Dangers of Diet Pills

There are many different diet pills that offer miraculous results. Did you know that although some of these products do indeed work, it may cost you your life?

Although the diet pills may not take your life, they do have dangerous side effects. Each diet pill has its own set of potential side effects, so instead of listing every possible side effect here, please visit the pages on this site that correspond to the diet pill you are interested in.

Ephedrine and caffeine are the active ingredients in many diet pills and supplements. Many use the name "thermo", "lean" or "fat burner." Brand names include, Metabolife, MeTrim, Herbalife, Adiphen, Thermalean, Lipodrene, Zymax, Genicil, Patent Lean and many others.

What is ephedrine? Ephedrine (e-fed'rin) a-methylamino-l phenyl-l propanol, is an alkaloid from the leaves of Ephededra equisetina, E. Sinica, and other species (family Gnetaceae). It is also called Ephedra & Ma Huang, the plant source for the Alkaloid ephedrine. Indigenous to China, India and parts of Southeast Asia . Products containing ephedrine extracts have, according to the FDA, caused hundreds of illnesses, including:

  • Heart Attacks
  • Seizures
  • Strokes

They are amphetamine-like compounds with powerful and potentially lethal stimulant effects on the central nervous system and the heart. These compounds act as stimulants that can cause rapid or irregular heartbeats (heart arrhythmias). Ephedrines act in a similar way as that of adrenaline. It dilates the bronchial muscles, contacts the nasal mucosa, raises the blood pressure and is a cardiac stimulant.

Further these compounds often cause psychological Side Effects such as:

  • Depression
  • Nervousness
  • Insomnia
  • Rapid Heart Rate

When taken in combination with caffeine, also under the name of Guarana in many diet pills, ephedrine can over-stimulate the central nervous system, leading to potentially life-threatening results.

Since early 1990, the FDA has issued numerous warnings to consumers of diet products and supplements containing Ephedrine, Ephedra or Ma Huang. In fact, in November 1994, the FDA informed Alliance U.S.A. that its Nature's Nutritional Formula One posed a potential health hazard and was in violation of federal laws designed to protect the public health and even issued a recall of their products due to their combination of Ma Huang and caffeine containing Kola Nut.