Some Weight Loss Products Could Be Dangerous

Jacksonville – The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has expanded its nationwide alert concerning weight loss products that are tainted with undeclared and active pharmaceutical ingredients.

The alert, announced Friday March 20th, was the second update to the FDA’s original list published late last year. That list contained 28 products and the updated tally is now at 72 products. Further updates will be expected as the FDA conducts investigations and uncovers more potentially dangerous products in commercially available weight loss products.

These products are often marketed as dietary supplements that contain only herbal and natural ingredients. The FDA’s investigations have shown these claims to be untrue.

Americans spend more than 30 billion dollars a year on weight loss products. This makes the FDA’s warning vitally important. Their investigation has discovered many of these offerings are laden with potentially dangerous ingredients that are not disclosed on the product’s labels, giving consumers no recourse to protect themselves. Dr. Janet Woodcock, director of the FDA’s Center for Drug Evaluation and Research indicates that these hidden ingredients pose a great risk to consumers due to serious adverse health consequences. These are illegal products and are not approved by the FDA despite being marketed on websites and in some cases retail stores and beauty salons.

Health risks inherent in these products include heightened risk of seizures, high blood pressure, heart palpitations, rapid heart rate (tachycardia), heart attack and stroke. In some cases the ingredients are legitimate pharmaceuticals but are present in doses greatly exceeding maximum recommended levels.

Others are not approved for any use in the United States. Included in the list of unlabeled substances found are:

Bumetanide and Furosemide – both powerful prescription diuretics
Cetilistat – an experimental obesity drug not approved for use in the U.S.
Fenproporex – an amphetamine derivative and controlled substance not approved for U.S. use
Fluoxetine – an anti-depressant available only by prescription
Rimonabant – a drug not approved for sale in the U.S. that has been linked to increased risk of
depression and suicidal thoughts and also linked to deaths in Europe.
Phenytoin – an anti-seizure drug available by prescription
Phenolphthalein – a suspected cancer-causing agent used in chemical experiments also not approved for
sale in the U.S.
Sibutramine – found in a majority of products, it can cause high blood pressure, heart attack and strokes

The FDA is initiating product recalls and is considering more stringent measures such as injunctions or criminal charges against the offending companies.