Unfortunately, there is a trend emerging where over-the-counter (OTC) drugs???most frequently dietary supplements???contain ingredients that are pharmacologically active, and can prove to be harmful to the person taking the product. There are dangers in these products in that ingredients may be untested, unstudied, or may be taken by a person who has a hypersensitivity to the active ingredient. According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the products that are most frequently found to contain these ???hidden??? ingredients are OTC products that are marketed as bodybuilding supplements, weight loss aids, and products for sexual enhancement.
While the FDA actively attempts to test as many products as they can, consumers should note that it is not possible to test all products on the market. In fact, the FDA states that the consumer advisories for tainted OTC products, and the resulting enforcement actions, only cover a small fraction of the market of tainted products.
The FDA reports that Solo Slim has been recalled (August 2010) due to analyses indicating that this product contains the undeclared drug ingredient, Didesmethyl Sibutramine. The drug Sibutramine is actually an FDA-approved drug indicated for use as an appetite suppressant for patients seeking weight loss. While the actions of this drug are in agreement with the proposed actions of Solo Slim???this product is marketed as an all-natural supplement that acts as a weight loss solution???the presence of this drug may produce adverse effects in the subset of the population that takes this product. The reason for the increased risk of adverse effects is that Sibutramine has been demonstrated to increase blood pressure and the pulse rate of patients. For patients who have a history of coronary artery disease, heart arrhythmias, stroke, or congestive heart failure, this added ???ingredient??? may pose an even greater risk. The FDA recommends that consumers in possession of this product return it to their place of purchase for a full refund.