Israeli Mother Hospitalized with Dangerous Blood Pressure After Using Illegal Weight Loss Pill Sold on Facebook

A serious health incident last week at a Clalit clinic in Abu Ghosh highlights the dangers of purchasing unregulated weight loss products online. A woman in her 30s, mother to a breastfeeding infant, arrived at the clinic with dangerously high blood pressure after taking a pill marketed on Facebook as a "natural dietary supplement." Despite repeated warnings from the Israeli Ministry of Health since 2014, the product continues to be sold illegally.

The patient, who had lost 10 kilograms in just one week, sought urgent consultation due to severe headaches. Clinic staff, including nurse Yelena Branson and clinic director Dr. Yishai Lev, found her blood pressure at 160/100, a hazardous level for a woman her age. Initially, she claimed to have fasted for a week but later admitted to purchasing the product "7 Slim Extra," promoted as a natural appetite suppressant based on vegetables.

Medical tests revealed the supplement contained sibutramine, a powerful drug banned in Israel and linked to hospitalizations and deaths in the United States. Side effects include sharp increases in blood pressure, rapid heartbeat, headaches, and insomnia. Dr. Lev warned that the harmful substances could pass to the infant through breast milk, a risk concealed by the sellers. The woman chose the product for economic reasons, unable to afford supervised weight loss injections.

Upon discovering the cause, the clinic immediately stopped her use of the supplement and referred her for medically supervised weight loss and dietitian support. The Ministry of Health had issued official warnings about "7 Slim" and similar products since 2014, confirming their illegal status and the presence of sibutramine in lab tests. Past hospitalizations in Israeli medical centers have reported symptoms like those experienced by this patient, including palpitations, weakness, anxiety, confusion, and muscle pain.

Dr. Lev emphasized the health risks, especially amid economic hardship driving people to seek cheap solutions. He cautioned against promises of rapid weight loss and urged choosing safe, supervised treatments. "The drug increases norepinephrine in the brain and body, raising blood pressure and heart rate, potentially causing heart attacks even in young people," he explained. "Had this woman exercised intensely or become very upset, she could have suffered a heart attack." The Ministry of Health continues to advise consulting a doctor or pharmacist before taking any weight loss products.