Brazilian Diet Drugs

• The trend in ordering weight loss medications from overseas is ever-increasing. Several diet drugs available from Brazil have been found to contain amphetamines that are banned from use in the United States. Several of the drugs contain medications that are not even meant for weight loss. One of the more common drugs included in some of the pills was the drug Prozac, which is prescribed to treat depression.
  
  

Chinese Diet Drugs

• Several diet drugs are imported into the United States from China. In many cases, the labeling for the drugs is written in Chinese only. This poses a potential risk to consumers because the exact contents of the diet drug formulas imported from China are not known. Consumers who are interested in importing these formulas should make sure to research the company they are buying from thoroughly.
  
  

Ephedra

• Ephedra was banned by the Food and Drug Administration from use in the United States in 2004, as it was found to cause heart attacks and strokes in some users.The ban also includes the extract ephedrine, which is a byproduct of ephedra. Makers of diet drugs have reformulated their products to be ephedra free. However, many manufacturers use concentrated amounts of bitter orange peel as a replacement. The effects of bitter orange peel have not been fully tested by the FDA.
  
  

FDA Regulation Limitations

• The FDA has limited ability to control the ingredients used in the preparation of products listed a diet supplements. A law passed in 1994 on dietary supplements states that the FDA cannot test dietary products for safety and proper labeling until they are available to consumers on the open market. This differs from pharmaceuticals, which are required to be tested before becoming available for use by consumers. This means that the diet drugs can only be tested after they have been released by their manufacturers to the public. If a diet drug formula is found to contain drugs that are illegal or available by prescription only, the FDA can take action against the manufacturer. These actions include raids, seizures and criminal charges.
  
  

Considerations

• Consumers that choose to buy diet drugs should carefully read all the ingredients on the label and research the legitimacy of the manufacturer before making a purchase decision. In addition, consulting a medical professional before use is highly recommended.