The Food and Drug Administration is warning against 28 products marketed for weight loss that you might be tempted to try after the holidays. The agency reported the products, said to contain only “natural” or “herbal” ingredients, pose a great risk to public health because they contain undeclared ingredients and, in some cases, contain prescription drugs in amounts that greatly exceed their maximum recommended dosages.
“Consumers have no way of knowing that these products contain powerful drugs that could cause serious health consequences. Therefore, FDA is taking this action to protect the health of the American public,” Dr. Janet Woodcock, director of the FDA's Center for Drug Evaluation and Research, said in a news release.
The products the warning is targeted at may be sold online or in stores as “dietary supplements.” They include: Fatloss Slimming, 2 Day Diet, 3x Slimming Power, 5 x Imelda Perfect Slimming, 3 Day Diet Japan Lingzhi, 24 Hours Diet, 7 Diet Day/Night Formula, 7 Day Herbal Slim, 8 Factor Diet, 999 Fitness Essence, Extrim Plus, GMP, Imelda Perfect Slim, Lida DaiDaihua, Miaozi Slim Capsules, Perfect Slim, Perfect Slim 5x, Phyto Shape, ProSlim Plus, Royal Slimming Formula Slim 3 in 1, Slim Express 360, Slimtech, Somotrim, Superslim, TripleSlim, Zhen de Shou, Venom Hyperdrive 3.0.
“These products have not been approved by the FDA, are illegal, and may be potentially harmful to unsuspecting consumers,” the FDA said.
The agency added that an analysis found the products contain sibutramine, a chemical known to suppress the appetite, which belongs to the class of amphetamines. The substance can cause heart attacks, strokes and heart palpitations, especially in people with a history of high blood pressure or heart problems. It can also interact with other drugs, and its safety hasn’t been established in pregnant and lactating women, or in children younger than 16.
Some of the pills also contain phenolphthalein, a chemical long used as a laxative, but which is now being withdrawn from the market because of cancer risks.
Other chemicals to be found in these drugs include rimonabant, a drug not approved for marketing in the United States and phenytoin, an anti-seizure medication. None of the dangerous chemicals is on the labels. Rimonabant has been associated with increased risk of depression and suicidal thoughts and has been linked to five deaths and 720 adverse reactions in Europe, where it is an approved drug, over the last two years.
The FDA is urging people using the above-mentioned products to stop taking them, consult their health care professionals right away, and seek guidance from a health care professional before purchasing weight loss products.
People can also report side effects or product quality problems to the FDA’s MedWatch Adverse Event Reporting system. File a report on the FDA’s Web site or call 800-FDA-1088.
