Weight Loss Products: Warning Expands

FDA Warns About 72 Tainted Weight Loss Products

 

By Miranda Hitti
WebMD Health News

Reviewed by Louise Chang, MD

March 20, 2009 -- The FDA today expanded its list of tainted weight loss products that consumers shouldn't buy or use.

In December, the FDA warned about more than 25 weight loss products that contain undeclared, active pharmaceutical ingredients that may be risky.

Now, that warning list includes 72 illegal weight loss products that the FDA wants consumers to avoid. Those products contain any of the following undeclared active pharmaceutical ingredients:

The health risks posed by these products can be very serious and include high blood pressure, seizures, tachycardia (rapid heartbeat), palpitations, heart attack, and stroke.

Sibutramine, a controlled substance, was found in many of these products at levels much higher than the maximum daily dosage for Meridia, the only FDA-approved drug product containing sibutramine. These higher levels of sibutramine can increase the incidence and severity of these health risks.

Fenproporex, another controlled substance, can cause arrhythmia (abnormal heart rhythm) and possible sudden death.

Tainted Weight Loss Products

Here is the FDA's full list of all 72 tainted weight loss products:

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