July 14, 2016 — Despite FDA warnings in April, several dietary supplements containing the banned stimulant oxilofrine (also known as “methylsynephrine”) remain widely available online.
Oxilofrine is banned by the World Anti-Doping Agency and other major sports organizations. The effects are similar to ephedrine, which the FDA banned in 2005.
In April, a study published in the journal Drug Testing and Analysis found oxilofrine in 14 out of 27 supplements (52%) that listed “methylsynephrine” on the label. According to NPR, one brand had more than 2X the usual adult dose and 3X the adolescent dose.
The health effects are unknown, but the FDA has received about 50 reports of adverse events, including vomiting, agitation, and cardiac arrest. Research on lower doses suggests users might experience heart palpitations, arrhythmias, chest pain, and higher blood pressure.
The study was published just days after the FDA sent Warning Letters to seven companies selling supplements laced with methylsynephrine.
Supplements that contain oxilofrine:
- HyperDrive® 3.0 (ALR industries)
- Shredder (TBN Total Body Nutrition)
- Fastin® (Hi-Tech Pharmaceuticals)
- Lean Pills™ (Line One Nutrition)
- Tummy Tuck (TBN Total Body Nutrition)
- Methyl Drive™ 2.0 (ANS Advanced Nutrition Systems)
- Drop Factor™ (MTS Nutrition)
- Exile (AmericanMuscle Sports Nutrition Company)
- China White 25 Ephedra (Cloma Pharma Laboratories)
- Phenadrine™ (APS)
- And more
A few of these products are no longer available or have been reformulated. However, many are still available online from manufacturers or major retailers.
One repeat offender is Hi-Tech Pharmaceuticals, manufacturer of the popular Fastin® and Lipodrene® supplements. In November 2013, the FDA seized $2 million in Hi-Tech supplements that contained the illegal stimulant DMAA.
That same month, even more Hi-Tech supplements were found to contain a methamphetamine-like compound called BMPEA — Black Widow, Lipodrene Hardcore, Lipodrene Xtreme, Stimerex-ES, Yellow Scorpion, and Fastin-XR. In April 2015, the FDA cited Hi-Tech Pharmaceuticals for selling BMPEA-laced supplements. After FDA warnings about oxilofrine, the company refused to reformulate.
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