Hydroxycut Recall
Lawyer and Lawsuit Information

Hydroxycut is not one product, but rather is an entire line of products that are manufactured and marketed for the purpose of aiding people in their diets.  In recent years, these products have also become prevalent with body builders.  They are not a ‘drug’ in terms of how the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) defines them, but they are instead classified as a supplement that can be sold over the counter.  This is an important distinction in terms of their regulation and approval.

Hydroxycut | Weight Loss Supplement

Hydroxycut products are used to lose weight, to burn fat and to basically speed a person’s metabolism.  Those who need to lose weight use them to burn calories in conjunction with a healthy diet and those who are training and looking to add muscle use them because they are purported to burn fat while simultaneously preserving lean muscle tissue.

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Hydroxycut FDA Approval

The distinction noted above is the reason that Hydroxycut products were not approved by the FDA prior to their appearance on drug and health stores’ shelves.  As a supplement that’s sold over the counter, Hydroxycut was allowed to enter the marketplace with only one basic law governing their distribution.

That law is the full disclosure law, which is a federal statute that requires the makers of these products to disclose to consumers in a clear fashion any ingredient or ingredients that could prove to be dangerous if used without medical supervision. As such, Hydroxycut products hit the market in an unfettered fashion.

However, the FDA can regulate products in a reactionary fashion if they prove to be dangerous based on reports that arise in conjunction with these products.  This appears to be what occurred in regards to the FDA’s role in the recall of Hydroxycut.

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Side Effects of Hydroxycut

The side effects that were ultimately linked to Hydroxycut involved damage to a person’s liver.  Specifically, some consumers developed jaundice, which is a yellowing of the skin that occurs because the liver is not processing toxins properly.  More serious side effects included liver failure that required surgical correction and even transplants in some cases.  Additionally, a 19-year-old man was killed after using the product.

Before these reports began to surface, common but less severe side effects included an unexplained inability to sleep, bloody noses, elevated blood pressure and chronic and severe headaches. 

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Hydroxycut Prior Warnings

Given the reality that Hydroxycut did not require prior approval from the FDA, there were almost no warnings given regarding this product absent a few reports of minor side effects.  The only legal proceeding that was widely covered involved a lawsuit filed by the Attorney General of Missouri in 2003.

However, that lawsuit did not deal with dangerous side effects.  Instead, the issue of that case was false advertising, as those marketing Hydroxycut claimed that their products were ‘proven’ to ‘burn fat’ and to work quickly. 

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Hydroxycut Contraindications

Hydroxycut was never clinically studied given its status as a supplement, which means that there were no official findings of potentially dangerous contraindications.  However, those with high blood pressure and hypertension are believed to be at risk given the metabolic changes within the system that occur when a person uses these products.

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Hydroxycut FAQ’s

How does Hydroxycut work?

Technically, Hydroxycut works by initiating a state within a person known as thermogenesis, which is basically a heightened body temperature.  When the body’s temperature rises, it tends to speed up the system and burn calories at a higher rate.  Hydroxycut also suppresses the appetite and preserves lean muscle mass all while supposedly increasing energy levels.

Who uses these products?

Generally, the people who used Hydroxycut products were those who wanted to lose weight quickly, but after a few years on the market, the body building community began to use them quite prevalently in order to burn fat and protect muscle mass.

Which products have been recalled?

The following 14 products have been officially recalled by the manufacturer of Hydroxycut in conjunction with the FDA:

• Hydroxycut Regular Rapid Release Caplets
• Hydroxycut Caffeine-Free Rapid Release Caplets
• Hydroxycut Hardcore Liquid Capsules
• Hydroxycut Max Liquid Capsules
• 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

How serious are the problems allegedly caused by Hydroxycut?

The problems caused by Hydroxycut ranged in seriousness from relatively mild, such as lack of sleep, to more serious, including a rise in blood pressure, to most serious, which included liver failure and even one death.

What should I do if I use Hydroxycut?

If you have been using any of these products, cease with their use immediately.  If you have been harmed as a result of using the Hydroxycut products, contact the defective drugs lawyers at the Phillips National Injury Group as soon as possible to schedule a free initial consultation.

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