlistat” (LM886), quoted verbatim. Everything LactMed reports about Orlistat while breastfeeding.
The US prescribing label says
Nursing Mothers It is not known if XENICAL is present in human milk. Caution should be exercised when XENICAL is administered to a nursing woman.
Prescribing label, section “Nursing Mothers”: Xenical (oral), H2-Pharma LLC. Label on DailyMed. Quoted verbatim; US labels are written for US prescribers and patients.
Other names
UK brand names (per the NHS): Alli, Orlos, Xenical.
Sources
- NHS, Orlistat (nhs.uk), page last reviewed 6 May 2026. Paraphrased. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
- US drug label: ALLI (oral), Haleon US Holdings LLC, human otc drug, label effective 18 March 2026, set ID a2d3bd73-f3af-4ea5-a57c-66b0004cfe4f. DailyMed (National Library of Medicine). Public domain; quoted verbatim.
- US drug label: Xenical (oral), H2-Pharma LLC, human prescription drug, label effective 9 January 2026, set ID 6240792b-9224-2d10-e053-2a91aa0a2c3e. DailyMed (National Library of Medicine). Public domain; quoted verbatim.
- Drugs and Lactation Database (LactMed), National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD), via NCBI Bookshelf, record “Orlistat” (LM886), bulk release of 22 September 2026. LactMed on NCBI Bookshelf. Public domain; quoted verbatim. LactMed is a registered trademark of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
Sources checked 26 September 2026. How we source and check every page.
Educational summary of named sources, not medical advice.