Hydroxycut Weight Loss Lawyer Blog

This question has not been fully answered by medical research and the medical community.  However, there are three elements contained in some Hydroxycut products which have been known to cause problems.

There have been a growing number of case reports of liver toxicity associated with the weight-loss supplement Hydroxycut, so named because it contains hydroxycitic acid from the tropical fruit Garcinia Cambogia, which is potentially toxic to the liver.

Other medical studies have suggested that the green tea extract Camellia Sinensis is the cause of acute liver injury in the weight-loss supplement Hydroxycut.  Indeed, Camellia Sinesis, contained in the weight-loss supplement Exolise (Arkophama, Carros, France) was implicated in liver toxicity in numerous European case reports leading to the product’s withdrawal from the market.  Camellia Sinensis has also been associated with acute liver injury in another herbal supplement marketed as The Right Approach (Pharmanex, Provo, Utah).

Still other physicians implicate chromium as the potential cause of problems.  Chromium is an essential trace element and co-factor to insulin most commonly occurring in Hexavent (IV) and Trivalent (III) states.  The Hexavent form of chromium is found in the dye and leather industry and has been linked to occupational toxicity ranging from Dermatitis to lung cancer.

In 1989, the National Academy of Sciences established an “estimated safe and adequate daily dietary intake” range for chromium of 50-200 mg.  In 2001, the Institute of Medicine and the National Academy of Sciences established Dietary Reference Intakes for chromium, ranging from 0.2 mg for infants to a maximum of 45 mg for lactating mothers.  There have been case reports of chromium toxicity causing acute hepatitis, thrombocytopenia and renal failure due to both environmental and dietary supplements.  Each Hydroxycut serving contains 133 mg of chromium, which is taken three times daily, resulting in accumulative daily consumption greater than twice the National Academy of Science’s maximum safe dose.

In summary, three of the ingredients contained in many Hydroxycut products have been associated with significant medical problems.  At the Onder Law Firm, we take pride in the depth of our available medical resources and look forward to evaluating the particulars of your claim to determine the root cause of the problem in your particular situation.

The damage associated with Hydroxycut induced kidney and liver failure can vary dramatically.

Hydroxycut induced medical conditions will often cause permanent scarring in the liver and kidneys.  While blood tests and blood enzymes levels may return to normal, the individual is generally at risk for long term problems, including both kidney and liver failure.

However, the long term risk of each patient can vary.  In order to assess your particular risk, we would suggest that you consult with your treating physicians.  In addition, our medical team at the Onder Law Firm stands ready and able to discuss with you the particulars of your situation.

Absolutely not.  The medical literature is replete with case studies involving young relatively healthy individuals experiencing kidney and liver failure while taking doses recommended by the manufacturer.

While it is certainly possible that some individuals may have overdosed and such could have caused problems, the FDA has acted based upon medical and scientific research and case studies involving individuals who have had serious health problems while taking the dose recommended by the manufacturer.

At the Onder Law Firm, our experience has been consistent with that of the United States Food & Drug Administration.  Our clients have generally taken the Hydroxycut product within the dosage recommendation of the manufacturer.

“Proprietary Blend” is what companies do to mask the amount of each ingredient that is included in the product.  While drugs like Hydroxycut do reveal the ingredients themselves, they DO NOT show how much of each ingredient is used.

This is where the problem lies.

Companies often include a list of well rounded ingredients to appear more legitimate or “healthier”.  However, in reality they often include these ingredients in small amounts.  Ingredients that can be harmful in large amounts, such as caffeine, can make up the majority of the drug.

If you have been injured from taking Hydroxycut, visit www.hydroxycutinjury.com for more information.

While the FDA monitors drug safety, surprisingly (and sadly), the voice of the consumer may be the only real regulatory system for dietary supplements.  This means if you’ve been injured by Hydroxycut, you MUST speak up!

Federal law requires supplement manufacturers to report serious adverse effects to the Food and Drug Administration, but it depends on consumers to call in reactions. Experts say most consumers are unlikely to relate health problems to a supplement they assume to be safe, and even if they do, they may be reluctant to report an adverse effect from a self-medicated substance.

In 2008, the New York Times reported “No one knows how many such adverse effects befall supplement users, because there has been no reliable reporting system.”

A National Institutes of Health panel in May 2006 noted: ”The F.D.A. has insufficient resources and legislative authority to require specific safety data from dietary supplement manufacturers or distributors before or after their products are made available to the public. The constraints imposed on F.D.A. make it difficult for the health of the American public to be adequately protected.”

If you’ve been injured from using Hydroxycut, your voice needs to be heard.  After all, you’re the regulatory system!

There have been individuals harmed by the dangerous chemicals in Hydroxycut since at least 2005.  The medical literature reveals some eye-opening research regarding the injuries caused by Hydroxycut.  For instance, there is a report of a 27 year old man and a 30 year old man who went to an emergency room complaining of eight days’ worth of fatigue, jaundice, fever, and vomiting.  These people were previously healthy, had not been out of the country, were not around other sick individuals, and had no risk factors for liver disease.  Except for Hydroxycut, they had not recently taken any herbal or prescription medications.

After extensive testing, it was discovered that both of the individuals were suffering from Hepatotoxicity, which chemically caused their acute liver failure.  The doctors with the Cleveland Clinic Foundation determined Hydroxycut ingestion caused the liver damage.  The doctors concluded that the evidence for the usefulness of Garcinia Cambogia, one of the ingredients in Hydroxycut, in promoting weight loss was not compelling and urged caution in use of Hydroxycut.  This was in 2005, yet Hydroxycut is only now being recalled and pulled from the market.

This probably comes as a surprise to many people that injuries were being caused by Hydroxycut as many as four years ago.  It is appalling that these results weren’t made public, people could have been saved from liver or kidney damage.  The most disturbing problem is that Hydroxycut itself didn’t warn its customers about the possibility of injuries resulting from the use of its product.  Instead, it continued to tell customers to put their Trust in Hydroxycut because of its fine, quality ingredients.  Ingredients that cause liver and kidney damage don’t sound like fine quality to us!

It is important to understand the side effects of Hydroxycut.  There are a number of side effects with Hydroxycut that you should report to your healthcare professional. These potential side effects (due to the stimulants in Hydroxycut) include, but are not limited to:

• -High blood pressure (hypertension)
• -Seizures
• -A rapid heart rate (tachycardia)
• -Rapid breathing or difficulty breathing
• -Anxiety or agitation
• -An irregular heart rhythm (arrhythmia)
• -Feelings of a rapidly or forcefully beating heart (known as heart palpitations)
• -Signs of an allergic reaction, including an unexplained rash, hives, itching, unexplained swelling, wheezing, or difficulty breathing or swallowing.

One Hydroxycut product (”Hydroxycut Ephedra Free”) has been reported to cause liver damage.  That being said, it is not known which ingredients of this product were likely to cause liver problems. This particular product is no longer available and has been replaced by other Hydroxycut formulations that are also ephedra-free.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is warning consumers to immediately stop using Hydroxycut products by Iovate Health Sciences Inc., of Oakville, Ontario and distributed by Iovate Health Sciences USA Inc. of Blasdell, N.Y. Some Hydroxycut products are associated with a number of serious liver injuries. Iovate has agreed to recall Hydroxycut products from the market.

The FDA has received 23 reports of serious health problems ranging from jaundice and elevated liver enzymes, an indicator of potential Hydroxycut liver injury, to liver damage requiring liver transplant. One death due to liver failure has been reported to the FDA. Other health problems reported include seizures; cardiovascular disorders; and rhabdomyolysis, a type of muscle damage that can lead to other serious health problems such as kidney failure.

Hydroxycut Liver injury, although rare, was reported by patients at the doses of Hydroxycut recommended on the bottle. Symptoms of Hydroxycut liver injury include jaundice (yellowing of the skin or whites of the eyes) and brown urine. Other symptoms include nausea, vomiting, light-colored stools, excessive fatigue, weakness, stomach or abdominal pain, itching, and loss of appetite.
 
“The FDA urges consumers to discontinue use of Hydroxycut products in order to avoid any undue risk. Adverse events are rare, but exist. Consumers should consult a physician or other health care professional if they are experiencing symptoms possibly associated with these products,” said Linda Katz, M.D., interim chief medical officer of the FDA’s Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition.
 
Hydroxycut products are dietary supplements that are marketed for weight-loss, as fat burners, as energy-enhancers, as low carb diet aids, and for water loss under the Iovate and MuscleTech brand names.  The list of products being recalled by Iovate currently includes:

• Hydroxycut Regular Rapid Release Caplets
• Hydroxycut Caffeine-Free Rapid Release Caplets
• Hydroxycut Hardcore Liquid Caplets
• Hydroxycut Max Liquid Caplets
• Hydroxycut Regular Drink Packets
• Hydroxycut Caffeine-Free Drink Packets
• Hydroxycut Hardcore Drink Packets (Ignition Stix)
• Hydroxycut Max Drink Packets
• Hydroxycut Liquid Shots
• Hydroxycut Hardcore RTDs (Ready-to-Drink)
• Hydroxycut Max Aqua Shed
• Hydroxycut 24
• Hydroxycut Carb Control
• Hydroxycut Natural

Although the FDA has not received reports of serious liver-related adverse reactions for all Hydroxycut products, Iovate has agreed to recall all the products listed above. Hydroxycut Cleanse and Hoodia products are not affected by the recall. Consumers who have any of the products involved in the recall are advised to stop using them and to return them to the place of purchase. The agency has not yet determined which ingredients, dosages, or other health-related factors may be associated with risks related to these Hydroxycut products. The products contain a variety of ingredients and herbal extracts.

www.hydroxycutrecallinformation.com