On May 1, 2009, the Food and Drug Admnistration announced the recall of all Hydroxycut dietary supplement products for sale in the United States. The product, Hydroxycut isa diet supplement manufactured by Iovate Health Sciences, Inc. of Ontario, Canada. The announcement comes after various reports of serious injury and death caused by taking Hydroxycut supplements. The reported health issues associated with taking Hydroxycut products include liver failure, seizures, rhabdomyolysis (muscle tissue breakdown), and cardiovascular problems.

There has been one reported death due to liver failure and 23 reports of severe health problems varying from jaundice and high liver enzymes, which are indicators of potential liver injury, to liver damage requiring liver transplant.

Other symptoms of liver damage might include vomiting, nausea, unusual tiredness, weakness, stomach or abdominal pain, itching, or loss of appetite. Other health issues caused by Hydroxycut include seizures, cardiovascular disorders and rhabdomyolysis, which is a type of muscle damage that can lead to other serious problems like kidney failure. If you or a loved one has used Hydroxycut and suffered any of these symptoms or health problems, you should seek medical attention as soon as possible.

The following Hydroxycut products are covered by the recall:

• Hydroxycut Regular Rapid Release Caplets
• Hydroxycut Caffeine-Free Rapid Release Caplets
• Hydroxycut Hardcore Liquid Capsules
• Hydroxycut Max Liquid Capsules
• Hydroxycut Regular Drink Packets
• Hydroxycut Caffeine-Free Drink Packets
• Hydroxycut Hardcore Drink Packets (Ignition Stix)
• Hydroxycut Max Drink Packets
• Hydroxycut Liquid Shots
• Hydroxycut Hardcore RTDs (Ready-to-Drink)
• Hydroxycut Max Aqua Shed
• Hydroxycut 24
• Hydroxycut Carb Control
• Hydroxycut Natural

Dietary supplements aren't monitored as closely by the government as medications, as we can see in the case of Hydroxycut. This is due to the fact that manufacturers don't need to prove to the FDA that their dangerous diet drugs and other products are harmless and effective before they can put them on the market. The FDA relies on voluntary reports to discover such problems in dietary supplements, and many cases never get reported.

Even though dietary supplement products are monitored by regulators for signs of problems, many people have been adversely affected by Hydroxycut's products. Even when a product like Hydroxycut contains natural ingredients, materials can still be toxic and pose great danger to consumers. Manufacturers and distributors have a responsibility to make products that are safe for consumers.

If you have suffered serious bodily injury from using Hydroxycut, you may be able to seek compensation for hospital bills, medical treatment, surgery, or loss of wages. Contact the attorneys of Hill, Peterson, Carper, Bee & Deitzler today for a free case evaluation. We have the knowledge and experience representing plaintiffs in cases that involve large numbers of claims associated with a single product.