The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued warnings regarding several products marketed for weight loss that contain hidden drug ingredients.
According to the FDA, laboratory analysis confirmed that Bella Vi Insane Amp'd, Bella Vi Amp'd Up, Dr. Mao Slimming Capsules, Perfect Body Solutions, Burn 7, and Be Inspired contain the undeclared ingredient sibutramine.
Sibutramine, a controlled substance, was taken off the market in October 2010 due to safety concerns. The substance is known to significantly increase blood pressure and/or pulse rate in some people, and may be dangerous for those with a history of coronary artery disease, congestive heart failure, abnormal heart rhythms, or stroke. These products may also interact in life-threatening ways with other medications a consumer may be taking.
Additionally, laboratory analysis confirmed that Bella Vi Insane Amp'd, Bella Vi Amp'd Up, and Be Inspired also contain the undeclared ingredient phenolphthalein. Phenolphthalein was once an ingredient found in some over-the-counter laxatives. However, in 1999, the FDA reclassified the ingredient as "not generally recognized as safe and effective."
The FDA advises consumers who are in possession of these weight loss products to stop using them immediately and to throw them away. Anyone who has experienced side effects associated with these products should contact a healthcare professional.
Side effects related to the use of these products may be reported to the FDA's MedWatch Safety Information and Adverse Event Reporting Program.
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