Diet Pills Recalled
On May 1, 2009, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced the voluntary recall of the widely-used diet pills, Hydroxycut, by their manufacturer, Iovate Health Sciences, Inc., of Oakville, Ontario, Canada.
Consumers are warned to stop using the recalled Hydroxycut products immediately. You can return them to their place of purchase for a refund.
These supplements are used by both dieters and bodybuilders.
The recall involves 14 Hydroxycut products which are marketed under the Iovate and MuscleTech brand names for weight loss, water loss, fat burning, energy enhancement, and low carb diet aid.
The current list of recalled products includes:
1. Hydroxycut Regular Rapid Release Caplets
2. Hydroxycut Caffeine-Free Rapid Release Caplets
3. Hydroxycut Hardcore Liquid Caplets
4. Hydroxycut Max Liquid Caplets
5. Hydroxycut Regular Drink Packets
6. Hydroxycut Caffeine-Free Drink Packets
7. Hydroxycut Hardcore Drink Packets (Ignition Stix)
8. Hydroxycut Max Drink Packets
9. Hydroxycut Liquid Shots
10. Hydroxycut Hardcore RTDs (Ready-to-Drink)
11. Hydroxycut Max Aqua Shed
12. Hydroxycut 24
13. Hydroxycut Carb Control
14. Hydroxycut Natural
Hydroxycut Cleanse and Hoodia products are not a part of the recall at this time.
Some of the recalled Hydroxycut diet supplements have been linked to serious cases of liver damage. There has also been at least one death, a 19-year-old boy from the Southwestern U.S. He died in 2007 from liver failure, although the death wasn’t reported to the FDA until this March.
Iovate has issued a statement that the boy’s death wasn’t caused by Hydroxycut, but no other details are available at this time.
So far, the FDA has received 23 reports of serious health problems, including jaundice, elevated liver enzymes (which may indicate liver injury), liver damage requiring liver transplant, liver failure, seizure, cardiovascular problems, and rhabdomyolysis (which is muscle damage that can lead to kidney failure and other serious health problems).
The FDA advises you to call your doctor if you’re experiencing any symptoms that may be associated with these recalled Hydroxycut products.
Some of these symptoms include:
1. Jaundice (yellowing of the skin or whites of the eyes)
2. Brown urine
3. Nausea
4. Vomiting
5. Light-colored stools
6. Excessive fatigue
7. Weakness
8. Stomach or abdominal pain
9. Itching
10. Loss of appetite
Right now, the FDA isn’t sure which Hydroxycut ingredients are causing the health problems, possibly because the formulation has changed several times over the years.
But the next step is clear. Stop using the recalled Hydroxycut products now. And if you’re feeling ill in any way or if you suspect that you’ve been hurt by these diet pills, call your doctor immediately.
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