Hepatotoxicity Secondary to a Weight Loss Drug, Orlistat: Consideration as a Differential Diagnosis

The document reports a case of a 78-year-old female patient who developed hepatotoxicity and renal failure after taking the anti-obesity drug orlistat for three months. The hepatotoxicity was attributed to orlistat after ruling out other causes, and the patient's liver and kidney functions recovered three months after stopping the drug. The case underscores the need for caution when prescribing orlistat, especially in patients with pre-existing liver or kidney conditions, and recommends regular monitoring of liver and kidney functions. The document also advises patient education on the symptoms of liver and kidney dysfunction and stresses that orlistat should be discontinued if hepatotoxicity is suspected, with no re-exposure to the drug in such cases. Despite the rarity of such adverse effects, with an incidence of less than 1%, the potential severity warrants careful consideration and follow-up.