Dante Carrillo
Diet pills have been linked to several deaths over the years. The first diet pills became available during the patent medicine era of the late 1800s and were thought to be an effective form of weight reduction. However, the pills carried unexpected side effects, including abnormal heartbeats, increased heart rate, weakness, chest pains, high blood pressure, and even death. In the 1960s, dozens of deaths were caused by rainbow diet pills, which combined potent anorectics with benzodiazepines, beta-blockers, and other medications to suppress adverse effects. In recent years, there have been several reported deaths from diet pills containing the toxic chemical dinitrophenol (DNP), which is often sold illegally online. DNP has been linked to over 60 deaths worldwide and can cause severe side effects, including increased metabolism, peeling skin, and damage to the heart.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of deaths from diet pills | More than 60 worldwide |
| Date of most recent death | April 2015 |
| Name of most recent victim | Eloise Aimee Parry |
| Age of most recent victim | 21 |
| Location of most recent victim | Shrewsbury, UK |
| Cause of death | Dinitrophenol (DNP), a highly toxic chemical |
| Number of pills taken | Eight |
| Side effects | Increased metabolism, vomiting, burning up from the inside |
| Previous deaths | Sarah Houston (23), Sarmad Alladin (18), Sean Cleathero (28) |
| Date of previous deaths | 2013 |
| Side effects of previous deaths | Hyperthermia, severe rashes, damage to the sense of taste, eye cataracts |
| Diet pill ingredients | Amphetamines, benzodiazepines, beta-blockers, thyroid, caffeine, ephedrine |
| Diet pill brand names | Fen-phen, Orlistat, Xenical, Alli, Clarkotabs, Rainbow Diet Pills |
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What You'll Learn
The dangers of DNP
DNP, or 2,4-Dinitrophenol, is a highly toxic chemical that has been marketed as a weight-loss drug. DNP was first used in French munition factories during World War I due to its explosive properties. In the 1930s, it became popular as a weight-loss treatment, but several accidental deaths from hyperthermia caused by the drug were reported, along with incidents of severe rashes, damage to the sense of taste, and eye cataracts. Despite its known dangers, DNP is still available for purchase on the internet and is often targeted towards bodybuilders looking to reduce fat and improve muscle bulk.
The primary toxicity seen with DNP is a combination of hyperthermia, tachycardia, diaphoresis, and tachypnoea. DNP causes uncoupling of oxidative phosphorylation, which can lead to a rapid increase in body temperature, resulting in fever, dehydration, nausea, vomiting, restlessness, flushed skin, and a rapid or irregular heartbeat. These symptoms can progress to seizures, coma, and even death, despite optimal medical care. DNP has a small therapeutic index and is extremely dangerous in overdose. There is no safe level of DNP consumption, as the difference between the dose required for weight loss and the dose associated with fatality is relatively small.
Several deaths have been attributed to DNP, including that of Eloise Aimee Parry, a 21-year-old woman from Shrewsbury, UK, who died in April 2015 after taking DNP pills bought online. Parry's death was the fifth in the UK to be attributed to DNP, and more than 60 people worldwide have died as a result of taking it. DNP is not licensed as a medicine and is classified as a hazardous chemical in the UK. The Food Standards Agency (FSA) and Public Health England have issued warnings about the dangers of DNP and are working to disrupt its supply and sale.
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The history of diet pills
In the late 19th century, thyroid extracts were used to boost metabolism and promote weight loss, but this method was not without risks, such as weakness and palpitations. Amphetamines marketed as Benzedrine became popular in the late 1930s for weight loss due to their appetite-suppressing qualities and increased alertness. Dinitrophenol, also known as DNP, was another popular over-the-counter treatment in the 1930s, but it was soon deemed "extremely dangerous and not fit for human consumption" due to its potential to cause organ damage and even death.
The "rainbow diet pill" regimen, which included amphetamines, thyroid hormones, laxatives, diuretics, and digitalis, was introduced in 1940 and remained popular until the late 1960s when it was banned in the US. This ban was due to growing concerns over serious health risks, which triggered a Senate investigation and stricter regulations. The pills reappeared in South America and Europe in the 1980s and re-entered the US market in 1994.
Phentermine, approved by the FDA in 1959, marked a turning point in modern-day medical treatments for obesity. In the 1950s and 1960s, phentermine and diethylpropion were popular, but concerns about cardiovascular risk led to a decline in their use by the 1970s. In the early 1990s, a combination of phentermine with fenfluramine was widely used in the US, but this too was withdrawn due to cardiac risks.
Today, there are multiple treatment options available, including GLP-1 receptor agonists like tirzepatide, semaglutide, and liraglutide, which slow gastric emptying and affect appetite neurologically. Other drugs like orlistat and cetilistat reduce intestinal fat absorption, but they can have unpleasant side effects like oily rectal discharge and urgent bowel movements. While these modern treatments have fewer side effects and higher efficacy, the history of diet pills is marred by many failures and unsafe drugs.
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The resurgence of rainbow diet pills
Diet pills have been linked to several deaths over the years. In 2015, 21-year-old Eloise Aimee Parry died after taking diet pills bought online that contained the highly toxic chemical dinitrophenol (DNP). DNP was first used in French munition factories during World War I and became popular for weight loss after clinical trials revealed it could result in weight loss of up to 7kg. However, it has caused several accidental deaths from hyperthermia and has been linked to other severe side effects.
The history of diet pills dates back to the late 1800s, when they were referred to as "fat reducers" and based on thyroid extract. While they were thought to be effective, they had significant side effects, including abnormal heartbeats, increased heart rate, weakness, chest pains, high blood pressure, and even death. Despite the risks, these pills remained available until the 1960s.
In the 1940s, the discovery of amphetamine's anorectic effects generated interest in combination weight loss regimens, leading to the creation of "rainbow diet pills". These pills, named for their bright and varied colors, combined amphetamines, diuretics, laxatives, and thyroid hormones to maximize weight loss. They were aggressively promoted by pharmaceutical firms to physicians and patients, despite evidence of harm.
Rainbow diet pills caused dozens of deaths before the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) began removing them from the US market in the 1960s. However, they continued to be popular in Spain and Brazil in the following decades. Today, rainbow diet pills have re-emerged in the United States, marketed as weight loss dietary supplements. The FDA has warned consumers about the risks of weight loss supplements adulterated with multiple pharmaceutical agents, including potent anorectics combined with medications to suppress adverse effects.
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The side effects of diet pills
Diet pills have been available since the late 1800s, when they were referred to as "fat reducers". While they can be effective in helping people lose weight, they often come with a range of side effects, some of which can be life-threatening.
One of the most well-known side effects of diet pills is their impact on metabolism. Some pills cause a person's metabolism to soar, resulting in a burning sensation and an increased body temperature. This can lead to severe consequences, including death, as was the case with Eloise Aimee Parry, who died after taking diet pills containing the toxic chemical dinitrophenol (DNP). DNP has been linked to several other deaths worldwide, with more than 60 people dying as a result of taking it.
Other side effects of diet pills include abnormal heartbeats, increased heart rate, weakness, chest pains, high blood pressure, severe rashes, damage to the sense of taste, and eye cataracts. In the 1960s, the use of thyroid hormone for weight loss treatment fell out of favour due to the risks of toxicity. Medications like aminorex fumarate, which was developed in 1965, triggered pulmonary hypertension and was withdrawn from the market just three years later.
More modern diet pills, such as Orlistat, which is sold by prescription as Xenical and over-the-counter as Alli, can have side effects like oily discharge from the rectum, flatus with discharge, increased defecation, and fecal incontinence. Tirzepatide, which was approved for weight loss in 2023, can cause constipation, upset stomach, bloating, and diarrhea. More seriously, it may also cause kidney problems or failure, gallbladder issues, pancreatitis, or hypoglycemia.
GLP-1 agonists, a newer class of anti-obesity medications, have been shown to be effective in promoting weight loss. However, they also come with gastrointestinal (GI) side effects like nausea, vomiting, acid reflux, bloating, stomach cramps, diarrhea, and constipation. These symptoms are generally mild and temporary but can impact a patient's comfort and adherence to the medication. It is important for patients to be aware of these potential side effects and to work with their healthcare providers to manage them effectively.
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Diet pill addiction
Diet pills are prescription and over-the-counter drugs designed to help users reduce or control their weight. They work by suppressing appetite, increasing metabolism, or preventing fat absorption. While they may seem harmless, they have the potential for abuse and addiction. Diet pill addiction can have a destructive impact on the body.
Diet pills were introduced to replace amphetamines as appetite suppressants, and they share many similarities, including the potential for dependence and addiction. Diet pills may cause increased energy and feelings of euphoria, increasing the likelihood of addiction. Other factors that influence the development of a diet pill addiction include biological factors, environmental factors, home and family life, peers, age of first use, and how the drug is taken.
Abuse of diet pills by individuals with eating disorders is well-documented clinically, with prevalence estimates reported as high as 50%. Diet pill use was found to be significantly more common in women with certain subtypes of eating disorders, and was associated with multiple weight control behaviors, higher BMI, higher novelty seeking, and the presence of anxiety disorders, alcohol abuse or dependence, and borderline personality disorder.
In some cases, diet pill addiction can have fatal consequences. In 2015, 21-year-old Eloise Aimee Parry died after taking diet pills containing the highly toxic chemical dinitrophenol (DNP), which caused her metabolism to "explode" and her body to burn up from the inside. DNP is not licensed as a medicine and is classified as a hazardous chemical due to its toxicity. Despite warnings from authorities, DNP continues to be sold and has been linked to multiple deaths worldwide.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, people have died from taking diet pills.
In 2015, 21-year-old Eloise Aimee Parry died after taking diet pills believed to contain the toxic chemical dinitrophenol (DNP). In 2013, 23-year-old student Sarah Houston was found dead in her bedroom after taking DNP.
DNP is an industrial chemical that can cause an individual to burn up from the inside as their metabolism explodes. DNP is not licensed as a medicine and is classified as a hazardous chemical in the UK due to its toxicity.
Other dangerous ingredients in diet pills include amphetamines, benzodiazepines, beta-blockers, and thyroid hormones. These substances can have adverse effects on the heart and cause psychological addiction.
It is important to be cautious when purchasing medicines or supplements online. Substances from unregistered websites may be harmful, out-of-date, or fake. It is recommended to maintain a healthy weight through proper diet and regular exercise instead of relying on diet pills, which often carry significant health risks.
