Studies On The Harmful Effects Of Diet Pills

In the United States, the incidence of obesity, a condition of excess body fat, has risen to epidemic proportions. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported in July 2011 that 33.8 percent of adults in the United States are classified as "obese." To lose weight, many people resort to diet pills, classified as dietary supplements by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Because dietary supplements do not have to undergo testing or provide proof of safety, studies show they can cause harmful effects.

Lipokinetix

Lipokinetix is a non-prescription dietary supplement marketed as a diet pill that promotes weight loss by mimicking exercise. A study published in the April 2002 issue of the "Annals of Internal Medicine" warns that Lipokinetix can cause liver failure. According to the study, seven previously healthy patients developed severe liver injury three months after beginning Lipokinetix use. Testing on the patients revealed no other cause for the liver failure. In November 2001, the FDA issued a letter to health care professionals warning of the potential harmful effects of this diet pill.

Brazil Diet Pills

In January 2006, the FDA published a warning on the harmful effects of two diet pills manufactured in Brazil. Based on studies conducted by the FDA, they found that Emagrece Sim Dietary Supplement, also known as the "Brazilian Diet Pill," and the Herbathin Dietary Supplement contain active ingredients found in prescription medications. As a dietary supplement, there is no control over the quality of the ingredients, making these diet pills dangerous. The FDA warns that taking these diet pills can cause harmful side effects and become habit-forming and urges consumers to discontinue their use.

Diuretics as Diet Pills

Furosemide, classified as a diuretic, is a drug prescribed to reduce swelling and fluid retention that occurs due to conditions like heart or liver disease. Also known as a water pill, furosemide induces your kidneys to expel excess water, which affects the balance of salts like sodium and potassium in your body. A study published in the May 2009 issue of the "British Medical Journal Case Reports" reports on the harmful effects of taking furosemide as a diet pill. The study detailed a specific case in which a patient took furosemide as a weight loss pill without following dosing instructions. The patient developed pseudo-Bartter syndrome, characterized by dangerously low levels of potassium and high levels of aldosterone, that led to death.

Ephedrine

Diet pills containing the herb ephedra can cause harmful effects including heart arrhythmia, hypertension, stroke and seizure. A study published in the October 2002 issue of the "British Medical Journal" reports that of the 3,308 adverse events reported for dietary supplements between January 1993 and February 2001, diet pills containing ephedrine accounted for 1,398, or 42 percent. The study also documents that between 1997 and 2001, 30 active-duty military personnel died as a result of taking diet pills containing ephedra. Because of the harmful effects, the FDA banned the sale of dietary products containing ephedrine in April 2003.