Short answer: Each Xenical dose goes with a meal. The label says to take one 120 mg capsule during or up to 1 hour after each main meal that contains fat, and that if a meal is missed or has no fat, the dose can be skipped. It gives no rule for a dose remembered more than an hour after a meal.
| Situation | What the label says |
|---|---|
| Schedule | One 120 mg capsule, 3 times a day, with each main meal containing fat (2.1) |
| Timing | During the meal or up to 1 hour after it (2.1) |
| Missed meal or fat-free meal | The dose can be skipped (2.1) |
| More than 1 hour after the meal | No rule in the label |
| Higher doses | Above 120 mg 3 times a day showed no extra benefit (2.1) |
Section 2.1 says the dose is one 120 mg capsule three times a day with each main meal containing fat, taken during or up to 1 hour after the meal. It adds: if a meal is occasionally missed or contains no fat, the dose of Xenical can be omitted. The Patient Information says the same: if you miss a meal or have a meal without fat, you can skip your dose.
The label does not say what to do if you remember more than an hour after a meal. It ties each capsule to a meal, and section 2.1 says doses above 120 mg three times a day have not been shown to add benefit.
Xenical works on the fat in the meal it is taken with. Section 2.1 says its effect on fat in the stool is seen as soon as 24 to 48 hours after dosing, and that stool fat usually returns to pretreatment levels within 48 to 72 hours after stopping.
Section 2.1: take a multivitamin with fat-soluble vitamins at least 2 hours before or after Xenical, such as at bedtime. Take cyclosporine 3 hours after Xenical. Take levothyroxine and Xenical at least 4 hours apart.
This page summarizes FDA labeling. It is not personalized medical advice; confirm what to do with your prescriber or pharmacist.