What is it?
Hydroxycut is a weight loss brand that’s available in different forms, with common ingredients such as green coffee bean. They often use this ingredient to show that within 60 days, people lost 10.95 pounds versus a placebo.
The intended benefits of this brand are increased fat loss, energy, and enhanced metabolism. For their caffeine brands, they advise to start with just 1 capsule a day, then eventually building up to 2 capsules twice a day. Their Hydroxycut blend is a proprietary formula featuring fruit, green coffee, and saffron. In this review you’ll learn about the surprising company history, what customers have to say about it, and whether or not it’s a good weight loss supplement. The top 10 diet pills are featured in this comprehensive list.
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Hydroxycut Ingredients and Side Effects
Robusta Coffee Extract (45% (Chlorogenic Acid)
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Papaya
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Blackberry
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Saffron Extract
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Caffeine Anhydrous
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Maqui
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Amla Extract
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Microcrystalline Cellulose
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Dicalcium Phosphate Dihydrate
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Pre-gelatinized Starch
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Stearic Acid
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Titanium Dioxide
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Polyethylene Glycol
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Talc
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Croscarmellose Sodium
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Magnesium Stearate
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Silicon Dioxide
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Robusta Coffee Extract (45% Chlorogenic Acid): Unroasted Robusta coffee, which is a species of coffee bean known for its higher bitterness and acidity.
It’s intended to help improve metabolism and control blood sugar. It can potentially cause side effects that include:
- Insomnia, nausea, and agitation.
- Anxiety, rapid heart rate, and difficulty concentrating.
- Restlessness, ringing in the ears, and headaches.
A study is provided by the manufacturers to show how effective this ingredient is versus a placebo.
The study was funded by a company who sells this extract, so there’s a potential for bias. In this study they took 50 volunteers and made them follow a low calorie diet.
Other unbiased studies have shown this ingredient to be ineffective for weight loss. Examine.com adds:
“seems weakly to moderately effective (on fat loss)”
It’s possible the only reason for fat loss is due to the caffeine.
Saffron Extract: Plant extract that’s used in cooking, as well as a way to improve mood and reduce sickness. Though there isn’t sufficient studies about its use. Web MD adds:
“There isn’t enough information to know how saffron might work”
“Taking large amounts of saffron by mough is POSSIBLY UNSAFE”
Possible side effects include:
- Yellowing of the skin and eyes.
- Poisoning.
- Vomiting, bloody diarrhea, and numbness.
- Death.
When taken at large amounts there have been cases of people dying from this.
Caffeine Anhydrous: Dehydrated form of caffeine that stimulates the central nervous system, it increaseses energy and metabolism.
A full serving of Hydroxycut Pro Clinical, their flagship brand, has 400 mg per daily serving. This is the maximum allowed limit for caffeine, and due to this, the company mentions:
“Do not take within 5 hours of bedtime”
“Consume 8 to 10 glasses of water per day”
This is to avoid both insomnia and dehydration. They also advise to not take any other stimulants, since it would likely raise the risk for serious side effects. Though on its own, it can potentially cause:
- Anxiety, agitation, and pain in the chest.
- Rapid heart rate, tremors, and jitters.
- Cardiovascular damage, insomnia, and restlessness.
- Dehydration, headaches, and mood swings.
Caffeine also has limitations, as Examine.com adds:
“Habitual caffeine use leads to tolerance. This means the effects of caffeine will be diminished… where the only benefit a user experiences is caffeine’s anti-sleep effect”
Therefore, caffeine must be only taken for short periods before it loses its potential weight loss effects.
Certain people are much more sensitive to caffeine, and that’s why it’s advised to slowly introduce this brand, and to not take more than just 1 pill to start with.
Maqui: A berry found in parts of Latin America, it’s used to help with weight loss. However, Web MD adds:
“There isn’t enough information to know if maqui is safe”
The possible side effects are also not known.
Amla Extract: This fruit has been used to lower bad cholesterol, and to provide antioxidant support. Though Examine.com adds:
“there is not enough evidence to recommend Amla for any particular purpose”
There have also been cases of people experiencing liver damage.
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Hydroxycut Quality of Ingredients
Ingredients like amla, maqui, and saffron have not been thoroughly studied and it’s unknown if they would affect weight loss.
Then there’s the added caffeine and green coffee bean which are the key active ingredients. Caffeine can be replaced with coffee or tea for cheaper and green coffee bean hasn’t shown any valuable weight loss effects. Studies have shown it to be either ineffective, or weak in its possible weight loss effects.
For the kinds of ingredients used, the lack of clinical studies for some ingredients, and the unknown side effects of certain additives, this mixture is a poor choice for weight loss. There are far too many unanswered questions to determine what the formula might do.
The Price and Quality of Hydroxycut
Sales are not offered via the manfaucturer, but they do suggest multiple online and in store 3rd party retailers.
Amazon.com sells one 150 capsule bottle for $28.56. At the maximum dosage of 4 capsules a day, this lasts for a total of 37.5 days. This makes the daily cost for supplementation 76 cents.
Though inexpensive, many of the ingredinets in this are either innefective for weight loss, not yet proven, or can be replaced.
There’s a high amount of caffeine in this which isn’t a long lasting source for weight loss. It may also provide side effects. Stimulant free options for long lasting weight loss are available if you click here.
Caffeine at 400 mg is roughly 4 cups of coffee. That’s why special considerations must be put in place to help protect against side effects. Still, the key active ingredients in caffeine and green coffee bean extract aren’t enough to suggest both reliable and safe effects. These two ingredients can also be replaced for much cheaper.
Business of Hydroxycut
The owners of this brand are Iovate Health Sciences Inc. They can be reached via the following:
Phone Number: (888) 334-4448
Address: 381 North Service Road West
Oakville, ON, L6M 0H4 Canada
Email: [email protected]
The company has been in trouble with both the FDA and FTC.
The FTC fined them $5.5 million dollars for making false advertising claims about their supplements. This included stating that their brands had positive health benefits, and because of this, they were required to refund customers who bought supplements from them.
The FDA also sent them a warning letter due to:
“liver toxicity associated with the use of multiple versions of the dietary supplement Hydroxycut”
“Agency has concluded that the ingestion of the dietary supplement Hydroxycut presents a severe potentially life-threatening hazard to some users”
This forced the company to schedule a mandatory recall on all Hydroxycut on the market. There were 23 reports of severe health problems due to this supplement, and one person died from it.
After this, in 2024 and 2024 there were still incidents of heart problems and ulcers associated the use of Hydroxycut.
They currently have 6 complaints on their Better Business Bureau website. This is due to issues with service, the products, and a lack of communication from the company.
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Customer Opinions of Hydroxycut
Here are select reviews from online customers:
“I really don’t have any effect using this product”
“Made me feel super sick and dizzy”
“It’s mostly a glorified caffeine pill”
“I had severe nausea, abdominal pain and felt like my stomach was on fire”
Amazon.com currently features 535 complaints. It’s often mentioned from customers that they experienced side effects, as well as a lack of weight loss.
Common side effects experienced by users include nausea, stomach pain, anxiety, rapid heart rate, restlessness, anxiousness, agitation, and some experienced difficulty breathing.
Many also said this is basically just a caffeine pill, and that it had no noticeable weight loss effects.
Conclusion - Does Hydroxycut Work?
The key features to notice about this brand are the company history, and the kinds of ingredients used. Many customers have failed to see any weight loss benefits, and people describe it as a caffeine pill. This is likely because the only ingredeints in this that might have a weight loss effect are caffeine and green coffee extract. There’s not enough in this to suggest it would help benefit people. The company has also had to recall Hydroxycut due to serious health concerns. There’s also a lot of caffeine added to this, with a full serving providing the maximum recommended dosage strength for caffeine.
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User Feedback
(Page 12 of 41, 802 total comments)ABBY
HI YALL, I just started to take hydroxicut this morning. I have a wedding to go to in Brazil and I want to loose 10 pounds by march 6th. I have been feeling very alert since i took it this morning and have been thrusty and drinking a lot of water, whcih is great . I hope to loose 10pds by months end. read some of the feedbacks and feel encuraged . will keep you guys updated.
posted Jan 30th, 2009 2:47 pmaudra
I just started taking hydroxycut and am always feeling dizzy now and getting severe headachs! Help!!
posted Jan 29th, 2009 10:51 pmDP1982
I also feel hungry once I take them. I take it 2 pills 3 times a day. I do have more energy
posted Jan 29th, 2009 2:28 pmPaige
+I have taken it before, but experiences dizziness and shakiness, loss of sleep. That was over a year ago. I am trying it again and have noticed that I really don't feel that hungry. I am caffinated for sure but I think that will help me excercise now. I like it better the second time around. My concern is that when I don't eat my body will begin to store fat. Anybody on my same thought train?
posted Jan 29th, 2009 1:45 pmkmccarthy
i started hydroxycut last monday they said to start the first 3 days only taking 1 pill 3 times aday. i feel hungry when i take them. should i just start taking the 2 pills 3 times a day? or is this normal when starting out.
posted Jan 28th, 2009 2:58 pmKaitlyn
i started to take hydroxycut i feel a slight dizzyness but along with a hunger i exercise and drink water ..does anyone else feel hunger at all or is that the begining
posted Jan 28th, 2009 2:53 pmMarissa
+I have only been taking Hydroxycut for 9 days, but I have lost 3 lbs already. I am dieting (only eating fruits, vegies, lean meats, etc), but haven't exercised at all yet. I definitely noticed a difference in the sugar cravings....they aren't there anymore. I used to drink at least 2 cans of Mt. Dew a day and some chocolate. I now only have an 8 oz. can in the morning...couldn't completely give it up :) I do have to admit I feel nauseous at times, but I figure that will eventually go away.
posted Jan 27th, 2009 12:59 pmTeri30
+Well tomorrow will be 1week, I must agree on the sugar cravings are totally gone and I'm not really hungry so I don't snack as much. This week I have to start exercising, and then I'm sure I'll start dropping lbs.
posted Jan 27th, 2009 11:28 amDebra
I started Hydroxi Cut 2 days ago and I have noticed that I have already lost 2 lbs. This product is helping me not want sugar. I am a chocolate and soda fonatic and I have not had either in 2 days! I started excercising today and am trying to find the right diet for me. I have 3 kids, go to school full time and work full time, so lossing weight will help me boost my self esteem. I weighed 125 before kids and now weigh 181. My goal is to go to at least 135. Ill keep you up to date on my progress.
posted Jan 27th, 2009 9:26 ammaribel
its the best product i ever had and it works very well i lost 7 pounds in 1week in a half
posted Jan 26th, 2009 7:27 pmLaLa
I just started taking Hydroxycut yesterday. I follow a plan of working out 5 days a week for an hour and a half each day (cardio and strength training). I also eat a healthy diet, but am looking for that extra boost in weight loss....
posted Jan 26th, 2009 6:26 pmTry to remember its not about the WEIGHT you lost its about the FAT you lose. :)
Laydiva
i have jsut started taking the pills just one today so far i am not wanting any foods i do work out every day 30 mins but before i was takinf the hollywood 48 hour diet i lose 8lds so far i hope this works i want to drop down to 155 and loose most body fat wish me luck ill keep you updated
posted Jan 26th, 2009 5:12 pmBrittb927
+I have been taking Hydroxycut for about a week now and I have noticed some changes in my stomach. For the past 2 days though it seems as if I was very hungry and I havent done the greatest : ( ....I hope I can get back on the wagon though...looking to lose about 50 lbs by June so we will see
posted Jan 24th, 2009 11:26 pmNicole
+I lost 3 pants sizes in 2 weeks from hydroxycut, I love it. I will never go back to any other diet pill!!!
posted Jan 24th, 2009 11:50 amItszJess
It's Saturday morning I've been taking Hydroxycut Hardcore for about a week now I lost 9pds total. I've been exersizing 1 hr or 2 a day. & Drinking lots of water only. & Eating 3 times a day small portions So far so good. Hope it keeps working as good as the 1st week.
posted Jan 24th, 2009 11:14 amsyarifah
-I don't see any result after I tried for 10 days. I've very good appetite and it doesn't help me to control it.
posted Jan 24th, 2009 7:02 amlyn
+i have tried this and I lost 9 pounds in ONE WEEK, i swear. I excersized 100 minutes for 6x a week, i ate a lot, but healthy food i needed in my system. I chewed eat bite slowly so it would be more quicker to loose. I drank lots of water to keep me hydrated and got lots of sleep, I felt so great ! If you strive and you lecture your diet, then you will succeed. Believe in yourself and strive towards your goal :D
posted Jan 24th, 2009 5:18 amTeri30
Day 3, just wondering if people have noticed a weightloss after they starting take the 2pills 3x day, I jumped on the scale this am and no change.
posted Jan 23rd, 2009 1:43 pmalex
it has been three weeks and i have been using it everyday. in three weeks, i lost 3 pounds, but it could be just water. not sure. however, it cuts my appetites for sure. so, losing one pounds per week???!!!! well, then, i got 7 more weeks to go. Also, it does not give me the energy that other people claims to have by taking the pills......
posted Jan 23rd, 2009 7:44 amtrina
Bought the HC Caff. Free.
posted Jan 23rd, 2009 6:51 amI know you need to drink lots of water with it, but I could not tolerate the headaches after only 1 day.
Might try again in future.