[suzan]

Hi everyone.
I just want to share my story. and open up your eyes if you ever think of taking any weight loss pill.

Around Nov 2009, I met this girl. She was so nice, we instantly became friends. She was a good person to lift me up in that time specially since I had a son almost 1 year ago and was still suffering from postpartum depression. She lightened my mind when it comes to my physical image, and was motivating me with some things and I started changing things and it made me feel good! until she started talking about weight-loss and how after 3 kids she had to go thru tummy tuck and lipo to be where she is, and that she gained few pounds and she is losing them with the help of this weight loss pill. I told her that I was against these because I get scared they do something for my health. She would be there assuring me that it was nothing and that her mom along with her husband were taking them and showed me that the box stated it was 100% herbal. The name of the medication was Zotreem Plus, and told me that she was taking 1 pill a day 1 hour before breakfast and all day she would just not feel hungry. I asked her over and over again, where else did she feel she said nothing.!

I went ahead and got those pills. they didn't sell them where I live so I got them from back home. I took a pill a day just how she told me and after 4 days I was having symptoms. I felt:
- as if something was stuck in my throat
- nausea
- insomnia

I called her and told her was mad coz I feel stuff, she assured me it was temporary and that it will go away. I was stupid and continued with it.
After 2 weeks I was dying, I still remember that day was my husband birthday. I got cake for him and invited friends including this girl with her family. She came in and told me I looked thin. I have lost 10 pounds in 2 weeks. but I was miserable all I wanted to do was die... The symptoms got worse and worse:
- I still felt something stuck in my throat
- anxiety
- rapid heart beats
- insomnia
- dry mouth
- heartburn
- burning mouth
- white tongue
- fissures in my tongue

My tongue was SO DRY it was unbelievable! I just wanted to keep it moist and moist.. it wasnt working! That day was the last day I took a pill and prayed those symptoms would go away. They didnt.

After 3 months I had to see a gastroenterologist and diagnosed me with GERD and whats funny he was asking me: do u smoke? eat spicy? fried food? I DONT! I DONT! I never had any acid reflux, maybe just when I was pregnant only, other than that I was healthy!

I have taken over the counter medications, from acid blockers, anti depression, antibiotic, vitamins, supplements, I have prayed so much and nothing has worked. I have seen around 15 doctors from dentists, to dermatologist, to neurologist thinking maybe its a nerve damage, some even thought I had Sjogern syndrome due to dry mouth but thank God I didn't. I have done so many blood tests, a lot, and everything is normal. Some doctors have even told me that it is all 'in my head' and that I am fine, that I am building and creating those symptoms and they are created with my thought, like seriously?

Its been 3 years and here I am with those symptoms. I have severe anxiety and I feel my life has been ruined by these pills. please please please do not ever think of taking any easy way out, never. Eat healthy and exercise! lose slowly better than living your life miserable just like me.

I have a son who is 4 and now I am 2 months pregnant with our second. I have delayed having a second baby due to my health, and I driven crazy my husband with my health issues.. bless him, he tolerated me so much.

I was wondering, anyone here got any solution to this? just any case anyone got these when using pills? The pills I took later on I discovered contain Sibutramine - same ingredient in Reductil - which was banned all over the world.

So you can imagine my feelings. So sad and low and just cant function like before. I dont feel the same person as before. I feel destroyed.

Thanks for reading

[juliastl27]

"herbal" and OTC diet pills are not very well regulated and often end up being dangerous.

it sounds like you're dealing with some serious stuff. read this article on wikipedia down at the bottom where it talks about counterfeit products.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sibutramine#Side_effects

did you tell your doctor about the pills? how long ago did you stop taking them?

i seriously doubt your friend did this maliciously, she probably was trying to help and doesnt have any severe side effects. diet pills can be dangerous business!

also, even if its not the ingredient you think it is, "herbal" does not mean healthy or safe.

[suzan]

Originally Posted by juliastl27

"herbal" and OTC diet pills are not very well regulated and often end up being dangerous.

it sounds like you're dealing with some serious stuff. read this article on wikipedia down at the bottom where it talks about counterfeit products.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sibutramine#Side_effects

did you tell your doctor about the pills? how long ago did you stop taking them?

i seriously doubt your friend did this maliciously, she probably was trying to help and doesnt have any severe side effects. diet pills can be dangerous business!

also, even if its not the ingredient you think it is, "herbal" does not mean healthy or safe.

Thanks for your reply.
I never said my friend did this on purpose! she was taking it and didnt have anything bad going on with her, also her husband! she even felt really bad after what I started to suffer from.

I stopped taking them on Jan 2010. yes I know its too long, but I just dont seem to find any cure.

Thanks for the link, I am going to check it right away.

[LeilaJey]

Yikes, sorry to hear that! That's the problem things being labelled 'natural' - we assume that they're safe but lots of natural things are very dangerous. They're usually marketed as safe because they're natural too, as in all chemicals are bad, all natural is good. Unfortunately it's not that simple.

I hope you get some relief with your symptoms! Have you seen any other specialists? I'm not sure what type of Doctor would be best but I hope you find something.

[bargoo]

You don't know for sure that your "friend" was taking these pills, sounds like a scam artist to me, at any rate you should take the pills to a doctor and tell them this is what you were taking and symptoms only started after you took these pills.