AEMPS Dietary Additive Health Warning

The Spanish Agency for Medicines and Health Products (AEMPS) has ordered the withdrawal from the market of HHS A1 L-Carnitine Lepidum, capsules marketed as a dietary supplement for weight loss or performance enhancement due to the presence of sibutramine. Anorexigenic active ingredient (appetite suppressant), which provides a feeling of fullness and also causes an increase in calorie expenditure (attenuates the adaptive decrease in basal metabolic rate during weight loss).

In addition, sibutramine causes an increase in heart rate and blood pressure, which may be clinically significant in some patients, and cases of arrhythmia, coronary artery disease and serious vascular accidents have been reported with its use. Other side effects that may occur while consuming it include, but are not limited to, dry mouth, headache, insomnia, constipation, etc. Moreover, it has a large number of interactions with other medications.

The agency says the substance is not listed on its labeling, which deceptively lists a number of plant-derived ingredients, gives false information about its safety, and could cause serious harm to the health of people who consume it. The product appears to be marketed as a dietary supplement by HHS (Turkey) even though the competent authorities were not notified of its placement on the market.

AEMPS recommends against consuming HHS A1 L-Carnitine Lepidum capsules due to serious side effects.