Bangkok: A forensic medicine expert has issued a warning about the dangers of self-medicating with illegal weight-loss pills, following the death of a young woman who consumed pills containing the substance "sibutramine", which led to cardiac arrhythmias and death.
According to Thai News Agency, Professor Dr. Smith Srisont from the Department of Pathology, Faculty of Medicine at Ramathibodi Hospital, took to Facebook to alert the public about the risks associated with unapproved weight-loss pills. In his post, he confirmed that the young woman had purchased the pills from a popular app and that blood tests revealed the presence of sibutramine, a substance known to cause cardiac arrhythmias. The pills in question were not approved by the FDA, highlighting the ongoing issue of illegal sales of such products.
Dr. Prapimporn Chatranukulchai from the Department of Internal Medicine at Ramathibodi Hospital further explained the risks associated with substances commonly found in weight-loss pills. Sibutramine, which acts on the central nervous system to reduce appetite, has been withdrawn from the market due to its cardiovascular and cerebrovascular risks. Other substances like phentermine, furosemide, and bisacodyl also pose significant health risks, including increased blood pressure, dehydration, and electrolyte loss.
The medical community urges caution when purchasing and consuming weight-loss drugs, especially those lacking proper approval and containing harmful substances.