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.
EDITOR’S TIP: For the best results, our experts recommend using weight loss pills for at least 3 months. Save your money by buying a few bottles at once.
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.
Stimulant free options are available, and the 2024 supplement of the year is called Sletrokor.
There’s only natural ingredients added to this blend, with the ability to suppress appetite, increase metabolism, and improve mood. Many users have left great testimonials showcasing how effective and safe it is. This supplement has no artificial ingredients, preservatives, or stimulants of any kind.
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User Feedback
(Page 3 of 41, 802 total comments)Britt
I was wondering, What happens when yo stop taking it? Is there a bad side effect to not taking it anymore. Like more weight gain or headaches? I'm thinkin about taking it but I want make sure it won't hurt me or my body if I choose to stop
posted Mar 24th, 2011 9:38 pmJG
?Lynsey: which version of the product are you taking? Thanks!
posted Mar 22nd, 2011 3:32 pmkate
I hear you Lily! I have noticed LOTS of people doing this lately- what is UP with that? These are people that should know better, too!
posted Feb 28th, 2011 4:49 pmLily
wow! you people need to learn proper english... "LOOSE" is when something is loose, like a loose tooth.... to "LOSE" is when you lose something like to lose weight...thats pretty sad that like half of you spelled it wrong.
posted Feb 6th, 2011 2:50 amLynsey Ingram
+I started using Hydrixycut 2 weeks ago with regular a calorie controlled diet and regular exercise. I was 180lbs when i started the diet with hydroxycut and after 1.5 weeks, i weighed in at 172. Im sure exercise has a lot to do with it, but hydroxycut helped energize me. I was never motivated until i started taking it and i love it. So far i have no symptoms other people say they have. No headaches, no heart murmurs, nothing. I feel great.
posted Jan 9th, 2011 11:19 pmAshley
+I currently take Hydroxycut Hardcore X and it works great for me. With this formula it curbs your appetite to make your body use to consuming less. Now if I eat a sandwich my stomach feels bloated lol But now I have enough motivation to get up a work out and this product gives me the energy I need. It also helps to listen to loud music and roll off into another world. I recommend this product for persons who have the WANT to loose their extra baggage.
posted Dec 31st, 2010 1:46 amtripp
-this is the worst product on the market. i was220 and did everything that muscle and fitness told to do with a workout plus the pills and after 9 weeks i lost 1 pound of total fat. this product is the biggest rip off i have ever seen. stop spending your money. you can loose more weight by sitting.
posted Nov 24th, 2010 6:11 amHusband of Hydroxycut taker
-Don't Waste Your Money until you read!
posted Nov 1st, 2010 3:54 pmThis product doesn't work at all. If anyone loses weight with it, it's not because of the pills but a change in diet or lifestyle. The only people that seem to have success is severly overweight individuals that probably would lose weight with just a few diet changes anyways. My wife took it for 2 months with 0 results. Only a littel extra energy. Her routine was a minimal calarie diet with 4 days a week of Jillian's 3 day shread workout, amongst others. I believe she would have lost weight without taking Hydroxycut Acai, but instead had 0 results. Don't try this product, try anything else that has at least some kind of guarantee.!
Rodney Monroe
I lost 300 lbs after only one pill.
posted Oct 24th, 2010 4:46 pmJack Ellis
I have been taking these pills for about a month now. The pills were given to me by Chief Rodney Monroe ,who said ,his wife gave them to him after someone called him a Fathead. He said he took the pills for a month but his head was just as big.and it made his go to the bathroom a lot.
posted Oct 24th, 2010 4:43 pmI have cut back on chicken wings and fatback and I hope it helps cause I don't want a fathead like Rodney
sha
+well I hve been taking it for about 2 and a half weeks now when i started i was 233.8lbs and i weighed myself two days ago and I was on 219. so its working so far for me! I have been working out quite a bit and drinking the water its says but following the instructions it worked for me!
posted Oct 14th, 2010 5:01 pmShaddyanne
It didn't do anything for me.
posted Oct 4th, 2010 6:52 pmTim Reed
-I took Hydroxycut on and off for over a year. Just this last summer I was told by my doctor that i have liver damage. Please people be careful when you take things like this
posted Aug 29th, 2010 11:14 pmChevy
-I'm 24 yrs old, 5'6 and 180lbs. I was hoping to only loose 20lbs. The bottle of this merchandise was a gift to me so luckily I didn't feel like I wasted MY money. I took the pills as advised, worked out and drunk more than enough water. Not one pound was lost. I stopped taking them after 2wks due to lack of any results at all. I experienced headaches and nausea. My appeptite was curved the first few days but then stopped.
posted Aug 24th, 2010 3:14 pmmarie
i started 15 days ago or less, I take only 2 to 4 caps a day with another complement. I have lost 8 pounds feel great but i think of stopping it if my liver could tricks me cause I had liver damage due to tylenol intake (twice) so i am soooo afraid and still want to lose weight...i need to lose 10 to 15 pounds more... dunno what to do, stop or continue for the next 10 pounds to lose ???? scared marie.
posted Aug 15th, 2010 1:06 pmrobert s
I am from ontario canada, i use the hydroxycut advance, for almost 7 weeks. I was 285 when i had started this. I am now 257 lbs. And thats no BS. I cant believe it, even after the 8th week i am going to stop with the product, and stick with my routine. I can believe how easy it is too do push ups now. Great Product. Would be great to do a infomercial lol
posted Jun 21st, 2010 1:31 amJewell
-I got this when saw it on sale. Took it 2 days and started feeling sick and sorta headache/ Looked on computor found out it was recalled and all the bad stuf. Will go back to store on this. This is definately bad and dangerous product from what I felt and read.
posted May 26th, 2010 10:55 pmmelissa smith
+i used hydroxycut original with ephedra and i exercised and dieted hard core and lost 22lbs in 2 weeks but then came down with the flu and skipped my diet not due to these pills
posted May 6th, 2010 6:42 pmBrad
I was thinking about building some muscle, but really wanted to lose some weight before I did it. I was considering getting Hydroxycut, but also wanted to get some Whey Protein. Would it be adviseable to use protein while taking Hydroxycut?
posted May 5th, 2010 2:34 pmDavid Pryor
-I took only half of one dose last night which is two pills. I bought it months before and I think I didn't take it because of an adverse reaction. But I started to take hour long walks to help with my weight, so I thought I'd take half the dosage to see how that would work for me.
posted Apr 24th, 2010 11:41 amI'm throwing the bottle away because my Blood Pressure spiked to 175/118!!!! I first went to the bathroom to urinate and I noticed when I got off the couch that I felt really funny and it was hard to breath. I took my blood pressure multiple times to see if I could get it down. This episode lasted about an hour and a half! I would never recommend this to anyone and feel lucky that I am not dead right now!