Personal Injury Law

Tis The Season For Weight Gain And Diet Pills - FDA Warning

By Jane Akre

'Tis the season for eating and weight loss and many consumers may turn to those over-the-counter at the drug store check-out pills that promise quick weight loss.

The FDA has issued an alert- DO NOT purchase 25 different weight loss pills.    They could pose serious health risk from their ingredients.

The FDA lists them here:

2 Day Diet, 3x Slimming Power, Fatloss Slimming, 5x Imelda Perfect Slimming, Lida DaiDaihua, 3 Day Diet Japan Lingzhi, 7 Diet Day/Night Formula, 999 Fitness Essence, 24 Hours Diet, GMP, Imelda Perfect Slim, Miaozi Slim Capsules, Perfect Slim 5x, Perfect Slim, ProSlim Plus, Phyto Shape, 7 Day Herbal Slim, Slim 3 in 1, Slim Express 360, Slimtech, Superslim, TripleSlim, Somotrin, 8 Factor Diet, Royal Slimming Formula, Zhen de Shou, Extrim Plus and Venom Hyperdrive 3.0. 

Problem

Health problems can include increased blood pressure, seizures, tachycardia, palpitations, heart attack or stroke.   Since many are made overseas they may contain controlled substances that are not approved for marketing in the US.

These weight loss products are often sold on various Web sites and in some retail stores. Some claim to be "natural" while others say they have "herbal" ingredients.

The FDA says to stop taking these products.

Products such as - sibutramine.  That is the active ingredient in the anti-obesity drug Meridia, a weight loss drug available by prescription.

Rimonabant - is approved in Europe but not in the US.  The drug is associated with at least five deaths in Europe and 7290 adverse reports. Its use is linked to an increased risk of depression and suicidal thoughts.

Phenolphthalein - a suspected cancer causing agent that is used in some chemical experiments.

These tainted weight loss products 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," said Janet Woodcock, M.D., director, Center for Drug Evaluation and Research, FDA. "Consumers have no way of knowing that these products contain powerful drugs that could cause serious health consequences."

The FDA does not regulate dietary supplements, however if the product contains active ingredients it is supposed to have FDA approval. The FDA, strapped to investigate every product that is sold in the US, says it could issue warning letters, initiate seizures or even file criminal charges. #

Full post as published by InjuryBoard on December 23, 2008 (boomark / email).