Glycerol + Orlistat
Orlistat brand names: Xenical, Alli.
We found no known interaction between Glycerol and Orlistat in our sources. Absence of a documented interaction is not the same as proven safety, and does not guarantee one does not exist. Do not start, stop, or change a medication or supplement based on this page; confirm with your pharmacist or doctor first. Additionally, although there is no interaction, the two are separately associated with some of the same side effects, which would make a new symptom harder to attribute to one or the other.
Glycerol and Orlistat
We checked these two against our interaction database. Here is what we found.
No Known Interaction Found
We did not find a documented interaction between Orlistat and Glycerol in our sources. This does not guarantee that the combination is completely free of risk — there is often limited research on supplements and herbal products, especially around drug interactions.
Worth understanding: our licensed dataset holds no drug-interaction record for Glycerol at all — not against Orlistat, and not against any other medication we track. This verdict therefore rests on the absence of any recorded data, not on research that looked at this combination and found nothing. We cannot rule an interaction out.
If you decide to take both, the practical routine is simple: add one new thing at a time and note the date you started it. If the combination is going to disagree with you, it usually shows in the first days to a couple of weeks — and a start date turns “I’ve been feeling off” into something a pharmacist can actually work with. Do not stop a prescribed medicine on your own.
Always talk with your pharmacist or doctor before making changes to your medications or supplements, particularly if you take several medications or have an ongoing health condition.
Glycerol safety at a glance
Safety guidance is general; always confirm with your pharmacist or doctor for your situation.
See Every Supplement That Interacts With Orlistat
This page covers Glycerol only. If you take other supplements — a multivitamin, a sleep aid, something for joints — the Orlistat page lists 18 supplements it has a documented interaction with, worst first, each one explained.
The most serious there right now: Activated Charcoal (major), Coffee Charcoal (moderate), European Mandrake (moderate), Fish Oil (moderate) and Glucomannan (moderate).
By severity: 1 major · 8 moderate · 9 minor.
From our pharmacist’s overview on the Orlistat page
“People who take Orlistat (Xenical, Alli) for weight loss often browse the very supplement aisle where fiber products and fish oil sit, and both show up on this page, so it deserves genuine attention before you mix anything in. Nearly all 18 ingredients on file can change how oral medications absorb from the gut, and the single major-ra…”
Reviewed by 2 · Jul 18, 2026
Taking Glycerol as Part of a Dietary Supplement Product? Check It for Interactions
We hold 775 real supplement products containing Glycerol, each one broken down to its full ingredient list — and combination products often carry several ingredients besides Glycerol. Even though Glycerol itself has no known interaction with Orlistat, another ingredient on your label might. Find your product and we’ll check every ingredient on its label:
Where Glycerol and Orlistat Sit Against Everything Else
Out of every supplement and medication people look up on HelloPharmacist, here is where these two land this week — and which way each has been moving.
#152 of 1,452 supplements looked up here in the last 7 days
#896 of 2,830 medications looked up here in the last 7 days
Position among everything looked up on this site, not a measure of how commonly either one is used or how important it is. A supplement can climb this list because of a news story. It counts every request to the page, automated ones included, and nothing here identifies anyone.
Where does our data come from?
- Source: the Natural Medicines (TRC Healthcare) clinical database — the evidence-graded professional reference for herb & supplement interactions.
- Citation library: 103,510 references behind our interaction content, 65,311 of them resolved to verified PubMed/DOI sources. See every Glycerol reference on this page ↓
- Freshness: we automatically re-check this combination every week — this pair was last verified September 20, 2026. The Glycerol and Orlistat records this page draws on were last updated July 10, 2026.
- What “no known interaction” means: no documented interaction in the sources above — not a guarantee of safety. Supplements are studied far less than prescription drugs, so we say exactly what the evidence supports, and nothing more.
About Glycerol
What is Glycerol?
- Constipation (laxative)
- Dry skin (moisturizer)
- Dry, irritated eyes
- Sore throat (in lozenges)
- Athletic hydration and endurance
- Cough and chest congestion (in some syrups)
Glycerol (glycerin) is a sweet, syrupy compound made naturally in the body and widely used in foods, skin products, and medicines. It is well established as a laxative and a skin and eye moisturizer, while its use to boost athletic performance is less proven and is banned in sports because it can mask other substances. For most people it is well tolerated, but check with a pharmacist before using it medicinally, especially if you are pregnant, breastfeeding, or have a health condition.
Not applicable (a simple chemical compound, also made naturally in the body) · Oral liquid, syrup, rectal suppositories, enemas, eye drops, skin creams and lotions, throat lozenges, sports drinks
An interaction check asks whether these two react with each other — it does not ask whether Glycerol is a good idea for someone in your situation. Here is what our Glycerol record says about it on its own.
Glycerol: dosing
There is no single "standard" dose of glycerol because it depends entirely on the product and the reason for use. A glycerin suppository for constipation, an oral laxative solution, an eye drop, and a sports hydration drink all use very different amounts.The safest approach is to follow the directions on the product label or your healthcare provider's instructions.
From our Glycerol monograph — the full record covers uses, side effects and every documented interaction.
About Orlistat
What Is Orlistat Used For?
Brand names: Xenical, Alli
Xenical and prescription-strength orlistat are approved to help obese adults lose weight and keep it off when used with a reduced-calorie diet. They are intended for people with a body mass index (BMI) of 30 or higher, or 27 or higher if other risk factors such as high blood pressure, diabetes, or dyslipidemia (abnormal cholesterol or fat levels in the blood) are present.
Alli is the over-the-counter version, approved for weight loss in overweight adults 18 and older when used with a reduced-calorie, low-fat diet and exercise program.
Most-Reported Side Effects for Orlistat
From FAERS, the FDA’s public side-effect reporting system (25,755 reports, all brands). Reports are voluntary and are not proof the drug caused the effect.
Other Drugs & Glycerol
Browse every other medication we’ve checked against Glycerol — both the ones with a known interaction and the ones without. Select any drug for the full detail.
No drugs match “”.
No interaction 2,829 drugs checked — show the list
We also checked Glycerol against these medications and found no known interaction in our sources. Open any page to confirm.
- Apixaban ›
- Levothyroxine ›
- Amlodipine ›
- Methylphenidate ›
- Warfarin ›
- Sertraline ›
- Losartan Potassium ›
- Testosterone ›
- Ivermectin ›
- Aspirin ›
- Abemaciclib ›
- Acetaminophen ›
- Metoprolol ›
- Rosuvastatin ›
- Rivaroxaban ›
- Escitalopram ›
- Clopidogrel ›
- Atorvastatin ›
- Docusate ›
- Tadalafil ›
- Tirzepatide ›
- Methamphetamine ›
- Ibuprofen ›
- Valacyclovir ›
- Warfarin Sodium ›
- Hydroxyurea ›
- Sumatriptan ›
- Semaglutide ›
- Prednisone ›
- Lisdexamfetamine ›
- Propranolol ›
- Metformin ›
- Amitriptyline ›
- Amoxicillin ›
- Lisinopril ›
- Isotretinoin ›
- Amlodipine Besylate ›
- Methotrexate ›
- Bendamustine ›
- Bupropion ›
- Amphetamine ›
- Doxycycline ›
- Fluoxetine ›
- Acyclovir ›
- Azithromycin ›
- Pregabalin ›
- Lamotrigine ›
- Dextroamphetamine ›
- Gabapentin ›
- Acetaminophen, Codeine ›
- Levothyroxine, Liothyronine ›
- Clonazepam ›
- Quetiapine ›
- Naproxen ›
- Omeprazole ›
- Letrozole ›
- Duloxetine ›
- Methylene Blue ›
- Buspirone ›
- Citalopram ›
Showing the 60 most looked-up of 2,829 medications checked with no known interaction — see the full Glycerol list.
Glycerol References
The 8 references that drive our Glycerol monograph and interaction data, from the evidence-graded Natural Medicines (TRC Healthcare) database. Citations with a link open the study on PubMed or the publisher’s site.
- McEvoy GK, ed. AHFS Drug Information. Bethesda, MD: American Society of Health-System Pharmacists, 1998.
- Wagner DR. Hyperhydrating with glycerol: implications for athletic performance. J Am Diet Assoc 1999;99:207-12. PubMed
- Yu YL, Kumana CR, Lauder IJ, et al. Treatment of acute cortical infarct with intravenous glycerol. A double-blind, placebo-controlled randomized trial. Stroke 1993;24:1119-24. PubMed
- Frei A, Cottier C, Wunderlich P, Ludin E. Glycerol and dextran combined in the therapy of acute stroke. A placebo-controlled, double-blind trial with a planned interim analysis. Stroke 1987;18:373-9. PubMed
- Balaskas E, Szepietowski JC, Bessis D, Ioannides D, Ponticelli C, Ghienne C, Taberly A, Dupuy P. Randomized, double-blind study with glycerol and paraffin in uremic xerosis. Clin J Am Soc Nephrol. 2011 Apr;6(4):748-52. PubMed
- Blanchet-Bardon C, Tadini G, Machado Matos M, Delarue A. Association of glycerol and paraffin in the treatment of ichthyosis in children: an international, multicentric, randomized, controlled, double-blind study. J Eur Acad Dermatol Venereol. 2012 Aug;26 PubMed
- Kajita N, Kanamori K, Yamamoto S, Yoshida K. Generalized Urticaria Caused by a Glycerin Enema in an Infant. J Investig Allergol Clin Immunol 2022;32(4):318-319. PubMed
- Suzuki R, Fukuyama K, Miyazaki Y, Namiki T. Contact urticaria syndrome and protein contact dermatitis caused by glycerin enema. JAAD Case Reports. 2016;2:108-10. PubMed
Medication overviews come from MedlinePlus (NIH); supplement label data from the NIH Dietary Supplement Label Database. Content is written and reviewed by licensed HelloPharmacist pharmacists — see our data sources and editorial standards.
Orlistat Is Linked to Lower Levels of 5 Nutrients
Natural Medicines records Orlistat as a medicine that can lower these. This is not an interaction with Glycerol — it is a separate effect of the medicine, and it is a reason some people are advised to supplement rather than to avoid one:
Read the full Orlistat nutrient depletion report ›
Depletion records come from the licensed Natural Medicines database. Do not start a supplement on the strength of this page — ask your pharmacist or doctor whether it applies to you.
Taking Glycerol and Orlistat Together: Common Questions
Is it safe to take Glycerol with Orlistat?
Do Glycerol and Orlistat have any of the same side effects?
Does Orlistat interact with any supplements?
Written and reviewed by the HelloPharmacist editorial staff. Our editorial policy
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This information is for education only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Always check with your pharmacist or doctor before starting, stopping, or combining supplements and medications.