22-year-old girl suffered permanent kidney damage from taking weight loss pills

The female patient was transferred to Binh Dan Hospital (HCMC) on March 29 with swollen legs and arms, gastrointestinal bleeding, a lot of fluid in the pleural cavity, acute liver failure, impaired kidney function, and electrolyte disturbances, threatening her life.

Doctors at the Department of Internal Dialysis, Binh Dan Hospital actively performed emergency treatment to help the patient overcome the critical stage, however her kidney function could not be restored.

Currently, the patient has to undergo dialysis three times a week, leading to financial exhaustion.

The girl worked as a janitor in an office building. Feeling self-conscious about her 1.5 m tall, 60 kg weight, she saved up money to buy "weight loss pills" from an acquaintance.

"I bought 250 pills for 500,000 VND and took them continuously for a month," the patient recounted. These pills had no brand name and unknown origin.

At first, the girl urinated more often and lost about 6 kg. After that, she was often tired, couldn't sleep, and had to quit her job. Gradually, the patient's eyes swelled, spreading to her face and then to her hands and feet.

Dr. Le Thi Dan Thuy, Head of the Department of Internal Dialysis, Binh Dan Hospital, said that since before Tet, many patients have been admitted to the emergency room with kidney failure due to using weight loss pills. Some patients were lucky to be treated promptly and their kidney function has recovered. There are 3 cases of irreversible kidney damage, currently requiring regular check-ups, monitoring, and dialysis.

In addition to using weight loss pills, many patients also drink weight loss tea or weight loss powder of unknown origin. Kidney failure progresses very quickly after just over a month of use. Users often urinate more, lose about 10% of their weight in about 1-2 weeks, then fall into a state of multiple organ failure such as acute kidney failure, acute liver failure, body fatigue, edema...

Doctors recommend that consumers should be careful when choosing and using weight loss products, especially those sold online. The weight loss process requires a combination of a suitable diet, increased exercise and enough time to lose weight, instead of believing in "miracle weight loss" products. Only use weight loss support products with clear ingredients and origins and under the advice and prescription of a doctor.