Many weightloss pills are marketed as dietary supplements with the claim that they use only natural or herbal ingredients. In addition, many have proprietary blends listed on their labels that make it very difficult to know exactly how much of a particular substance you are getting. This is especially concerning since the United States Food and Drug Administration does not regulate dietary supplements. All the manufacturers have to write on the label is “this statement has not been evaluated by the Food and Drug administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.” I am a firm believer that we need better safeguards for people, independent testing of products, and stricter label guidelines. I think supplement manufacturers should not be allowed to use “proprietary blend” on labels. They should list out the ingredients and their quantities. Obviously this creates financial issues among supplement manufacturers but I am more concerned about people’s health.

Recently, the FDA issued a warning regarding 28 weight loss products because they were found to contain dangerous prescription medications not listed on their labels. Now the FDA has expanded the list to contain 69 products.

Some of the prescriptions medications they found in these supplements included:

Sibutramine (meridia): A sympathomimetic that can cause headaches, insomnia and constipation. However, it also has some very serious side effects like high blood pressure, seizures, tachycardia, palpitations, and even heart attack or stroke.

Rimonabant (Acomplia): An endocannabinoid CB1 receptor antagonist. It is not approved in United States but is approved in Europe. The biggest concern with rimonabant is its association with increased risk of depression and suicidal thoughts. In the last two years, there have been 5 deaths and 720 adverse reactions in Europe.

Phenytoin (dilantin): An anticonvulsant and an antiarrhythmic. It already has an FDA black box warning from 2/2008 stating that there is an increased risk of suicidal behavior or thoughts associated with it.

Phenolphthalein: used to be component of many over-the-counter laxative products but was removed over concerns that it may be a carcinogen.

Bumetanide (Bumex): A water pill (diuretic). This can cause dangerous electrolyte abnormalities such as low potassium and even acute kidney injury in certain people. This should ONLY be taken under the close supervision of your doctor.

If you use any of the products listed below, I strongly advise you to STOP taking them immediately and talk to your doctor. Here is FDA’s most updated list of tainted weightloss pills:

• Fatloss Slimming
• 2 Day Diet
• 3x Slimming Power
• Japan Lingzhi 24 Hours Diet
• 5x Imelda Perfect Slimming
• 3 Day Diet
• 7 Day Herbal Slim
• 8 Factor Diet
• 7 Diet Day/Night Formula
• 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
• Starcaps
• Slim Waistline
• Slim Waist Formula
• Slim Up
• Sliminate
• Slim Fast
• 2x Powerful Slimming
• Slim Express 4 in 1
• Reduce Weihgt
• Super Fat Burner
• Super Slimming
• Sana Plus
• Trim 2 Plus
• Powerful Slim
• Waist Strength Formula
• Slimming Formula
• Perfect Slim Up
• Slim Burn
• Slim 3 in 1 Slim Formula
• Slim 3 in 1 M18 Royal Diet
• Slim 3 in 1 Extra Slim Waist Formula
• Slim 3 in 1 Extra Slim Formula
• Natural Model
• 2 Day Diet Slim Advance
• Miaozi MeiMiaoQianZiJiaoNang
• Meizitang
• Meili
• JM Fat Reducer
• Imelda Fat Reducer
• 7 Days Diet
• Extrim Plus 24 Hour Reburn
• Fasting Diet
• Cosmo Slim
• Body Slimming
• Body Shaping
• Body Creator
• BioEmagrecin
• 3 Days Fit
• 21 Double Slim
• Eight Factor Diet
• 7 Diet