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.
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 24 of 41, 802 total comments)Kristin
About 7 years ago, I took Hydroxycut. I was working out 5 days a week, eating very healthy and loving the way Hydroxycut gave me energy and curbed my appetite. I was loving it until.... I was working out on the treadmill, and got chest pains, and almost passed out. My trainer almost had to call an ambulance. My bf had to come from work to make sure I got home OK. The stimulants in any diet drug can have serious, sometimes deadly effects. Diet and exercise alone, should do the trick and be much safer.
posted Aug 21st, 2008 4:14 pmvanessa
well i've beeen taken hydroxycut hardcore for two weeks i feel light but my scale says i weight the same im beguinning to think its the scale because i feel great yes their is side effects such as light headed but it works for me my frien kris took the pills she lost over 50 pounds
posted Aug 17th, 2008 11:11 pmvanessa
my husband is loosing more weight than me hahaha he hasnt notice but he actually last more in bed but i wont tell him hahaha
posted Aug 17th, 2008 11:11 pmKim
Starting the product tomorrow, kinda scared..Is it normal to feel this way?
posted Aug 16th, 2008 9:35 amTicklemaster
I've been taking this for about a week, and I have lost about 4 pounds! My cravings for things are gone -like sodas, and it is a wonderful appetite suppressant. I'm no longer interested in snacking and comfort foods throughout the day. The bad things are I am experiencing a little cramping, probably because I'm not drinking the water they recommend. Also I wonder how much of this is water weight as opposed to "the chubb" that really does need to vacate my premises lol. Next week I'll write back, I'm hopeful since a pill hasn't worked like this on me before :)
posted Aug 16th, 2008 9:35 amRonald
For lunch, I wanted to order evrything on the McDonald's menu, but then I took a Hydroxycut pill and I ordered everything on the menu. But I was full after eating 3/4 of it. Thank you Hydroxycut!!!
posted Aug 15th, 2008 5:07 pmJenna
I love this product! i used it for a week and lost 8lbs and i drank nothing but water.. and ate fruits and veggies...and it gives me so much engery and alot more confidence in my life... i totally recommend it to anyone who wants to look and feel better and have alot more engery..
posted Aug 14th, 2008 5:35 pmKenny
I take hydroxycut hardcore twice a day, three pills each time. Idk what the heck everyone else is talking about. My pulse is 41, my heartrate is well above average, and I never feel jittery nor sweaty; in fact, I don't even feel energized when I take it. Maybe my body's like... Immune to it... I've lost 10 pounds from it though. I hope it's fat, not muscle.... Btw I'm very athletic, I run approximately three miles a day, weight lift for an hour a day, and my summer job is 6 days a week for 10 hours each day of continuous standing and prancing around really fast. And I eat mostly fruits and veggies. Occasionally some chicken or fish, but I try to limit most meats to once a day. And yea... Mostly fruits. I don't eat that many veggies.
posted Aug 14th, 2008 10:04 ammichael
hi guy's my name is michael and im from israel and week a go i bye this great product .icant believe when i see my self in the mirron i lost 3 kilo's in one week thank you hydroxycut ...and thank you america for making me thinner :)yahoooo
posted Aug 12th, 2008 5:23 pmsandy
great product. if you get dizzy and edgee, it could be from all the caffine in the product so be sure to get it caffine free if your sensitive. It surpesses my appetite, with no bad side effects. Follow the directions closely because it's important to take it 30min before a meal like it says, this gives it time to get into your system so then it's more effective when you eat and exercise.
posted Aug 12th, 2008 9:20 ampasserby
i have taking hydroxycut for almost a month now...... but the problem is i havent lose any weight....i ate low calorie foods & exercise as well.....but havent see any result yet?????? have i do something wrong???? i need advise.... by the way....did it help with only taking 1 or 2 pills before doing workout??? does that help???? need advise...pls............ thanks
posted Aug 10th, 2008 8:07 pmkristen
I think I might order this product! I'm not ridiculously over weight or anything, but I am a tad. I don't eat horrible foods and I work out often-I play college field hockey, but no matter what I do I can't get toned or FEEL in shape! If this works, it'll be proof that it is not just a change in life style, but the actual product itself because I already work out a lot and avoid the bad, bad foods! Atleast I stayed clear from the freshman 15! :D I'm mostly excited for the energy boost some of you have mentioned!
posted Aug 8th, 2008 8:17 amChrissy
I started Hydroxycut Max 5 days ago. So far I have lost 5lbs and nearly 2 in. from my waist ! I'm combining it with a strict nutritional diet and work out 3 x's a week.
posted Aug 7th, 2008 5:48 pmKel
I need to lose some weight and I've heard about Hydroxycut more than any other diet pill. I'm thinking about starting it but I really worry about the side effects. I start school the end of August and don't want any side effects to persist all the way until then. Also, a lot of people have said that they dropped 5-7 in the first week....is it a steady, continuous drop? Or is it 5-7 pounds the first week, and then only 1-3 after that? I'm not to sure if this is a good idea or not, any suggestions?
posted Aug 6th, 2008 10:29 pmbenchmark
You all need to get off that bandwagon. Coffee with Caffein, and Cranberry juice is natural Dieuretics that hydroxicut releases. If you want to get trim eat small meals per day, at least 4 - 5. Include eggs, fish, oatmeal, sweet potatoes. You also need cardio. Eating small meals, and 10 mins cardio (treadmill running) at 6 speed, I went from 223 to 206 in 2 weeks.
posted Aug 5th, 2008 8:54 amStephanie
Hi. i was thinking about starting Hydroxycut soon but i already work out 5 times a week of cardio and am already on a low calorie diet and my weight stays the same id like to lose about 20lbs but what happens once i lose that 20 lbs and i stop using the pill. will i gain it all back and will it do damage to my body?
posted Aug 5th, 2008 8:54 amscaredandconfused
Well, just wondering about persciption meds, is anyone else on and taking HC? Would like to know. Have 4 kids and continue to gain weight, becoming depressed. Help!!
posted Aug 4th, 2008 9:51 amjoanna
I tried Alli and it didnt work too well. I lost 3 pounds in 4 weeks and I ate healthy and exercised 60 mins 5 times a week. So I'm going to try Hyrdroxycut max for women. My friend lost 20 pounds I'm hoping it will do the same for me.
posted Aug 1st, 2008 8:54 pmTara
I started using the pill yesterday and i already lost 5 pounds
posted Jul 31st, 2008 1:01 pmSamantha
I'm going to go buy this pill today i been trying to lose weight but nothing seems to work i been taking SLIM QUICK && notice a change in my body but i wanna see RESULTS!! i will start this fridaY && tell you guys how it works
posted Jul 30th, 2008 1:40 pm