Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
Review
. 2015:2015:120679.
doi: 10.1155/2015/120679. Epub 2015 Sep 17.

Adverse Psychiatric Effects Associated with Herbal Weight-Loss Products

Affiliations
Review

Adverse Psychiatric Effects Associated with Herbal Weight-Loss Products

F Saverio Bersani et al. Biomed Res Int. 2015.

Abstract

Obesity and overeating are among the most prevalent health concerns worldwide and individuals are increasingly using performance and image-enhancing drugs (PIEDs) as an easy and fast way to control their weight. Among these, herbal weight-loss products (HWLPs) often attract users due to their health claims, assumed safety, easy availability, affordable price, extensive marketing, and the perceived lack of need for professional oversight. Reports suggest that certain HWLPs may lead to onset or exacerbation of psychiatric disturbances. Here we review the available evidence on psychiatric adverse effects of HWLPs due to their intrinsic toxicity and potential for interaction with psychiatric medications.

PubMed Disclaimer

References

    1. Corazza O., Assi S., Simonato P., et al. Promoting innovation and excellence to face the rapid diffusion of novel psychoactive substances in the EU: the outcomes of the ReDNet project. Human Psychopharmacology. 2013;28(4):317–323. doi: 10.1002/hup.2299. - DOI - PubMed
    1. Schifano F., Orsolini L., Duccio Papanti G., Corkery J. M. Novel psychoactive substances of interest for psychiatry. World Psychiatry. 2015;14(1):15–26. doi: 10.1002/wps.20174. - DOI - PMC - PubMed
    1. Bersani F. S., Corazza O., Albano G., et al. 25C-NBOMe: preliminary data on pharmacology, psychoactive effects, and toxicity of a new potent and dangerous hallucinogenic drug. BioMed Research International. 2014;2014:6. doi: 10.1155/2014/734749.734749 - DOI - PMC - PubMed
    1. Bersani F. S., Corazza O., Simonato P., et al. Drops of madness? Recreational misuse of tropicamide collyrium; early warning alerts from Russia and Italy. General Hospital Psychiatry. 2013;35(5):571–573. doi: 10.1016/j.genhosppsych.2013.04.013. - DOI - PubMed
    1. Corazza O., Simonato P., Corkery J., Trincas G., Schifano F. ‘Legal highs’: safe and legal ‘heavens’? A study on the diffusion, knowledge and risk awareness of novel psychoactive drugs among students in the UK. Rivista di Psichiatria. 2014;49(2):89–94. doi: 10.1708/1461.16147. - DOI - PubMed

Publication types

MeSH terms

Substances

LinkOut - more resources