The FDA is warning you to stop using Hydroxycut, now. The weight loss drug is associated with serious side effects.

In a press release issued today, the FDA stated that it "has received 23 reports of serious health problems ranging from jaundice and elevated liver enzymes, an indicator of potential liver injury, to liver damage requiring liver transplant. One death due to liver failure has been reported to the FDA. Other health problems reported include seizures; cardiovascular disorders; and rhabdomyolysis, a type of muscle damage that can lead to other serious health problems such as kidney failure."

The entire press release can be read on the FDA's web site.

Most supplements are not tested by the FDA, leaving consumers to trust that the manufacturers are creating safe products. There is often no way to know if the supplement is safe, or if there is any interference with other medicines or supplements.

In other words, every time you take a supplement, you are voluntarily making yourself a guinea pig. Tell your doctor and your pharmacist what supplements you are taking and what drugs you also take.

Or better yet, don't take supplements.

Need to lose weight? Eat more vegetables, keep a food journal and exercise. Not only are these effective, they are also much safer than taking an unknown supplement.