Previous Hydroxycut Formulation Contained Banned Substance Ephedra
By Jim Greene
Published on December 23, 2009
The recall of the dietary supplement Hydroxycut earlier this year at the urging of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has some people remembering the last time it was recalled. That was in 2004, and the problem then was ephedra.
Like most dietary supplements marketed as weight-loss aids, Hydroxycut has always relied on stimulants to increase metabolism and decrease appetite. Before the 2004 recall, when the product line was owned by Muscletech Research and Development, ephedra was a major ingredient, along with caffeine.
Ephedra Banned over Concern about Side Effects
The FDA ban on ephedra as a dietary supplement was over concerns about side effects such as high blood pressure, anxiety, headaches and dizziness, and stomach irritation.
Still needing a stimulant for some of the desired effect, the formulation of the Hydroxycut version recalled this year included lots of caffeine, as does its replacement, already available for purchase.
The FDA Web site's Hydroxycut question and answer page refers to the 23 reports of possible liver damage that prompted the agency to urge Iovate Health Sciences, Inc., current owners of the Hydroxycut line, to recall the product earlier this year.
The Q&A page states that a previous Hydroxycut formulation included ephedra, but that the banned substance has not been linked to the kind of medical problems reported in connection with the ephedra-free formulations.
Current Health Issues Still Under Investigation
Although the FDA has not gone so far as to say there is a definite link between Hydroxycut and liver damage, the issue is still being investigated. Problems reported include nausea and vomiting, elevated heart rate and blood pressure, a muscle disorder that can lead to kidney failure, and various degrees of liver damage, in some cases requiring an organ transplant. One death from liver failure was blamed on Hydroxycut.
If you used the recalled formulation of Hydroxycut and have suffered liver damage or other medical problems, you need to contact an experienced defective product liability attorney right away. Your attorney will fight for the financial compensation you deserve to deal with your issues.
Keyword Tags: