Iomax pills banned because of speed

Geschatte leestijd: 13 minuten Okay, the title is a bit sensational considering there are no known deaths, but apparently I have your attention at least. “Stop immediately,” I heard Benno Bruggink from the Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority (NVWA) say on the radio last week while I was in the car on my way to the gym.

IOMAX

Update: Since the publication of the article below, we have regularly been asked if we know how to still get Iomax. To my surprise, actually, because I think this article clearly focuses on the dangers of Iomax and is not an advertisement. So, it makes no sense to send these questions to us. Not even with comments like: “I’ve been trying to lose weight for so long and it’s not working. Then it really comes down to a lack of knowledge or effort or a combination of both.” Do you want to lose weight in a healthy way? Then download the Fitsociety app in the app store, sign up with one of the coaches, but don’t expect the weight loss to happen by itself. You really have to work for it. Now, back to the article.

It’s about Iomax. Simply put: A product in pill form mainly used for weight loss and extra energy. What’s the fuss about? Here’s the information as stated on the VWA website.

Warning Iomax on VWA website

The Dutch Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority (NVWA) warns consumers not to take slimming pills with the name Iomax. Iomax is a product that contains banned substances and is used by athletes and by people who want to lose weight. The National Poison Information Center (NVIC) of UMC Utrecht has received serious complaints from people using Iomax as a slimming aid. Even after 1 tablet, side effects such as palpitations, chest pain, nausea, headache, and excited behavior can occur. There are also posts on social media from bodybuilders who have such complaints after taking Iomax. These athletes use the product to get more energy and lose weight. Iomax users are strongly advised to immediately stop taking this medication and to see a doctor for physical complaints. Doctors with questions about the treatment of persons who have taken Iomax can contact the NVIC 24 hours a day at (030) 274 88 88 (this number is for professional helpers only).

Prohibited product

Iomax is not registered as a medicine and presumably contains amphetamine-like substances. Amphetamine-like substances are on the doping list. The label does not contain or contains incomplete information about the composition of the product.

Report sellers of Iomax to NVWA

The NVWA requests buyers of Iomax to report to the NVWA where they purchased the product. The NVWA can then take targeted action to protect people from the sale of Iomax. Reports can be made online via the NVWA Customer Contact Center. Reports are treated confidentially. Now, a few reactions about Iomax that I came across on various forums:

-I also used it and have to say I trained well on it but the effect is heavy… headache, pressure on my chest, cold, and can’t sleep and so on. I’m looking for something that also gives extra energy to exercise but is not so harmful to the body. It’s clear that there’s junk in it but what, and can you get addicted to it -I thought it contained a pack of ephedrine, I took it once and it felt like I had snorted 4 grams of speed and didn’t sleep/eat for 2 days -Indeed, Iomax has phentermine as its active ingredient, an amphetamine derivative. Racing heart valves as documented side effect number 1. And not just as long as you use it, but possibly permanently. Really the last thing you should ever use for anything. I don’t think there’s anything more unsafe except perhaps cyanide or something. – Originally posted by caliber I thought it contained a pack of ephedrine, I took it once and it felt like I had snorted 4 grams of speed and didn’t sleep/eat for 2 days -Wrong thought…. no ephedrine no phenteramine it’s just SPEED !!! Now even yellow speed. It’s crap of the highest order… -This is a counterfeit version of Ionamin Forte (no longer on the market). A kind of pep product, I know there are disadvantages to it, but if you use it wisely, do you guys recommend it? -I lost more than 20kg in just over a month from ionamin forte. I was extremely fat so it’s easier to lose weight. As Freddy says, it suppresses appetite and speeds up metabolism. -Ionamin was replaced by imitation with ordinary speed in it… The difference is that phentermine works throughout the day and speed hits immediately. hi I also lost weight from iomax and I now sell them myself to help many people. you feel better have more energy, you do get slightly higher blood pressure due to faster digestion, you absolutely don’t feel hungry per pill is 3.50 and they are really real you can also text me 0626208160 furthermore it is not harmful ONLY do not use alcohol and no heart medication..very important not extremely exercising is dangerous because your blood pressure rises and by exercising even more and that’s not good call for questions gr marieke

Fortunately, Marieke is only doing it to help people:) The NVWA naturally wants to know how this banned substance is obtained in the Netherlands. They don’t need to call Marieke. I’ve tried that myself, and surprise, surprise: the number has been discontinued. On forums, it appears that, like most other illegal substances, it is bought through someone at the gym or online. I noticed that proportionally many women recommend and sometimes sell the stuff. So it’s not just bodybuilder Henk who wants to get in shape for a competition, but also Ingrid who wants to get in shape for that dress she bought a year ago that still doesn’t fit. That’s why Dianabol or Deca won’t be discussed quickly on the Viva forum, but Iomax will.

What is IOMAX?

What exactly is Iomax? Iomax is supposed to be a successor to Ionamin Forte. However, Ionamin was “FDA- (U.S.) and EMA (Europe) approved.” FDA- and/or EMA-approved means that a product as medication is recognized by these institutions and controlled by them. Ionamin Forte was produced by Medeva Pharmaceuticals, which was acquired in 1999 for almost one billion pounds by the English Celltech (known for supplements), which in 2004 was itself acquired by the Belgian UCB for over one and a half billion pounds (new name UCB Celltech). Ionamin Forte was, also compared to other phentermine products, a very popular weight loss product, as evidenced by all the disappointed reactions on forums about the fact that it is no longer produced. Therefore, I sent an email to the headquarters in Berkshire in Great Britain asking why it was discontinued back then. Other products based on the same active ingredient phentermine (see further), such as “Fen-Phen,” were voluntarily taken off the market by the FDA around the same time (late 1990s) due to cases of heart valve problems. I couldn’t find out why Ionamin was discontinued. When I get an answer, I’ll post it in an update. A possible cause of the current problems is that Iomax, unlike Ionamin, is not approved by the FDA and EMA. This leads to a danger independent of the ingredients it should contain. Besides the possible risks of the official ingredients, there is always the danger that there are very different ingredients in it than you expected. Therefore, I will address both the risks of the official ingredients and those of the other ingredients that are sometimes present (or supposed to be).

Phentermine

The active ingredient of Ionamin and Iomax is/is supposed to be: Phentermine. Phentermine is used in the medical world as a short-term remedy for obesity threatening the patient’s health.

Psychostimulant

Phentermine (phenyl-tertiary-butylamine) is a “psychostimulant” belonging to the phenethylamine class and related to amphetamine (see further). Psychostimulants are a group of drugs that stimulate mental functions via the central nervous system. These are the so-called “uppers” used, for example, to increase alertness and energy. The opposite of these are the depressants, “downers.” Phentermine is used as a means to (in combination with exercise, diet, and behavior change!) lose weight in the short term by suppressing appetite (1). Phenethylamine itself also occurs in various organisms and foods such as chocolate. However, in oral form, most of it is broken down before it reaches the blood (so-called “First pass”). Although it is related to amphetamine, the use of Phentermine leads to fewer and less severe side effects than amphetamine (2).

Nor-epinephrine and nor-adrenaline

Phentermine affects the hypothalamus, which stimulates the adrenal gland to release norepinephrine/noradrenaline (one and the same substance). This is a neurotransmitter (signal substance) that causes a fight-or-flight response. In addition, Phentermine causes the release of epinephrine/adrenaline (also two names for the same substance), which leads to the breakdown of stored fat to provide energy. Both substances are part of the sympathetic nervous system, the part of the nervous system that prepares the body for action, resulting in reduced hunger.

Reduced appetite

The effectiveness of Phentermine as a weight loss aid is mainly due to the reduced appetite. In the comments of users, you can read that people really have to remind themselves to eat because their bodies no longer indicate the need. Handy, but also dangerous. If you eat too little, your metabolism slows down (no fuel is coming in, so your body becomes more economical with the reserves), and you burn less. When you start eating again, the pounds immediately pile back on.

Serotonin and dopamine

Phentermine also causes the release of serotonin. I discussed serotonin earlier in the article about tryptophan. Serotonin affects sleep but can also reduce appetite by limiting dopamine release. Dopamine, known for causing a happy feeling, also causes hunger when you smell food. However, Phentermine, in addition to serotonin production, directly increases dopamine release, so the question is which effect is greater, dopamine production (more hunger) or serotonin production and thus dopamine limitation (less hunger). The fact is that the amounts of both are much lower than the amount of norepinephrine/noradrenaline, so ultimately it leads to reduced appetite (3).

Risks and side effects of Phentermine

In the warning and the comments of users, you can already read about some of the side effects that have been experienced. Possible side effects include (4):

“Rarely occurring”

Side effects that rarely occur but have been reported:

• Seeing, hearing, or feeling things that are not there
• Severe mental changes

“Frequency unknown”

Side effects of which the frequency is unknown:

• Chest pain
• Decreased ability to exercise
• Dizziness
• Fainting
• Rapid, irregular, or “racing” heartbeat
• Headache
• Numbness or tingling in arms and legs
• Swelling of the feet or lower legs
• Trembling and/or shaking of arms, legs, hands, and feet
• Difficulty breathing
• Difficulty thinking, speaking, and/or walking
• Weakness
• Decreased or increased libido
• Difficult bowel movements
• Dry mouth
• “False or unusual sense of well-being”
• Erectile dysfunction (difficulty getting or maintaining an erection)
• Itching
• Skin irritations
• Insomnia
• Unpleasant taste in the mouth

Symptoms of overdose:

• Abdominal/ stomach cramps
• Blurred vision
• Change in consciousness
• Confusion
• Nausea
• Diarrhea
• Discouragement
• Dizziness, faintness, or lightheadedness when getting up suddenly from a lying or sitting position
• Feeling sad or empty
• Irritability
• Lack of appetite (duhhhh, that’s what you take it for!)
• Loss of consciousness
• Loss of interest or pleasure
• Nausea
• Nervousness
• Overactive reflexes
• Panic
• Physically attempts to hurt oneself
• Ringing in the ears
• Rapid breathing
• Restlessness

Prescribed medication for a reason, as you can see. That’s quite a list. That doesn’t necessarily mean it’s inherently dangerous stuff that should be avoided at all times. All medication has side effects; even aspirin, for example, can cause stomach bleeding.

Dangers of Phentermine in practice

Phentermine is not prescribed worldwide for nothing in cases of obesity. Under the right circumstances, it can not only lead to the desired results but also does not pose significant risks to health. For example, research was conducted in Korea on 67 “relatively healthy overweight adults” (5). They were given 37.5 grams of Phentermine or a placebo daily. The group receiving Phentermine lost significantly more weight than the placebo group. The only side effects reported that were (statistically) significant were dry mouth and insomnia.

There were no significant differences in systolic and diastolic blood pressure between the groups (p = 0.122 for systolic BP; p = 0.219 for diastolic BP). Dry mouth and insomnia were the only statistically significant adverse events that occurred more frequently in phentermine group. Most side effects of phentermine were mild to moderate in intensity. Short-term phentermine administration induced significant weight reduction and reduction of waist circumference without clinically problematic adverse events on relatively healthy Korean obese people. -Kyoung Kon Kim, Gachon University Gil Medical Center

In the case of Iomax or Ionamin, however, things can go wrong for the same reasons as with anabolic steroid use.

1. It is not used as a doctor would prescribe. Think especially of the dosage and the duration and frequency of use.
2. It is used under circumstances and for reasons for which a doctor would not prescribe it.
3. The purchased product does not contain the ingredients it should contain or in other quantities.

The first two reasons also apply to anabolic steroid use. Steroids are produced for various medical purposes ranging from weight and/or strength gain for patients with different conditions to increasing libido by adding testosterone or its derivatives. They are not designed (medically speaking) to build even more muscles even faster in healthy individuals. The same applies to these diet pills. They are intended to support a good diet, exercise, and behavior change regarding nutrition in cases where rapid weight loss is necessary due to the risks of obesity. In such cases, the risks of possible side effects outweigh the risks of obesity. They are not meant to be used because you waited for the nice weather last Sunday and only now realize you wanted to walk on the beach with a six-pack. By using such substances on your own, without a doctor’s prescription, you run the risk of using medication and/or having a condition that would prevent you from using phentermine altogether (“contraindications”). Using phentermine while already having high blood pressure, for example, is a no-go. Moreover, it has been shown that people react very differently to phentermine. Just because someone on a forum claims to have used it for so long without problems doesn’t necessarily mean anything about how you would react to it (6). However, the most important point is the third one: You simply don’t know what’s in it because there is no control whatsoever! This will become clear further in this article.

Resin Complex

Phentermine is often produced with a so-called cathionic resin complex. This chemical processing ensures a more gradual release of the phentermine like esters do for anabolic steroids (although in a different way) (7).

Amphetamine or Speed?

One of the “users” describing his experience above says: “… I took it once and it was like I had snorted 4 grams of speed…” He could possibly have omitted the “like.” As mentioned, phentermine resembles amphetamine. This is also evident from the chemical structure which you can see next to it and compare with that of phentermine as depicted above. However, an important characteristic is that it has fewer severe side effects (when used correctly) than amphetamine. Speed is amphetamine. Amphetamine is a synthesized (manufactured) form of the ephedrine found naturally in the Ephedra plant (see image). There are different types of amphetamines such as “left-rotating” (less potent), “right-rotating” (more potent), and methamphetamine. In practice, a mixture of left-rotating and right-rotating is usually made and sold. The chemical structure of amphetamine closely resembles the hormone adrenaline and the neurotransmitter noradrenaline. It is therefore called a “sympathomimetic,” it mimics certain substances of the sympathetic nervous system (see also: stretching). In this case, it mimics adrenaline and noradrenaline, the effects of which I described earlier. Amphetamines were first synthesized in 1887. Methamphetamine on crystal basis (“crystal meth”) was developed in Japan in 1919. Both were administered on a large scale to soldiers during the Second World War to keep them active and alert for longer periods. The Japanese used crystal methamphetamines because it is highly soluble in water and therefore easily injectable. In the old footage, you see kamikaze pilots (“kamikaze”=”divine wind”) drinking sake before crashing their Zeros and their lives into enemy ships. The sake was mainly tradition and certainly not something that helps your concentration while flying and focuses you on your last action for the emperor and the fatherland. The methamphetamines did. In the war years, more and more was learned about the side effects such as heart problems resulting in deaths. After this, they were only allowed to be dispensed with a prescription, which often and easily happened until the 1960s. In 1970, they were classified as illegal substances, resulting in their production in illegal laboratories. In the Vietnam War, American soldiers used even more amphetamines than in the Second World War. The U.S. Air Force still issues amphetamines to its pilots. These so-called “Go-Pills” are given as an “extra” in case of fatigue. The pilots do not receive methamphetamines like the Japanese, but Dexedrine, a brand name for a mixture of left- and right-rotating amphetamines. The use of Go-Pills came to public attention when an American pilot mistakenly bombed Canadian troops with his F-16, killing four men. The pilot claimed that his judgment was influenced by the “Go-Pills.” While the drug may be useful in ensuring that tired pilots safely land their $30 million aircraft, prolonged use can lead to addiction and abnormal behavior.

Amphetamine found in Ionamin

The gentlemen of Ergogenics published a list a few years ago with all kinds of substances that had been tested for ingredients, mainly various anabolic steroids, but also Ionamin. For most products, it turned out that they did not contain what they should or that the dosage was incorrect. This was no different for products containing phentermine. This is what they found:

Product	Batch	Should contain	Contains	Real?
Ionamin Forte	99A28 408F	Phentermine 30 mg/cap	No active ingredients found	Counterfeit
Ionamin Forte (Medeva) Photo of the tested preparation see below*	–	Phentermine 30 mg/cap	Caffeine 2.8 mg/cap Amphetamine 7.7 mg/cap	Counterfeit
Medication Phentermine (web shop)	–	Phentermine 37.5 mg/cap	Caffeine 6.6 mg/cap Amphetamine sulfate 5.6 mg/cap Plant extract (undetermined)	Counterfeit

As you can see, the expression “like I had snorted 4 grams of speed” was quite cautious. In one capsule, almost twice that amount was found, while in another, there was no active ingredient at all! In the case of Ionamin, you were dealing with the official product approved by the relevant authorities, or you received counterfeit pills in counterfeit packaging. With Iomax, you don’t even know if the official product contains what it should.

Get Your Pills Tested?

It would be useful if you could have your pills tested so that you at least know which active ingredient you might expect side effects from (or that you might be paying for something that contains no active ingredient). I have therefore contacted the Drugs Information and Monitoring System (DIMS) of the Trimbos Institute for this purpose. DIMS analyzes drugs from users for composition (think of dangerous substances in MDMA, for example). I asked if they could test the weight loss pills. The initial response was that they do not test weight loss pills, but only drugs. However, when I mentioned that there is a suspicion that the pills contain amphetamine, they indicated that they could test some pills, but not on a regular basis for everyone who wants to have their stuff checked. I have therefore asked the same question to Jellinek, where drug users have their stuff tested. Once I have an answer, I will inform you about it here. In addition, I have asked the Dutch Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority (NVWA) if there is more information available since the warning a week and a half ago. For example, can they confirm that the active ingredient should be phentermine and have they already received pills from users to test? Today I received their response in which they indicate that they have not yet received any pills and refer to the Doping Authority. I then asked the same questions to the Doping Authority, but they also know nothing more than what was in the warning. However, they wondered if it is wise to speculate about the content as I do here and advise only repeating the NVWA’s notification that it is an illegal product of dubious origin with the advice not to use it. The problem, however, is that this is nothing new for the users, as can be seen from the comments at the top of this article. Some Ingrids will probably find the weight loss pill a lot less innocent if it turns them into speed users. But admittedly, it remains a suspicion. All the more reason to send that shit in and have it tested!!!

Conclusion

The biggest danger I see in Iomax/Ionamin myself is the same as with anabolics. Because they are banned, there is no oversight, and because there is no oversight, you have no idea what’s in them. This may not deter anyone since many users don’t even have an idea of what should be in them, let alone what actually is. (update 05-05-14) This is also evident from the responses I have received about this article since writing it. In the majority of cases, there is no discussion about the content of this article, but simply asking if I sell it or if I know where it can be bought. For clarity: No! That would go against the message of this article.

Attachment: Brand Names (source: Wiki)

Phentermine is sold under various names:

Adipex P (immediate release)Adiphene (India)Anoxine-AMIonamin (slow-release resin, Australia, discontinued in the US)Duromine (slow-release resin, New Zealand, Australia and South Africa)Metermine (slow-release resin, Australia)MiraprontObephenObermineObestin-30PhentreminePhentrolPhenterex

PhentrominPro-Fast SAQsymia (with topiramate)RedusaPanbesyPhentermine TrenkerObenixOby-TrimTeramineZantrylSinpet (MX)Supremin (PH)Suprenza (orally disintegrating tablet)Umine (NZ)Weltmine (KP)

References

1.  “phentermine”. The American Society of Health-System Pharmacists. Retrieved 3 April 2011.
2. Nelson DL, Gehlert DR (February 2006). “Central nervous system biogenic amine targets for control of appetite and energy expenditure”. Endocrine 29 (1): 49–60. doi:10.1385/ENDO:29:1:149. PMID 16622292.
3. Rothman RB, Baumann MH, Dersch CM, et al. (January 2001). “Amphetamine-type central nervous system stimulants release norepinephrine more potently than they dopamine and serotonin”. Synapse 39 (1): 32–41.
4. Micromedex Consumer Medication Information. Phentermine (By mouth). Published: November 1, 2012. PMHT0011706
5. Kyoung Kon Kim, Hi-Jung Cho, Hee-Cheol Kang, Bang-Bu Youn, and Kyu-Rae Lee Effects on Weight Reduction and Safety of Short-Term Phentermine Administration in Korean Obese People. Yonsei Med J. 2006 October 31; 47(5): 614–625.Published online 2006 October 31. doi: 10.3349/ymj.2006.47.5.614. PMCID: PMC2687747
6. Douglas A, Douglas JG, Robertson CE, Munro JF. Plasma phentermine levels, weight loss and side-effects. Int J Obes. 1983;7(6):591-5.
7. Inderbir SINGH, Ashish K. REHNI, Rohit KALRA, Gaurav JOSHI, Manoj KUMAR,Hassan Y. ABOUL-ENEIN. Ion Exchange Resins: Drug Delivery and Therapeutic Applications. FABAD J. Pharm. Sci., 32, 91-100, 2007