Xenadrine is a supplement which claims to encourage weight loss by raising the temperature of the body and enabling it to burn calories. It is manufactured by a company named Cytodyne Technologies and is one amongst several dietary supplements that feature on the company’s inventory. Being an over-the-counter product, this supplement can be purchased by any individual, who is convinced about losing weight, without a prescription and it is this aspect that raises several questions.

While the parent company is proud of its range of products which it claims are perfectly safe and effective for bringing about weight loss, a few aspects pertaining to Xenadrine raise serious doubts. To begin with, although the company does feature a list of ingredients on Xenadrine’s label, it does not mention the quantities in which these are actually present, thus rendering it virtually impossible to determine if the quantities are within safe limits. This also hinders with the testing process for side effects which might ensue in case the ingredients are present in excess amounts.

Another issue pertains to the controversial history of the company, Cytodyne, wherein it faced a penalty for claiming that its product Xenadrine EFX could cause weight loss without having to exercise. This implied that a person who resorted to Xenadrine as a weight loss supplement was not required to work out at all and still lose weight, which was preposterous. Having found as being false, Cytodyne was pulled up by FDA in 2005 for making such impossible claims and was penalized by a fine of $100,000.

Given that side effects experienced by users of a particular product are attributed to its individual components, Xenadrine is no exception to this rule. One of its ingredients is Ephedrine which has long since been banished by FDA due to its negative impact on health but continues to be present in Xenadrine under the guise of its Chinese nomenclature ‘Ma Huang’. A medicinal plant of Chinese origin which contains Ephedrine in high concentration, its extract releases a substance which is an equivalent of Ephedrine on being metabolized within the body.

Apart from Ma Huang, Ephedrine is known by other names too like Epitonin, Sida Cordifolia and Sinica. Irrespective of the name, the side effects are the same namely insomnia, high blood pressure, nausea and headaches. It impacts cardio health too in form of irregular heartbeats which might finally lead to seizures, strokes and finally a heart attack with fatal consequences.

When you consume Xenadrine, you introduce into your body a substantial quantity of anhydrous caffeine, meaning caffeine which is completely devoid of water content. The intention is to bring out the diuretic effect of caffeine wherein it would enable the body to absorb and retain fluids in large quantities, thus decreasing appetite. However, there is a flip side to its as well wherein presence of caffeine could cause irritability, dizziness and restlessness and to some extent even muscular twitches.

Lady’s Mantle is another component in Xenadrine and it has been long associated with liver related problems like malfunctioning and ultimate breakdown of functions. Hence, it is common for users of Xenadrine to experience yellowness of skin, weakness and possibility of jaundice after continued consumption. It has also been found that the moment intake of Xenadrine is discontinued, there is a visible reduction in the intensity of these symptoms, thus proving a direct link between the supplement and this side effect.

Phytosterols and Para-amino benzoic acid are other components of Xenadrine and these have been known to cause health problems too in form of rashes on the skin, indigestion and constipation.

All of this proves that Xenadrine is to be avoided completely because even if it does cause weight loss, the harmful side effects far outweigh the positive results.