The FDA issued a warning about sibutramine found in some common diet pills. Turns out this harmless(?) sounding controlled substance isn’t made of magical fat eating elves, but instead of gross chemicals that can murder your heart.
“Sibutramine is a controlled substance that was removed from the market in October 2010 for safety reasons,” FDA says in a notice to consumers. “The product poses a threat to consumers because sibutramine is known to substantially increase blood pressure and/or pulse rate in some patients and may present a significant risk for patients with a history of coronary artery disease, congestive heart failure, arrhythmias, or stroke. This product may also interact, in life-threatening ways, with other medications a consumer may be taking.”