The woman was previously in normal health but had been taking an unregulated weight-loss product for about a month.

The product, labeled in a foreign language without Vietnamese instructions, was advertised in English to help consumers “lose seven kilos in seven days.”

X-rays show the patient’s brain has damaged to the bilateral thalamus. Photo by Bach Mai Hospital

Her family found her unconscious and rushed her to Bach Mai Hospital in Hanoi for emergency treatment.

A hospital representative reported on Monday that scans revealed severe damage to both sides of her thalamus.

The hospital’s Poison Control Center then sent a sample of the weight loss pill to the National Institute for Food Control, which confirmed that the pill contained Sibutramine—a drug once used to treat obesity but later banned due to its risks of toxicity, stroke, and cardiovascular diseases.

After regaining consciousness, the patient disclosed that she had purchased the pills on TikTok and had been taking one pill daily for over a month while fasting. She lost 4-5 kg during this period.

Nguyen Trung Nguyen, director of the hospital’s Poison Control Center, stated that although Sibutramine was once widely used for obesity treatment, it has been banned in the U.S., Europe, and Vietnam because its risks outweigh its benefits. Large-scale studies have confirmed that the drug increases the risk of stroke and severe cardiovascular complications.

In Vietnam, the Drug Administration banned the importation, distribution, and sale of Sibutramine-based products in 2010. The substance is now classified as prohibited for use in dietary supplements and health-related products.

“Sibutramine has a molecular structure similar to amphetamine, making it extremely dangerous,” Dr. Nguyen warned.

Two bottles of the weight loss drugs that the patient uses. Photo courtesy of her family

He added that the Poison Control Center has treated multiple cases of poisoning linked to weight loss supplements and coffee products containing Sibutramine, with some patients experiencing coma, seizures, and permanent brain damage.

In addition to Sibutramine, unregulated weight loss products may also contain other harmful substances such as phenolphthalein, high doses of caffeine, and synephrine, all of which pose significant health risks.

Experts recommend consulting a doctor for personalized advice on safe weight loss, noting that a balanced diet and increased physical activity remain the most effective and safest approaches.