Hydroxycut products are recalled

The Food and Drug Administration has issued a warning to consumers to stop using Hydroxycut dietary supplements because some have been linked to serious liver injuries, with one death reported to the agency.

Iovate Health Sciences Inc. is recalling its Hydroxycut products from the market. The popular, heavily advertised supplements promise weight loss and include such products as Max Drink Packets, Caffeine-free Rapid Release Caplets, and Max Aqua Shed. Not part of the recall are Hydroxycut Cleanse and Hoodia products. The recalled products contain several ingredients, among them herbal extracts, although the FDA said it’s not sure which ingredients or dosages could be causing the problems. Unused products should be returned to where they were purchased.

In all, one death due to liver failure was reported to the FDA, plus 23 instances of severe health problems including jaundice, elevated liver enzymes, liver damage (requiring a liver transplant), seizures and cardiovascular disorders. Liver injury symptoms include jaundice, brown urine, excessive fatigue, stomach or abdominal pain, and nausea.

Although the FDA says that bad reactions are rare, anyone using the products should stop immediately. Dr. Linda Katz, the interim chief medical officer of the agency's Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition, said those experiencing symptoms should check with their doctor.

-- Jeannine Stein

Comments

[Pearl]

Not surprising at all.

[Tancred]

Why the FDA even allows such crap to be sold is beyond me.

[Brian Russell]

But he was a doctor and a client! How could he have been so wrong? Why, magic pill, why!? And Anna Nicole Smith used it and had fabulous results.

[Michael]

Tylenol kills hundreds of thousands more people than this product and yet it remains of the shelves. Man has the government got their priorities wrong about dietary supplements! Supplements, when taken properly, work well for almost everyone. Those who abuse a food, drug, or a supplements warnings are what cause these issues. I will almost 100% guarantee that the supplement was abused in all of these cases of harm. Bless big government and how much more it will rule our lives!

[Tancred]

Supplements do diddly squat. Even vitamims have been shown to have little or no effect. Just eat good food and drink and exercise. That's all.

[lordaiur]

true that!!!

[Brett]

So I'm assuming since this is being announced as a "recall", what do consumers need to do to get a full refund from the company if they bought the product?

[Jesse]

"Tylenol kills hundreds of thousands more people than this product and yet it remains of the shelves" - Michael

Do you seriously believe Tylenol has killed hundreds of thousands of people? Seriously?

[Laure]

Jesse, I was about to ask the same thing. Sounds like something pulled out of thin air. I agree that any medication, including Tylenol, can have side effects, but hundreds of thousands of people? Where did you get this information from?

Dietary supplements do not have to undergo the same kind of testing review process that "standard" drugs do for safety and efficacy. Like someone said, most vitamin supplements have been shown to have no positive effect. As much as people think they are safer, they are actually less safe and almost always less effective than "standard" drugs.

[Jonathan Goodhart]

Although i dont belive that tylenol killed hundreds of thousands of people, i am a current user of hydroxycut and have lost over 50lbs and feel the best i have ever felt in my life. Like someone said, chances are that the people who had problems while taking the supplement, was most likely not taking them properly. Anything excessive will harm you.

[Michael]

At least 24 children in the United States have died and three have required liver transplants after receiving accidental overdoses of acetaminophen -- the most widely used medication for relief of pain and fever in children and infants. Researchers say parents should be advised about the dangers of exceeding the recommended doses of the drug, which are based on children's body weight. The report is a compilation of 55 documented cases of accidental liver toxicity in children attributed to acetaminophen given in doses above those recommended. Of the two dozen deaths, six were due to multiple acetaminophen doses slightly above weight-based recommendations.

Journal of Pediatrics January, 1998;132

COMMENT: This probably only represents a fraction of the total number of cases that have had this problem in this country. If one is going to use a drug one must be ultra cautious with it. Generally it is unwise to use Tylenol, aspirin or ibuprofen to control most fevers. Suppression of the fever will limit the body's ability to fight the infection and, as stated above, can be lethal. If the person is severely uncomfortable or if the fever starts to climb above 104 then those medications should be considered along with appropriate evaluation by a knowledgeable physician.

http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2008/01/02/acetaminophen-deaths.aspx

Acetaminophen overdose causes more than 450 deaths due to acute liver failure each year in the United States and this number appears to be on the rise. In 2001, the U.S. Acute Liver Failure (ALF) Study found acetaminophen responsible for 39 percent of cases. In 2003, the number had risen to 49 percent.

http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/11017.php

Yes supplements do work... obviously you haven't tried them? Even science shows that they work. Just because it doesn't come from a drug company, doesn't mean it doesn't work. This product worked well for millions, yet again a few idiots spoil a great product for the many... and the FDA is simply trying to gain control over what we can consume or use to better our lives. So much for freedom of choice.

[Kevin]

Properly prescribed medications kill 250,000 people per year. Yes, that's 250,000 human lives! You know why govt. doesn't do anything about it?? It's called MONEY!! Pharmaceutical companies pay a load of money to our govt. for them to turn a blind-eye.

[michael]

tancred-You're wrong. b-12 deficiency is a known condition that can be alleviated by large doses of b12. Not recommended if your b12 levels are ok but if they're low, it makes a huge difference. Did for me and it did for a coworker who was also diagnosed as b12 deficient.

Secondly, the FDA has too much power as it is. I'd just as soon see it be a data collector that says 'hey, this stuff is dangerous and here's why. Use at your own risk' instead of playing God and saying 'oh gee. One person died. Time to recall this stuff and not let anyone have it - even if it helps.' Giving government that much power is simply stupid. Leads to things like the DEA raiding medicinal marijuana outlets.

[TeddyBear]

I lost 54 pounds using Hydroxucut, I felt great during the process! I have been hospitalized twice now and amongs other problems I was diagnosed anemic. Side affects didnt really show until I stopped using the product.

Learn how to keep a clean diet and excersize and you wont need these produts to begin with... I have kept the weight off and toned just on excersize alone =)

Good Luck to all

[Fallen Angel]

i have been using hydroxicut and i lost almost 95 pounds i do alot of exercise i drink alot of water and i have a regular diet with balanced carbs and calories and it didn't affect me

those guys who needs a liver transplant or even death in some cases are guys who overdose the product ...... do everything as it says in the bottle dont get exited for the result and rush and you wont have any trouble

PD: i dont have marks in my body i did alot of cardio and i was 259 im 159 pounds im 5'7'' so i have athletic body ... no maks or nothing

sorry for my miss spelling english its my third language :) main spanish

[Sally]

I was diagnosed with elevated liver enzymes as well but I have been taking
Metabo fast. Not for weight loss but for extra energy. Does anyone know which ingredient has caused this problem so I can check this product as well.

[Kayla]

Hydroxycut has worked great for me, I take it properly.. I actually take less than directed and I am still losing weight. I use the drink packets, and I don't think if you use it properly there will be a problem.

[julie]

I have been taking this feeling good I lost almost 50 pounds using Hydroxycut and had a bad rash and stopped taking it and then started again after the rash went away. Had to go to the E.R. for stomach problems but did not know it could be this.

[Matt]

I was using it and got a cold and stopped using it for a week or 2 and I started having back pain under my ribs on the right side.........that explains it!

[MATEO]

SO AS FAR AS PEOPLE WHO HAVE ALREADY PURCHASED??? RE-FUND???? ANYONE KNOW?