Health Ministry Warns of Dangerous Weight Loss Supplement After Patient Hospitalization

The Israeli Ministry of Health has issued a stark warning to the public following the hospitalization of a young man who experienced chest pains and an accelerated heartbeat after taking the G-Slim weight loss supplement. Laboratory tests conducted by the ministry revealed that the supplement contained sibutramine, a pharmaceutical substance that was removed from the market years ago due to its increased risk of heart attacks and strokes.

Each capsule of G-Slim was found to contain 53.8 milligrams of sibutramine, a significantly high dosage, more than triple the amount previously found in similar banned products. Sibutramine was once marketed as an appetite suppressant for obesity but was withdrawn from shelves in Israel, the United States, and Europe over a decade ago after extensive research linked its use to a substantial rise in the risk of cardiac events and strokes.

The Ministry of Health is urging the public to immediately cease using G-Slim and dispose of any remaining product. They emphasize that combining a banned pharmaceutical substance within a product marketed as a dietary supplement can mislead consumers and expose them to severe health risks, especially at high dosages and without medical supervision.

Individuals who have taken the supplement and are experiencing unusual symptoms such as chest pain, rapid pulse, dizziness, or shortness of breath are advised to seek immediate medical attention. The ministry also reiterated the importance of purchasing dietary supplements only from reputable and regulated sources, avoiding products of unknown origin or those not approved for marketing in Israel.