An FDA analysis found that the undeclared active pharmaceutical ingredients in some of these products include:

• Bumetanide - a diuretic
• Phenytoin - an anti-seizure medication.
• Rimonabant - a drug not approved for marketing in the United States, which has been associated with increased risk of depression and suicidal thoughts. In Europe, where it is approved, rimonabant has been linked to five deaths and 720 adverse reactions over the last two years, according to the FDA.
• Phenolphthalein - a solution used in chemical experiments and a suspected cancer causing agent.
• Sibutramine - a controlled substance which in pregnant and lactating women, or in children younger than 16, can cause high blood pressure, seizures, abnormally rapid heart rate (tachycardia), palpitations, heart attack or stroke. It can also interact with other medications and increase patients’ risk of unexpected adverse reactions. Medications that dangerous interactions can occur with are: sumatriptan, dihydroergotamine, dextromethrophan, meperidine, pentazocine, fentanyl, lithium, tryptophan, MAO inhibitors.

The FDA further warms consumers to become familiar with signs of diet fraud such as undocumented case histories or personal testimonials by consumers or doctors. Also avoid products that promise easy or miraculous fixes.

(Writer’s note - the only safe and healthy way to loss weight is to eat healthy (meaning, at a bare minimum, eating unprocessed foods) and exercising. It’s not always fun, but far better than the dangerous of the alternatives.)