Considerable doubt remains as to the purity of Zhen de Shou diet pills. The so called original Zhen de Shou diet pills are believed by many to contain Sibutramine, while the fake ones have also been shown to contain Ephedra and other damaging substances.

Sibutramine, also known as Meridia and Reductil, is a licensed prescription drug used for the treatment of obesity. Ephedra containing products are banned in North America and Europe.

What is Zhen de Shou?

Zhen de Shou is a Chinese manufactured weight loss supplement that promises significant weight loss in a short amount of time. Numerous potentially dangerous fake versions can be found on the market. Current reports indicate five known imitations of Zhen de Shou. Its primary promoter and retail agent is Magic Potions (www.magic-potions.com), a company that sells a number of products designed for health and wellness as well as beauty products.

Zhen de Shou is designed to suppress appetite and increase metabolism in order to facilitate weight loss. Zhen de Shou also stimulates thirst, leading to an increased intake of liquids. This is believed to help flush out toxins.

Ingredients of Zhen de Shou

The primary ingredients in Zhen de Shou are said to be sourced from an area of China known as Shennong’s Ladder or Shennongjia. This is a National Reserve forest in which around 1300 medicinal plants grow.

Zhen de Shou contains:

Crataegus Pinnatifida, which is also known as Shenxianye or Fairy Leaves, is believed to increase metabolism and help promote fat loss. Konjac, the active ingredient in this plant, is used to restrict the absorption of fat from the intestinal tract by limiting lipase activity. As a result, more dietary fat is discharged from the body as waste.

Zhen de Shou also contains safflower, gingko-nut, cassia, alga (luoxuanxao) and konjacflour.

Sibutramine in Zhen de Shou

Sibutramine is a serotonin reuptake inhibitor. It is the neurotransmitter in the brain responsible for generating the feeling of satiety. Sibutramine works by preventing the reuptake of serotonin and norepinephrine. Since the serotonin is not being removed from the body, appetite is effectively suppressed. Elevated levels of norepinephrine, due to the presence of sibutramine, help boost energy.

Side Effects of Zhen de Shou

Side effects in slimmers taking Zhen de Shou diet pills have led to a recall of the product within the US by the FDA. Pills were found to contain sibutramine, an ingredient that is not listed on the product label.

Not declaring sibutramine as an ingredient in Zhen de Shou poses serious health risks. This drug can significantly increase both blood pressure and pulse rate. Some say that the original product does not produce these side effects and that the side effects have been attributed to an imitation brand. This has resulted in appreciable controversy – Does a pure version of Zhen de Shou actually exist? It is difficult to tell because Zhen de Shou diet pills do not carry certified verification of ingredients and purity from a reputable analytical laboratory.

People with the following medical conditions, or taking certain prescription drugs, should not take sibutramine: hypertension; hyperthyroidism; heart/coronary disease; liver/kidney disease; epilepsy/seizures; bleeding/clotting problems; glaucoma; gallstones; bulimia; depression; drugs that affect the serotonin/norepinephrine levels in the brain such as antidepressants (e.g. Prozac).

Recommended dosage of Zhen de Shou

Each pack contains 10 capsules (250 mg/capsule). A single capsule is taken once daily 30 minutes before breakfast.

FDA recall of Zhen de Shou

All lots of Zhen de Shou Fat Loss Capsules sold in 10 count blister cards are being recalled by Fashion Sanctuary, a major retailer of the product, in conjunction with the FDA.

The diet capsules are being recalled because they have been found to contain sibutramine. This makes Zhen de Shou an unapproved drug. Sibutramine is an FDA approved drug used as an appetite suppressant for weight loss. However, because the drug is not listed on the package label, there is a potential 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.

The capsules are mainly sold in the US, via the Internet. They are packaged in a box with an inner foil pouch. Inside the pouch is a blister pack containing light and dark green capsules. This recall affects all lot codes and use by dates.