Update 1/20/20. Japanese Hokkaido Weight Loss Pills are another in a long line of weight loss supplements from Japan, China, Vietnam, etc. aimed predominately at Americans. I admit I'd never heard of these slimming pills until it was brought to my attention by one of the readers of my blog. At various websites, these pills are said to be “in high demand,” and when I checked eBay, I saw some people selling them for over $60! Do these slimming pills work? Let’s see what the research says. This review contains updated and new information, thanks to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), who tested Hokkaido weight loss pills and discovered what I suspected from the start… Also, see the review of Slim Trim U for more info.
Hokkaido Pills Ingredients
Hokkaido weight loss pills contain these ingredients.
- Dill Extract
- Chinese rose extract
- Trumpet Creeper extract
- Evening primrose extract
- Lotus
Is there any evidence that these ingredients help people lose weight? Let’s look at the research and see:
Dill Extract
They don’t tell you what “extract” they are talking about, but when I searched for weight loss research on dill, I found nothing. Dill does seem to have a diuretic effect so it may act as a natural water pill. I'm guessing that is why it’s in the ingredients.
Women who may be pregnant should avoid Hokkaido Weight Loss Pills. There is some speculation that dill may cause menstrual bleeding. I cannot find any research or case studies to substantiate this, however, but it is something to consider.
Chinese Rose Extract
Again, they do not tell us what specific extract they are talking about. What is the scientific name of the Chinese rose they are using? If anyone knows, let me know, and I will update this review.
Trumpet Creeper Extract
If you search for research on Trumpet Creeper, online, it can be a little difficult to find because its scientific name is Campsis radicans. Another name –albeit less scientific – is cow itch, which is a reference to how farm animals sometimes get a rash when they rub against it. This makes sense since the name “radicans” is the same classification as poison ivy (Rhus radicans).
That said, I could not locate any weight loss proof that Trumpet Creeper helps weight loss. When I googled Trumpet Creeper and weight loss, many sites that came up had to do with sites that sell weight-loss pills and that was no help. I then checked the National Library of Medicine and also couldn’t find anything. One problem with my search is that we are not told what extract of Trumpet Creeper is in Hokkaido weight loss pills.
Evening Primrose Extract
This is also called GLA, which stands for gamma-linolenic acid. The lack of evening primrose weight loss research makes me very skeptical. One study from the 1980s found evening primrose oil did not help weight loss.
Because evening primrose oil effects blood clotting, people taking blood thinners should avoid this product. There is also some perplexing cancer research hints that evening primrose oil might either reduce breast cancer growth or speed up breast cancer growth, depending on how much is used. The bottom line, if you have a history of cancer, talk to your doctor first.
The product Abdominal Cuts also has evening primrose oil. See that review for more info.
Evening primrose oil is sometimes used for PMS symptoms –with mixed results. Like Dill, women who may be pregnant should not use evening primrose oil.
It may be very dangerous. If you have my book on supplements see the chapter on evening primrose oil for more on its other uses.
Hokkaido FDA Update
In November 2012, The FDA alerted the public that Japanise Hokkaido Slimming Pills contained the weight loss drug called sibutramine, a weight-loss drug that was removed from the US market in 2010 because it posed significant health risks. Here is what the FDA said in their warning about Hokkaido pills:
“Sibutramine is known to substantially increase blood pressure and/or pulse rate in some patients and may present a significant risk for patients with a history of coronary artery disease, congestive heart failure, arrhythmias, or stroke. This product may also interact, in life-threatening ways, with other medications a consumer may be taking.”
This explains the very strange symptoms people have been reporting in the comments.
Lotus
Human weight loss research on lotus cannot be located. I did locate one test-tube study where lotus and L carnitine reduced fat buildup inside fat cells. This is interesting but it’s a study of fat cells in test tubes. You are MUCH more complex than a test tube.
You may recall that lotus is one of the ingredients in Zi Xiu Tang Bee Pollen weight loss supplements.
On one of the websites that sell Hokkaido Pills, they spelled “primrose” wrong and there is broken English. Nobody is perfect but ingredient typos – and broken English on websites make me wonder about who put this website together.
Do Hokkaido Weight Loss Pills work?
Based on the research I can find, I say no, this stuff cannot possibly work – if these are the only ingredients in the pills. If people are losing weight, I am interested in hearing about it. Since I wrote this review, the FDA has confirmed what I thought all along – that Hokkaido slimming pills contained something not listed in the ingredients, a drug called sibutramine. Because of this, Hokkaido weight loss pills cannot be recommended.
What do you think?
I can send you the box, definitely. I can also send you a capsule in the box, if that helps…It is very interesting that it does work. It decreases the appetite, does not increase the hart rate but, at least for me , the insomnia is intolerable. I would be very interested to know what substances are in those capsules. I am wondering how come the pharmaceutical companies don’t look into it. If I’d know that the product does not have long term side effects, I would continue to take it. The insomnia could be solved with Benadryl. Are you aware who can tell what substances are in those capsules? Thanks
Cam555 sounds good Ill email you privately now. Thanks!
i just took one pill 7 hours ago, it has a side effect wherein it prevents you from getting drowsy or sleepy. I gave it a try since i only have 1 hour of sleep and I still need to work 8 hour graveyard shift.
Yes, one of its side effects worked! I am not sleepy at all. I experience cold sweat, nausea, dizzy, and the worst part is.. I HAVE RASHES ALL OVER MY BODY.. 🙁 i regret taking even a single pill! Now I’m itchy all over..
Hime wow! I think your the first person to say that side effect from Hokkaido weight loss pills. It sounds like you had an allergic reaction. Hopefully you have stopped taking the pills!
zxt gold is sold by floydnutrition.com . I got a sample of 10 capsules. On the box is nothing more than on the website. Thanks
The more I hear about floyd nutrition, the less I like it. I will write a review on zxt gold if I can see the box which lists the ingredients. if you can do that let me know and Ill email you privately
Hi, I was wondering if you have any expedience with ZXT gold. I started to take it 6 days ago, it does decrease the appetite but I have some concerning side effects.I feel nauseated and I cannot sleep more than 4 hours. I don’t have problems falling asleep but I wake up at 3-4 am. No dry mouth so far, no palpitations.My face become red and I have chills or hot flashes about one hour after I take the pills. Does anyone have any experience with ZXT Gold? Joe, do you have any idea what could be in those capsules? Thanks
Cam, I have not yet reviewed ZXT Gold (if anyone would like to send me the box I would review it) . I dont know whats causing those side effects where did you get your zxt gold from?
Hi! I’ve been taking this pill for 2 months now using the prescribed 2 capsules per day before breakkie and I’ve lost 11 pounds since. I just don’t feel hungry at all! A lot of times I lose track of time and forget to have lunch because I don’t feel any hunger pangs. This is quite dangerous if you are alone most of the time. The only time I get to eat right and at a decent time is when I have dinner with my family or when I’m out with friends. Food has to be right in front of me for me to feel hungry. I eat my usual amount (pre-diet) and sometimes overindulge on certain foods *cough-chocolates-cough*.
One thing that’s bothered me is that I feel dehydrated and thirsty the whole day (and I keep forgetting to bring a bottle of water with me in the car when I go out!). It feels like no amount of water can satiate the thirstiness I feel & – slight exaggeration, but it feels like that sometimes. Other than that, I do not have the symptoms others (above commentors) have experienced with Hokkaido.
I’ve lately combined Hokkaido with daily supplements of Womens UltraMega from GNC (to make sure I get my daily nutritional requirements since I keep forgetting to leave my desk and get something to eat), additional 400 IU Vitamin E (for the skin) and Psyllium Seed Husk from GNC whenever I feel my constitution or bowel movement is not normal. I take all of them in the morning (except the Psyllium Husk capsule, which I take at night when I’m at home for obvious reasons).
When I get the chance, I’ll have myself checked for kidney stones and UTI, just in case I’m developing one already (though I do not feel the symptoms yet).
I still have 1 bottle left (40 capsules) and I think by the time I finish it, I’d have already achieved my desired weight. I started out at 138lbs and now down to 127. I want to lose those last 7 pounds. At 5’5, I do not see myself as fat or have an unhealthy body image. In fact, I think I’m lucky to be at my old body weight, but I just want to fit in my old clothes (especially my jeans!) again. I look at my old pictures when I was at my preferred weight and those are the ones that feel good to me.
I’m just sharing my experience with Hokkaido pills. In no way am I encouraging you to try it. I recommend that before you start taking this diet pill to check with your doctor first.
Thanks for having this amazing site — truly informative, unbiased and credible!
Mika
Mika, thanks for commenting and I appreciate your words and your compliments. keep us posted on how you progress 🙂
Joe, I just commented a minute ago regarding Hokkaido pills. I stated that they have been commented the most on of all your other reviews, but I see I was wrong!! Xi Zu. has the most post, but this pill really has alot of recent comments that indicate more & more people are using it to lose weight. I also wanted to add that I have been taken Bladderwrack & Apple Cider Vinegar capsules for three months now, and have seen a HUGE difference in my clothes!! They are practically falling off of me!! No joke.
I know these are two herbal pills that have been around a long time, and have great results w/o harmful side effects as most other herbal or synthetic pills. My own mother told me about the apple cider vinegar,(which has so many medicinal purposes within itself) and I asked my nutritionist friend who runs a health food store about the bladderwrack. I desire to lose about another 20 pounds. I know I will because I’m losing slowly, and have NO SIDE EFFECTS @ all with these combinations. (2 pills each x’s 3 per day will give fantastic results with a good healthy diet). Hope this can help any other reader of your page!! 🙂
Crissandra, my mom told me about apple cider vinegar too!! Must be a mom thing 🙂 Ive been meaning to look at any research on apple cider vinegar for a while now because execept from what I hear from others -and my mom – I dont know much about it but the fact that you are losing weight is good. Sometimes its testimonials that spur research. At this point I dont know how it would work but I do want to look at it. If you ever come across any research Id be interested in reading it. Same for Bladderwrack too!
Yes zi ziu tang stands ad the most popular thing Ive ever reviewed so far but you are also right that currently more people seem to be interested in Hokkaido weight loss pills. I think that’s because weight loss supplements come and go and when zi xiu tang stopped working for people – for whatever reason – and people stopped buying it. ‘Ive even seen internal memos from zi xiu tang distributors who knew something changed with the product but didn’t understand what changed. very weird.
I really like the matter-of-fact way that Chris, the last commenter on this site just said about this pill! He brought up a wonderful question: If u have a product that really works, would u give the secret ingredient out, and expose it for everyone to copy? I don’t think so!!
That’s why this weight loss pill have gotten more comments than any other one that Joe has researched. I still want to know more about this pill myself, so I will continue to read everyone’s comments!! (BY the way: I wish one of the scientist behind these pills @ Hokkaido Pharmacy, Ltd. would read this page & comment themselves & let us ALL know why it’s soooo popular).
Crissandra Ditto! I’d also like to learn more from somebody at Hokkaido Pharmacy. Good point!
of course they will not specify what ingredients they exactly used they will just put some of it for the label only. it’s a business by the way…if i were the owner of the company where hokkaido is made and many users testify that it really works in reducing weight i will not really show the secret ingredients why it is so effective we are all working for money and everyone of us will do everything just to earn even restaurants have there secret recipes why customers always prefer to buy and eat there product…just like the said slimming pills it has a secret ingredient why it works effectively and they will not show it so no one can copy there product…so therefore it’s for business all along…
and for the negative effects of it for me its with the person how he or she take it because if you take the pill you must also know if it is suitable for you…before taking the pills make some research first collect all the comments from the users then analyze go to your physician have a check up first to know if you have some illness then after if there’s nothing wrong with your body to take it then go for it….but of course you should always remember the best food for your health…be physically fit always while taking hokkaido because it not just with the hokkaido it within you also….thats all..
Joe
thanks for your concern, ill stop these pills now, i don’t want something happen to me, but for now i don’t know what to do, in my case I’m worried in my health, how i wish theirs nothing wrong happen in my body..
this blog really helps a lot for those people who taking this pills to stop immediately..
Pinkypop, I am glad to help. Have you talked to your doctor about your desire to lose weight? that can be a good first step to taking the weight off in a healthy way.
I have been taking this pills for about a 2 weeks already. For the first 3 days, i also experience the following symptoms. Insomnia, Chills, Colds and intense sweating. i stopped taking 2 capsules a day as recommended on day 4 and 5. On day 6 and 7 i stopped taking it since i really wish to eat something good since taking this pills made me lose my appetite.
On day 8, i drink 2 capsule before breakfast because i wanted to eliminate the excess intake i had for two days, Surprisingly, after 2 days taking it i don’t feel anything anymore. Like this pill no longer works for me. I still have my appetite, sleeps good, and i eat a lot.
On day 10, i stopped taking it because instead of losing weight, i started gaining weight. Like, What happened? it worked for the first 3 days till the 6th day and stopped. So, i stopped taking it, still in owe. Was wondering what had gone wrong.
Hokkaido do slims you down but we really can’t trust our health to slimming pills.
hi Joe,
I taking this pills for about 4days starting this Monday, on my first day i take 2 pills.. after about 1 hour i felt trembles, and i have a cold sweat, that night i slept the same routine that i have, so i cant even imagine that i experience having insomnia attack.. same as for 2nd day.. but for the 3rd day and this day i experienced having back pain, and also after taking my meals maybe about 5 mins i go to the restroom..
But i felt to my self i reduced weight even my belly i don’t look like i’m 3 months pregnant..
Please help me to decide if i need to continue taking this pills.. thank you so much… all i want is to reduce my weight as normal like before without any risk to my health.. thanks for your help…
Pinkypop, I have to be honest and say your symptoms worry me. While I could be wrong – and I probably am – the cold sweats and back pain are symptoms of a heart attack. I dont mean to scare you but its the first thing I thought of when you told me your symptoms. I say this because I really feel Hokkaido weight loss pills contain some sort of weight loss drug or other ingredient, not mentioned on the ingredients list that is promoting the weight loss people are seeing.
I still stand by my original conclusion that based on the ingredients I saw in Hokkaido pills, there is no way this stuff helps people lose weight. One of the more recent products I’ve reviewed that was found to contain a weight loss drug was Phentraburn so this spiking of supplements with drugs does happen unfortunately. Here is the link to my review which links to the FDA website http://supplementclarity.com/phentraburn-slimming-supplements-unbiased-review-of-ingredients/
I recommend you stop taking Hokkaido weight loss pills. I dont know whats in them and I just dont want to take the chance that I am right. I hope some of this helps you.
I started taking these about two weeks ago. I haven’t weighed my self but I definitely feel the difference. I have experienced some side effects of dry mouth the first day I had a horrible head ache but that was just once. i sleep fine no insomnia. I get full right away when I eat and I don’t crave good all the time.which is great because I am one to check the fridge fifty times a day. I go to the restroom more which is not normal for me. I feel lighter.
Aileen, I checked you out on your FB page. If you dont mind me saying, I think you look great now. I wouldn’t change a thing.
Hi! Thanks for your review. I was planning to purchase a bottle of the said slimming pills again after taking it for a few weeks. At first, I lose about 5 kg in just a week but the effect was not so good. I was experiencing insomnia, severe headache and difficulty of breathing while taking this product. I got scared to continue the next dose because I know that this signs are life-threatening. So, what I did, I finally decided to stop taking it and threw the remaining pills instead.
After several days, my weight had increased again. My appetite went back to the way it was before and up to this time I am still gaining weight. Not until this time that I got to this point of wanting to have a fit body again. However, it made me think to be very careful this time. I’ve checked out your review and, whoaw, thanks for giving such an informative and educational revelation.
I discouraged my friends too not to take this pills anymore.
Liza, thanks for your kind words I am glad I was able to help.
I haven’t tried these but i know a lot of people who use them and have a lot of weight and none say that they have any of the above symptoms. It could be maybe that the people who had those side effects were because they might of purchased the knock offs, as from what I was told they do exist. Just wanted to add that 🙂
hi i took hokkaido pills last may and I lost 5kg in 1 bottle after 1 bottle I felt dull in my right side so i went to the doctor and i had a test urinalysis and they found out i have UTI need to check my kidney so after the kidney ultrasound it found out that i have a mild kidney problem because of that pills so I was confined in the hospital for about 4 days please avoid these pills
Joe –
I forgot to mention that I’m from Manila, Philippines. The person who sold me those pills DID NOT TELL me any of those symptoms I felt. She merely told me that it was totally safe. In fact, those pills can only be purchased online and delivered via courier. They are not available in drugstores and they are not registered with the Philippine Food and Drug Administration Office. I was aware of this, yet I still went on to purchase a couple of bottles.
I hope that those still using Japan Hokkaido pills would be able to look up this site and read all the negative feedback in order for them to STOP taking those pills before it’s too late.
CJA, yes having a pain in your right side after taking the pills would give me concern also.
I took Japan Hokkaido slimming pills during the first week of September 2011. On my first day, I took 2 capsules 30 minutes before breakfast. About 1 1/2 hours after, I began to perspire profusely, my hands and feet felt cold, I had chills, and I began to feel weak. I felt as if my strength was being drained out of me. About 3 hours later, I felt tingling sensations in my fingers. All throughout the day, I felt weak, and had very dry mouth.
I told the person whom I bought the pills from about my experience and she advised me to take 1 pill instead of 2. She also said that what I experienced was normal, in fact she even had customers who experienced palpitation.
The following day, I took just 1 pill, 30 minutes before breakfast. Again, I perspired profusely, felt weak (but not as much as the previous day), my mouth was dry, and I had tingling sensations in my fingers. I also experienced some dull pain on my right side.
I also experienced frequent urination and bowel movement.
Despite what I felt, I took the pills for about a week, and noticed my stomach got a little flatter, and my tight clothes suddenly fit me already.
After just 1 week, I completely stopped taking the pills because I was afraid the tingling sensations I felt in my fingers was an early sign of heart attack.
Yes, Japan Hokkaido slimming pills really slims you in a short period of time, but having gone through what I did, is not worth continuing taking those pills at the risk of my health or my life.
I’m glad there is a site that looked into the Japan Hokkaido pills. Thank you, Joe.
CJA, thanks for letting me know what happened to you and I’m glad you stopped taking the pills. Those symptoms would concern me also! Did the person who sold you the Hokkaido pills tell you about these symptoms before they sold them to you? Im guessing they did not or you probably might not have used them. The people who sell Hokkaido weight loss pills (and many other weight loss supplements) have no education in nutrition, science or medicine and because of that, telling you to cut back to 1 pill a day was poor advice. I dont think many of them realize the potential severity of the symptoms you described. Any supplement that causes heart palpations scares me. They put profit over your health and I find that disturbing.
I started using these last last week. On my first week I lost about 4 kilos (without exercise). And because I wanted to lose more weight, on my 2nd week, I did exercise. And it seems that I cannot see some changes. Does moving a lot affects the effectiveness of the pill? And also, I feel like I am bloating and constipated. Unlike on my first week, I feel very light.
I’m on day two of these hokkaido pills as well – very similar initial side effects to that of zi xui tang (I tried them last year and lost 25 lbs in 4 months before they changed the formula). I didn’t sleep well last night, and I now have this ‘glazed over’ feeling today… the only thing I can compare it to is the dizziness/high feeling I used to get from taking too much Coricidin/Dextromethorphan when I was a teenager. Also, I’ve only taken one pill as opposed to the recommended two daily. Just thought I’d pass this info along… I’ll update next month if I notice any significant changes. Joe, thanks for keeping these blogs and updates around!
Emillle, thanks I am glad to help 🙂
I was just wondering what the average amount of weight loss per bottle?
Dani, I dont think thats possible to answer. Its a good question but I don’t think that answer is known for any weight loss supplement.