Slimming Supplements: Dangerous Brands and Ingredients

It’s really tempting to opt for the quick fix when it comes to losing weight. We get it. A quick search on Google will bring up a plethora of tempting supplements promising to be the ‘miracle’ you are looking for.

We would advise extreme caution though. The ingredients in some of these supplements can be dangerous, even deadly!

Our advice would always be to not take these kinds of supplements. But why? Are we just being party poopers?

Let’s find out more

The ingredients below are or have been marketed for weight loss but are considered dangerous. Some are banned and others shouldn’t be taken without medical supervision.

DMAA (1,3-dimethylamylamine or methylhexanamine)

First introduced as ‘Geranium Oil Extract’ this is a neurological stimulant and is used in ‘party pills’.

Touted as a ‘natural stimulant’ lab tests have yet to find any DMAA in geranium oil. Hmmmm, interesting.

It mimics adrenaline and has been linked to cerebral haemorrhage.

Other issues reported include:

• Elevated blood pressure
• Seizures
• Risk of serious cardiovascular issues
• Arrhythmias
• Heart attacks
• Strokes
• Panic attacks
• Erectile Dysfunction

DMAA has been banned by the FDA in America and various sports organisations because of its amphetamine-like nature. At least 3 cases of fatal cardiac arrest have been reported after taking this supplement.

Supplements that contain DMAA:

• LX1
• OxyElite Pro
• Jack3d
• DMAA may also be listed on product labels as:
• 1,3-DMAA
• 1,3-Dimethylamylamine
• 1,3-Dimethylpentylamine
• 2-Amino-4-methylhexane
• 2-Hexanamine, 4-methyl- (9CI)
• 4-Methyl-2-hexanamine
• 4-Methyl-2-hexylamine
• Dimethylamylamine
• Geranamine
• Methylhexanamine
• Methylhexanenamine
• InChIKey=YAHRDLICUYEDAU-UHFFFAOYSA-N

Dinitrophenol

This supplement has been attributed to at least 63 published deaths. You might remember the death of Uni student, Sarah Houston back in 2012?

This was due to taking DNP that she bought online, alongside anti-depressants.

DNP is designed to increase heat production on the body’s cells. It accelerates the metabolism but to dangerously fast levels. Even the smallest overdose of the stuff can cause death because of its high toxicity.

DNP is banned for human consumption in several countries including the UK. It was originally used as a key ingredient in dyes, explosives and pesticides. It can still be legally used as a pesticide. That says it all really doesn’t it?

Other side effects can include:

• Cataracts
• Liver failure
• Rapid or irregular heartbeat
• Damage the nervous system
• Skin lesions
• Fever
• Insomnia
• Very high temperature

DNP is also known as:

• 2,4-dinitrophenol
• Dinosan
• Dnoc
• Solfo Black
• Nitrophen
• Aldifen
• Chemox

Bumetanide

Bumetanide is a strong diuretic ('water pill') and can cause dehydration and electrolyte imbalance.

If it is prescribed for you, it is important that you take it exactly as told by your doctor. If you experience any of the following symptoms, call your doctor immediately: rapid, excessive weight loss; decreased urination; dry mouth; thirst; nausea; vomiting; weakness; drowsiness; confusion; muscle pain or cramps; or rapid or pounding heartbeats.

Supplements found to contain Bumetanide

• Starcaps

Fluoxetine (Prozac)

Fluoxetine is used to treat various mental illnesses. These include depression, bulimia, OCD, panic disorder and premenstrual dysphoric disorder. It's classed as an SSRI (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor). In the UK, it is normally only available on prescription from your GP.

Uses of drugs like this have been associated with some serious side effects. Common issues include:

• Feeling sick
• Headaches
• Being unable to sleep
• Diarrhoea
• Feeling tired or weak

Serious side effect can include:

• Headaches, trouble focusing, memory problems, not thinking clearly, weakness, seizures, or losing your balance
• Thoughts about harming yourself or ending your life
• Chest pain or pressure, or shortness of breath Severe dizziness or passing out
• Fits, feelings of euphoria, excessive enthusiasm or excitement, or a feeling of restlessness that means you can't sit or stand still
• Putting on or losing weight without trying to
• Changes in your periods such as heavy bleeding, spotting, or bleeding between periods
• Painful erections that last longer than 4 hours - this may happen even when you are not having sex

The problem with supplements is that the person you are buying from doesn't know what other medications you are on. Taken alongside drugs like aspirin and ibuprofen can have serious consequences. It's also a real issue if taken with other antidepressants, drugs for bipolar, blood clots, chemotherapy and heart conditions.

Supplements found to contain Fluoxetine

• BioEmagrecim
• Botanical Slimming (Red)
• EDGE Amplified Weight Release
• iNSANE Bee Pollen
• Natural Max Slimming
• Oxy ELITE Pro Super Thermogenic
• Xcel

Lorcaserin

Lorcaserin is not currently available legally in the UK> In May 2013, the company withdrew its request for marketing approval because it couldn’t address the issues raised by the CHMP (Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use).

Lorcaserin has been known to cause psychiatric issues, impaired attention and issues with memory.

Use of Lorcaserin alongside other medications may result in potentially life-threatening drug interaction.

However, due to a recent study, experts have hailed the ‘promising’ findings as ‘exciting’ in regards to Type 2 Diabetes. That said, more research is needed into this drug before it is used for anything because of the side effects.

Supplements found to contain Lorcaserin:

• B-Lipo
• Green Algae Combination by Crane Beauty
• Yanhee Slim

Phenolphthalein

Phenolphthalein has previously been used as a laxative, but is no longer authorised for sale in the UK as it may cause cancer. Health risks associated with phenolphthalein could include potentially serious gastrointestinal disturbances, irregular heartbeat, and cancer with long-term use.

Supplements found to contain Phenolphthalein

• 24 Hours Diet
• 8 Factor Diet
• Akttive Capsules, Akttive High Performance Fat Burner Gold Capsules
• Be Inspired Bella Vi Amp'd Up, Bella Vi BTrim Max, Bella Vi BTrim Ultimate Boost, Bella Vi Extreme Accelerator, Bella Vi Insane Amp'd, Bella Vi Insane Bee Pollen Capsules
• Bethel Black Mamba Hyperrush
• B-Perfect
• BtRim Max
• DaiDaiHuaJiaoNang
• Diablos Eca Fire Caps
• Diet Master
• EDGE Amplified Weight Release
• Esmeralda
• Fat Zero
• Fatloss Slimming
• Fruit & Plant Slimming
• Fruta Bio
• Goodliness Fat-Reducing Capsules
• iNDiGO
• iNSANE Bee Pollen
• Japan Hokkaido Cangye Pharmacy Co., LTD
• Japan Rapid Weight Loss Diet Pills Green, Japan Rapid Weight Loss Diet Pills Yellow
• Japanese Chinese Formula pill for weight reduction
• Jianfeijindan Activity Girl
• Jimpness Beauty Fat Loss Capsules
• La Jiao Shou Shen
• Lean Body Extreme
• Lida Daidaihua
• Magic Slim
• Maxi Gold
• Meizitang Strong Version Botanical Slimming
• Miracle Diet 30
• New You
• Nine Slim
• Pai You Guo
• Perfect Slim 5x
• Pink Bikini and Shorts on the Beach Blue and Gold Edition
• Reduce Weight Fruta Planta
• Royal Slimming Formula
• Seven Slim
• Shou Fu Ti Tun Guo Xiang Xing Jian Fei Jiao Nang
• Sit and Slim II
• Slim Max, Slim Xtreme
• SlimEasy
• Slim-K
• Smart Lipo
• Super Fat Burner, Super Fat Burning Bomb
• Super Slim
• Tonic Life BP
• Ultimate Boost
• Ultra ZX
• Xcel Advanced
• Xtreme Fat Burner Capsules
• Zhen de Shou

Rimonabant (Acomplia)

Rimonabant has been withdrawn from the UK market due to potentially serious side effects. Shortly after market introduction, press reports and independent studies suggested that side effects of severe depression and suicidal thoughts occurred more intensely and more commonly than had been found by the manufacturer in their clinical studies. The drug has never been approved in the U.S.<.p>

Supplements found to contain Rimonabant

• Phyto Shape

Sildenafil (Viagra)

Available only on prescription in the UK, because sildenafil can have serious side effects in some patients. Sildenafil may interact with nitrates found in some prescription drugs such as nitroglycerin and may lower blood pressure to dangerous levels. Men with diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, or heart disease often take nitrates.

Supplements found to contain Sildenafil

• APEXXX
• Natural Max Slimming
• Diablos Eca Fire Caps
• Miracle Rock 48

Sibutramine (desmthylsibutramine, didesmthylsibutramine)

Sibutramine was removed from the UK market 2010 for safety reasons. Sibutramine is known to substantially increase blood pressure and/or pulse rate in some patients and may present a significant risk for patients with a history of coronary artery disease, congestive heart failure, arrhythmias, or stroke. This product may also interact, in life-threatening ways, with other medications a patient is be taking.

Supplements found to contain Sibutramine

• 1 Day Diet
• Day Diet, 2 Day Diet Slim Advance
• 21 Double Slim
• 24 Hours Diet
• 24 Ince
• 2x Powerful Slimming
• 3 Day Diet 3 Days Fit
• 3x Slimming Power
• 5x Imelda Perfect Slimming
• 7 Day Herbal Slim, 7 Days Herbal Slim
• 7 Days Diet
• 7 Diet, 7 Diet Day/Night Formula
• 8 Factor Diet
• 999 Fitness Essence
• Acai Berry Soft Gel ABC
• Achieving Zero
• Advanced Slim 5
• Akttive Capsules, Akttive High Performance Fat Burner Gold Capsules
• Apple Slim by Apple Slim
• A-Slim 100% Natural Slimming Capsule
• Asset Bee Pollen, Asset Bold, Asset Extreme, Asset Extreme Plus
• Basha Nut 100% Fruit Soft Gel Capsules
• Be Inspired
• Beautiful Slim Body
• Bee Slim, Bee Thin Bella Vi Amp'd Up, Bella Vi BTrim Max, Bella Vi BTrim Ultimate Boost, Bella Vi Extreme Accelerator, Bella Vi Insane Amp'd, Bella Vi Insane Bee Pollen Capsules
• Best Line Suplemento Alimenticio
• Best Share Green Coffee: Brazilian Slimming Coffee
• Best Slim
• Bethel, Bethel 30
• Black Mamba Hyperrush
• Body Beauty 5 Days Slimming Coffee
• Body Creator
• Body Shaping
• Body Slimming
• Botanical Slimming, Botanical Weight Loss
• B-Perfect
• Burn 7
• Celerite Slimming Capsules, Celerite Slimming Tea
• Citrus Fit Gold
• Classic Zi Xiu Tang Bee Pollen
• Cosmo Slim
• DaiDaiHuaJiaoNang
• Diet Master
• Dr. Mao Slimming Capsules
• Dr. Ming's Chinese Capsule
• Dream Body Slimming Capsule
• EIGHT FACTOR DIET
• Elimulating Weight & Toxin Keeping Beauty
• Esbelin siloutte te and Esbelin siloutte Herbal Blend with L-Carnitine
• Esmeralda
• EVER Slim, EVER SLIM Shake Mix Chocolate, EVER SLIM Shake Mix Strawberry
• EVERLAX
• Extreme Body Slim
• Extrim Plus, Extrim Plus 24 Hour Reburn
• Fasting Diet
• Fatloss Slimming
• Fresh Lemon Slimming
• Fruit Plant Lossing Fat Capsule
• Fruta Bio
• Fruta Planta
• GMP
• Goodliness Fat-Reducing Capsules
• Health Slimming Coffee
• Hot Detox
• Imelda Fat Reducer, Imelda Perfect Slim
• Infinity
• Ja Dera 100% Natural Weight Loss Supplement
• Japan Hokkaido Slimming Weight Loss Pills, Japan Lingzhi 24 Hours Diet, Japan Rapid Weight Loss Diet Pills Yellow, Japan Weight Loss Blue
• Japanese Chinese Formula pill for weight reduction
• Jianfeijindan Activity Girl
• Jimpness Beauty Fat Loss Capsules
• JM Fat Reducer
• La Jiao Shou Shen
• L-Carnitine Sob Strengthening Version Slimming Miracle Capsule
• Lean Body Extreme
• Leisure 18 Slimming Coffee
• Li Da Dai Dai Hua Slimming Capsule, Lida DaiDaihua
• Lidiy
• Lingzhi Cleansed Slim Tea
• Lipo 8 Burn Slim
• Lishou, Lishou Slimming Coffee
• Lite Fit USA
• Lose Weight Coffee
• Magic Slim, Magic Slim Tea, Magic Slim Weight Reduction Capsule
• Maxi Gold
• MAXILOSS Weight Advanced, MAXILOSS Weight Advanced Blue
• Meili
• Meizi Evolution, Meizi Super Power Fruits Herbal Slimming Formula
• Meizitang, Meizitang Botanical Slimming 100% Natural Soft Gel, Meizitang Citrus, Meizitang Strong Version Botanical Slimming
• METABOSLIM Apple Cider Vinegar
• Mezo
• Miaozi MeiMaoQuianZiJiaoNang, Miaozi Slim Capsules
• Mince Belle
• Mix Fruit Slimming
• Natural Body Solution
• Natural Model
• NATUREAL
• New You
• One Weight Loss Pill
• P57 Hoodia
• Pai You Guo, Pai You Guo Slim Tea
• Paiyouji Plus
• Perfect Body Solutions
• Perfect Combination Balishou Capsule
• Perfect Slim, Perfect Slim 5x, Perfect Slim Up
• PhentraBurn Slimming Capsules
• Pineapple Fat Reducing Slimming Capsule
• Pink Bikini and Shorts on the Beach Blue and Gold Edition
• Powerful Slim
• ProSlim Plus
• Reduce Weight
• Royal Slimming Formula
• Sana Plus
• Sheng Yuan Fang
• Shou Fu Ti Tun Guo Xiang Xing Jian Fei Jiao Nang
• Shoufsy Activity Girl
• Sit and Slim II
• Slender Slim 11
• Slim 3 in 1, Slim 3 in 1 Extra Slim Formula, Slim 3 in 1 Extra Slim Waist Formula, Slim 3 in 1 M18 Diet, Slim 3 in 1 Slim Formula
• Slim- 30 Herb Supplement, Slim-30
• Slim burn
• Slim Expert
• Slim Express 360, Slim Express 4 in 1
• Slim Fast, Slim Fast 2 (Not the popular UK meal replacement Slim-Fast brand)
• Slim Forte Double Power Slimming Capsules, Slim Forte Slimming Capsule, Slim Forte Slimming Coffee
• Slim Fortune
• Slim Max
• Slim Quick Result 3 in 1
• Slim Tech
• Slim Trim U
• Slim Up
• Slim Vie
• Slim Waist Formula
• Slim Waistline
• Slim Xtreme, Slim Xtreme Herbal Slimming Capsule
• Slimbionic
• SlimDemand Capsules Slimdia Revolution SlimEasy, SlimEasy Herbs Capsule
• SlimExtra Herbal Capsules
• Sliminate
• Sliming (sic) Diet Berry Plus
• Sliming (sic) Diet By Pretty
• Sliming Diet
• Slim-K
• Slimming Beauty Bitter Orange Slimming Capsule
• Slimming Formula
• Smart Lipo
• Solo Slim, Solo Slim Extra Strength
• Somotrim
• Strawberry Balance
• Super Extreme Accelerator
• Super Fat Burner
• Super Fat Burning Bomb
• Super Slim
• Super Slimming Trim 2 Plus
• Superior
• Superslim
• Svelte 30 Capsules
• Tengda
• Thinogenics
• Tianji True Slim
• Tip-Top Shape
• Tomato Slimming
• Trim 2 Plus
• Trim-Fast Slimming Softgel
• Triple Slim
• Ultimate Formula Capsules
• Ultimate Herbal Slimcap
• Ultra ZX
• V26 Slimming Coffee
• Venom Hyperdrive 3.0
• Vitaccino Coffee
• Waist Strength Formula
• XIYOUJI QINGZHI CAPSULE
• Xsvelten
• Zero Xtreme Capsules
• Zhen de Shou, Zhen De Shou Fat Loss

Conclusion

When it comes to weight loss, the best advice has got to be - eat healthily, watch your portion sizes, eat treat foods in moderation and count your calories so you know that you're getting what your body really needs. WLR can help you to do just that.

WLR’s Advice

• Don't take them!
• Don't buy anything that's not available from a reputable chemist or source you know and trust
• Don't buy false promises - if something claims you'll lose 10lbs in a week by taking it, it's either outright lying or dangerous
• Always be very cautious when you start taking a new supplement, if you are in any doubt at all, consult your doctor
• People who are taking other medications, or are in current treatment for any condition, should not take dietary supplements without medical advice

Don’t assume though that because an ingredient isn’t on this list that it isn’t dangerous. These products come and go with new names and new ‘formulations’.

Definitely research any supplements and ingredients thoroughly before you buy them and have a word with your doctor.

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