Massachusetts Personal Injury Library
FDA Warns of Diet Pills
There is new evidence from the Federal Drug Administration, that says weight loss capsules called StarCaps, promoted as a natural dietary supplement, could be a health hazard.
According to an article in The Boston Globe, the FDA found the capsules contain a drug called bumetanide which can have serious side effects. The FDA, has found that dozens of weight-loss supplements, most of them imported from China, contain potentially harmful drugs, that has resulted in consumer warnings and recalls from some distributors. The FDA calls a drug illegal if a weight-loss supplement contains an undeclared active pharmaceutical that can cause problems like elevating blood pressure or seizures, or could have toxic interactions with other medications and make it hard for doctors to diagnose the problem.
Another dietary supplement has come under investigation from the FDA. Venom Hyperdrive 3.0 contains sibutramine, a controlled substance with risks for abuse or addiction, and the FDA says it is a potent drug that poses safety risks for consumers.
“Sibutramine is the active ingredient in an FDA-approved prescription drug used as an appetite suppressant for weight loss,” said Janet Woodcock, M.D., director of the FDA’s Center for Drug Evaluation and Research. “But when present in a dietary supplement, it may harm unsuspecting consumers because sibutramine can substantially increase blood pressure and heart rate (pulse), and may present a significant risk for people with a history of heart disease, heart failure, irregular heart beats or stroke.”
According to the FDA, Venom HYPERDRIVE 3.0 is marketed by Applied Lifescience Research Industries Inc. (ALR Industries), Oak View, Calif. On Dec. 24, 2008, ALR Industries initiated a recall of all lots of Venom HYPERDRIVE 3.0 after the FDA laboratory analysis showed samples of the product contained undeclared sibutramine. Although ALR Industries claims on its Web site that only “trace amounts” of sibutramine were found in this product, the FDA laboratory tests showed that Venom HYPERDRIVE 3.0 contains a significant amount of sibutramine per dosage unit.
The product was sold via distributors and in retail stores nationwide as well as in Canada, Poland, Sweden, Hungary, South Africa, the Netherlands, Australia, France and the United Kingdom. It was packaged in red plastic bottles containing 90 capsules each with the UPC# 094922534743.
Consumers who have this product should stop taking it immediately and contact their health care professional if they have experienced any adverse effects. Consumers can contact the company at legal@alrindustries.com to receive further instructions for returning the product and to ask any questions.
Health care professionals and consumers may report serious side effects or product quality problems with the use of this product to the FDA’s MedWatch Adverse Event Reporting program either online, by regular mail, fax or phone.
For over 30 years Kiley Law Group, located in Andover and Boston, Massachusetts, has fought on behalf of children. Our Boston product liability lawyers take time when speaking with you about your accident and injuries. Kiley Law Group works with you on a contingency basis, which means there are NO FEES unless our trained personal injury attorneys win your case. Contact us today for a FREE legal consultation – 1-888-208-1695.
