update on slimming aids
Slimming aids risks update. The US Food and Drug Administration have recently updated its list of slimming aids containing prescription only drugs and chemicals being marketed as dietary supplements. The updated slimming aids list can be seen below.
All the products in this slimming aids risks update have been unapproved and contain undeclared prescription drugs and chemicals, and are potentially dangerous if used with other prescription drugs being taken for various health problems.
I hope this post, Slimming Aids Risks Update, helps you understand and become aware of the dangers of taking unlicensed slimming aids that are being sold illegally online.
Throughout this website I have stressed the dangers of taking slimming aids without first consulting your medical practitioner or suitably qualified health professionals. Too many deaths have occurred through misuse of unapproved slimming aids, six that I know of in the UK alone. Don’t become another!
slimming aids risks update
Here is the slimming aids lists update. The undeclared ingredients are in italics:
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2 Day Diet – Sibutramine 2 Day Diet Slim Advance – 2x Powerful Slimming – Sibutramine 3x Slimming Power – Sibutramine, 5x Imelda Perfect Slimming – 7 Day Herbal Slim – Sibutramine 7 Diet Day/Night Formula – 8 Factor Diet – Sibutramine, Eight Factor Diet – Sibutramine 24 Hours Diet – Sibutramine, 999 Fitness Essence – sibutramine BioEmagrecim, Sample 1 – BioEmagrecim, Sample 2 – Body Creator – Sibutramine Extrim Plus – Sibutramine, Extrim Plus 24 Hour Reburn – Fasting Diet – Sibutramine Fatloss Slimming – Sibutramine, GMP – Sibutramine Imelda Perfect Slim – Sibutramine, JM Fat Reducer – Sibutramine Miaozi MeiMiaoQianZiJiaoNang – Miaozi Slim Capsules – |
Meizitang – Sibutramine Perfect Slim 5x – Sibutramine, Perfect Slim Up – Sibutramine Royal Slimming Formula – Sibutramine, Sana Plus – Sibutramine Slim 3 in 1 Extra Slim Formula – Slim 3 in 1 Extra Slim Waist Formula Slim 3 in 1 M18 Royal Diet – Slim 3 in 1 Slim Formula – Slim Burn – Sibutramine Superslim – Sibutramine, Super Slimming – Sibutramine Venom Hyperdrive 3.0 – Waist Strength Formula – Xsvelten – Sibutramine Zhen de Shou – Sibutramine, |
Source: US Food and Drug Administration/Drugs
*The manufacturer of Slim-Fast®, Unilever United States, Inc., states that it is not connected in any way, and does not approve, recommend or endorse the Slim Fast product which appears in this list. This product should not be confused with the line of meal replacement and related products marketed as conventional foods under the brand name “Slim-Fast®”.
slimming aids risks update: misuse of prescription only drugs
As I have recommended throughout this website, never, ever, buy slimming aids or pills online, you could be heading for a whole lot of trouble in the future.
If you think slimming aids may help your weight loss efforts, please consult your medical practitioner or suitably qualified health professionals who will advise you and, if they think slimming aids may help, will recommend suitable medication.
While products listed in slimming aids risks update should not even be considered as aids to weight loss, there are certain prescription drugs that may be prescribed as aids to weight loss in certain circumstances.
Although all drugs listed below contain undeclared substances in the slimming aids risks update, if prescribed by a doctor and used under medical supervision, they are normally quite safe, with little side effects, if any. Taking them as a slimming aid without medical advice can lead to some serious health problems, many of them irreversible.
Ok, now let’s take a look how dangerous these prescription drugs are when used as unapproved and undeclared weight loss aids.
- Bumetinide
A diuretic (water pill), and a prescription only drug, which I doubt any medical practitioner would prescribe them as a weight loss aid unless in extreme cases, and only then under medical supervision.
They are mainly used to help people with chronic heart, liver, or kidney disease remove excess water through increased urination. Just one pill can make the body shed water up to three pounds in weight.
Don’t get too excited when you weigh yourself, it’s only weight in water you’ve lost, not fat, and only in the short term unless you keep taking the water pill, which certainly isn’t the healthy way to lose weight and build muscle!
Some side effects of taking Bumetinide include:
- Dizziness
- Tiredness
- Weakness
- Confusion
- Drowsiness
- Fainting
- Muscle Cramps or Pain
- Dry Mouth/Thirst.
Some of the more severe symptoms that may occur through overdosing include:
- Sudden, unexplained shortness of breath
- Difficulty in breathing
- Slurred speech
- Vision changes
- Severe, sudden headache
- Sudden loss of coordination
- Feeling of sluggishness or unusual drowsiness, dullness
- Severe weakness or numbness in the arm or leg
- Pain in chest, groin, or legs, especially the calves.
If any of the above symptoms occur, stop taking the pill and seek emergency medical help.
- Cetilistat
A drug currently on trial in the US, UK, and Japan, that treats obesity, and has yet to be approved and licensed by the FDA pending the outcome of the completed trials.
Some of the side effects of taking Cetilistat include:
- Nausea or vomiting
- Headaches
- Drowsiness or dizziness
- Coughing, sore throat, or cold symptoms
- Upset stomach, diarrhea, or constipation
- Frequent need to use the bathroom
- Lose Stools
- Oily spotting or discharge
- Fatty, oily, or orange colored stools.
As with any drug, overdosing on Cetilistat can have some serious side effects such as drug poisoning, which may include any one or more of the following:
- Stomach pain, nausea and vomiting
- Sleepiness leading to unresponsiveness
- Confusion and deliriousness
- Excitable hyperactive behavior
- Excessive sweating
- Trembling or shaking hands
- Hallucinations, such as hearing voices or seeing things
- Unusually slow or fast pulse
- Unusually small or large pupils.
It is also thought that overdosing may result in developing gall or kidney stones.
If you experience any of the above symptoms seek emergency medical help.
- Fenproporex
Fenproporex is an amphetamine based stimulant and banned in the US and by the World Doping Agency, although it is still listed as a Schedule IV Controlled Substance in the US.
Like all amphetamine based drugs, Fenproporex works by affecting the central nervous system and is used as an appetite suppressant. Amphetamine based chemicals also tend to affect the focus and attention of the user, and, over time, this may have an adverse effect on the brain’s dopamine receptors.
As with any amphetamine based products, they can become addictive if used over time.
Taking unapproved Fenproporex can have some serious life-threatening side effects including:
- Hightened Blood Pressure, which may lead to a Stroke
- Accelerated Breathing Rate
- Sweating
- Constipation
- Diarrhea
- Fever
- Headaches
- Blurred Vision
- Numbness
- Uncontrollable Shaking
- Insomnia
- Accelerated and/or Irregular Heart Rate which may result in Death.
- Fluoxetine
Fluoxetine, a member of the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) class of drugs. An antidepressant used mainly in the treatment of major depression disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, bulimia nervosa, panic disorder, and premenstrual dysphoric disorder with medication such as Prozac.
There are numerous side effects of taking Fluoxetine-based medications, many of them serious. If you experience any signs of the following:
- Difficulty breathing
- Headache, Confusion, Slurred Speech, Severe Weakness, Vomiting, loss of coordination, feeling unsteady caused by low levels of sodium in the body
- Severe nervous system reaction including very stiff (rigid) muscles, high fever, sweating, confusion, fast or uneven heartbeats, tremors, feeling like you might pass out
- Severe skin reaction including fever, sore throat, swelling in your face or tongue, burning in your eyes, skin pain that may be followed by a red or purple skin rash that spreads, in particular, to the face or upper body and causes blistering and peeling.
- Agitation, hallucinations, fever, fast heart rate, overactive reflexes, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, loss of coordination, fainting caused by high levels of serotonin in the body
- Blurred vision, tunnel vision, eye pain or swelling, or seeing halos around lights.
You need to seek emergency medical help.
More common side effects of Fluorxetine medications that can be caused through overdosing include:
- Effects on the Nervous System:
- Anxiety
- A feeling of Nervousness
- Insomnia
- Drowsiness
- Fatigue or Asthenia (abnormal physical weakness or lack of energy
- Dizziness or Lightheadedness.
- Furosemide
A prescription only pharmaceutical ingredient and a potent diuretic and used for treating congestive heart failure, high blood pressure, and edema.
Used without medical supervision, it can cause serious dehydration and electrolyte imbalance, with loss of vital minerals including potassium, calcium, sodium, and magnesium.
Other serious side effects from overdose may lead to:
- Dehydration
- Nausea or Vomiting
- Confusion
- Seizures
- Gastrointestinal Problems
- Kidney Damage
- Fast or Irregular Heartbeat
- Lethargy, Collapse and Coma.
Serious allergic reactions to the drug are rare, but may include the following:
- Rash
- Itching or Swelling (especially of the Face, Tongue or Throat)
- Severe Dizziness
- Trouble Breathing.
- Phenolphthalein
A non-prescription drug present in many over-the counter laxative products. Phenolphthalein was reclassified by the FDA in 1999 when it was found to be “not generally recognized as safe and effective” after it was found to be a potential carcinogenic risk, and also been found to be genotoxic, causing damage or mutations to DNA.
As well as the FDA in the US, the MHRA, the institution that deals with the regulation of medicines and medical devices in the UK, no longer permits it as an ingredient in medicines and diet supplements, and has also warned against its use.
Some of the more common side effects of Phenolphthalein include:
- Mental Confusion
- Muscle Cramps
- Irregular Heart Beat
- Urine Discoloration
- Skin Rash
- Gastrointestinal Irritation
- Feelings of Tiredness or Weakness
Any of the above symptoms need to to be investigated, but if you feel your have any one or of the more serious side effects listed below, seek urgent medical attention:
- Excessive Excretions of Fat, known as Steatorrhea
- Excessive Protein in Urine, known as Proteinuria
- Blood in the Urine, known as Haematuria
- Skin Rashes that may lead to:
- Hives
- Blisters
- Shedding of the Skin
- Painful Skin
- Swelling of the Face or Tongue
- Fever
- Coughing and/or Burning Eyes.
- Phenytoin
The active pharmaceutical ingredient in approved anti-seizure medication, Dilantin, an anti-epileptic drug used to control certain types of seizures.
It is imperative that you do not take any medication containing Phenytoin without medical supervision, as overdosing can cause serious health issues, often irreversible, and in some cases, fatal.
Seek emergency medical treatment immediately if you have any allergic reactions after taking any Phenytoin-based medication, including the following:
- Hives
- Difficulty Breathing
- Swelling of your Face, Lips, Tongue, or Throat.
Also, seek urgent medical advice if you experience any of the following symptoms:
- Fever
- Swollen Glands
- Body Aches or Flu-Like Symptoms
- Severe tingling or Numbness
- Skin Rash and Easy Bruising or Bleeding
- Pain and Muscle Weakness
- Chest Pain
- Irregular Heart Rhythm and Feeling Short of Breath
- Confusion
- Nausea and Vomiting
- Tremor (uncontrolled shaking)
- Restless Muscle Movements in your Eyes, Tongue, Jaw, or Neck
- Severe Skin Reaction:
- Fever
- Sore Throat
- Swelling in your Face or Tongue
- Burning in your Eyes
- Skin Pain. This may be followed by a red or purple skin rash that spreads (especially in the face or upper body) and causes blistering and peeling.
More common side effects may include:
- Headache
- Constipation
- Dizziness
- Spinning Sensation
- Drowsiness
- Slurred Speech
- Loss of Balance or Coordination
- Swollen or Tender Gums
- Sleep Problems (Insomnia)
- Nervousness.
- Rimonabant
The active ingredient in Zimulti, an appetite suppressant used in the treatment of obesity
Owing to the increased risk of neurological and psychiatric side effects, in 2007 the Endocrinologic and Metabolic Drugs Advisory Committee of the FDA decided unanimously not to approve Rimonabant.
Marketed in Europe under the brand name Acomplia, in 2008 the MHRA, the agency in the UK responsible for regulating and assessing the safety of drugs, found that five deaths and 720 adverse effects were linked to the use of Acomplia.
As a result, in October of that year, the European Medicines Agency, due to concerns over the safety of the drug, recommended that marketing and sales of Accomplia be suspended. Although no longer available as a prescription drug in Europe and the UK, it can still be obtained online. But is it worth the risk?
One, or more, of the following neurological or psychiatric side effects may be experienced if taking Rimonabant- based slimming aids:
- Seizures
- Depression
- Anxiety
- Insomnia
- Aggressiveness
- Suicidal Tendencies
Other more common side effects include:
- Gastrointestinal Problems:
- Diarrhea
- Dry Mouth
- Loss Of Appetite
- Nausea
- Vomiting.
- Skin Problems:
- Excessive Sweating
- Dry Or Itchy Skin
- Tendonitis
- Musculoskeletal Problems:
- Joint Sprains
- Back Pain
- Muscle Spasms and Cramps.
- Central Nervous System:
- Depression
- Memory Loss
- Anxiety
- Mood Changes
- Dizziness
- Diarrhea
- Sleep Disorder.
Originally approved by the FDA in 1997 as a an aid to weight loss, and marketed under the brand name Meridia, of which Sibutramine is the active pharmaceutical ingredient.
After intensive trials of Sibutramine revealed a 16% increase in stroke and cardiovascular problems among patients taking Meridia, the FDA recommended, in October 2010, that approval for Meridia be withdrawn.
It was placed on the slimming aids risks update on the grounds that the increase in weight loss over those on a healthy calorie-controlled diet and exercise programs didn’t justify the risks involved, and the manufacturers voluntarily stopped marketing it in the US.
Marketed under the brand name Reductil, in January of the same year, it was withdrawn in the UK and Europe after findings by the European Medicine Agency similar to those of the FDA.
Many of these Sibutramine-based products are still available online and are labeled as “100% herbal”, which is entirely untrue. Many also claim they have been medically approved, also entirely untrue.
The majority of these products in the slimming aids risks update originate in China and carry no manufacturer’s name or list of ingredients.
Before purchasing any of these so-called weight loss or obesity-beating pills online, you need to be aware that many are completely useless and the majority downright dangerous, recommending up to three times the normal dose that would be taken under medical supervision.
The side effects of Sibutramine, and some possibly life-threatening, include:
- Dry Mouth
- Insomnia
- Gastrointestinal Disorders:
- Diarrhoea
- Constipation
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Abdominal Pain
- Breathing Problems
- Headache
- Pins And Needles
- Lightheadedness
- Anxiety
- Sweating
- Aggravation Of Hemorrhoids
- Hot Flushes
- Heart Palpitations
- Increased Heart Rate
- Hypertension
- Depression
- Menstrual Cycle Disorders
- Impotence
- Seizures
- Thrombocytopenia (Decreaseed Platelets in the Blood)
- Kidney disorders.
That concludes slimming aids risks update. Unless obesity becomes a major threat to health or life-threatening and emergency treatment is required, medical practitioners and health professionals will not normally advocate the use of slimming pills.
Following a healthy calorie-controlled diet and exercise program will normally be recommended, with the aim of losing between 1-2 pounds per week.
Even if taking slimming aids under medical supervision, they are only a short term solution and a weight loss and exercise program needs to be in place. This will help maintain your weight when the medication is withdrawn.
If you would like to see a previous list of the FDA’s unapproved slimming aids, click on the link below: