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?
The light headedness you feel from taking the pills is called HYPOGLYCEMIA which is just decreased blood sugar because you haven’t been eating. I usually take this as my cue to grab a meal. Drink lots of water when your mouth feels dry.
The best way to take the pills is in the morning–as described in the box. Having a heavy breakfast at around 7am will tide you over until 4 pm. Eating at around this time keeps me full enough to skip dinner, which is best because you don’t need the extra calories when you go to sleep.
Thinner Me, while that does make some sense, there are other things than can cause lightheadedness other than low blood sugar. While drinking water is a good thing as a rule, if your urine looks clear, people are probalby getting enough. There is a serious condition called Hyponatremia that results from drinking too much water. The water “dilutes” the electrolytes in the blood. One symptom of hyponatremia is being lightheaded/confused. in extreme cases it can lead to death.
Just wanted to toss hyponatremia into the conversation since its something that does not get talked about much.
Happy New Year by the way 😉
Hokkaido does work, I lost 20 lbs in 2 months. I think they work by:
1. Suppressing your appetite.
2. Diuresis/Flushing out water in your body which decreases bloating and increases thirst (the more water you drink the more full you feel)
3. Increasing your metabolic rate–I had palpitations and noted that I sweat more
Regarding safety, since there are no trials to establish its long term effects, I think it should be best to have baseline values of liver and kidney function tests.
BTW, UTI is an INFECTION acquired from bacteria and other microbes that climb up to the bladder from the genitals and anus, I don’t think you can blame it on the pills.
Its always a personal choice to take meds or not, if you’re not sure and if you think it might be harmful, then don’t. I don’t know what the other side effects of this drug are but I know it really makes you lose weight.
I have a feeling alot of people are getting fake ones and they need to know what they are ingesting.
I’ve been taking the Hokkaido pills for 3 months, the first 2 weeks I was very thirsty and lost my track of thought. The symptoms faded away and now I have no side effects. I’ve lost 25 pounds in 3 months and went down 2 pant sizes. I feel so good and everyone notices the weight loss.
If I eat I will use the bathroom within 15 minutes but that’s okay because I feel empty and not bloated or full. Some days I feel like munching throughout the day and other days I don’t have the desire to eat at all. I do not get the chills, UTI, or any of the other major side effects other people have had. I know over 15 people currently taking the pills and the average weight loss is about 2 pounds a week.
I’ve been taking these pills for a week now. The first day I took them, I felt lightheaded and very weak. My mouth felt like the Sahara desert but I still didn’t drink much water. I experienced occasional palpitations and headache. I still felt hungry all the time and it didn’t suppress my appetite.
After reading this, I would definitely stop taking these pills and any kind of slimming products. Last year, I tried Curvy Slimming Juice and a month after I experienced an irregular heartbeat. It felt like I’m having a heart attack. My mom told me that if I continue taking these, I’ll be thinner. Thin enough to fit a slim coffin.
Thank you for this site! You’re a blessing! I will send this to all my friends ♥
Melissa, thanks for your words. I have not heard of Curvy Slimming Juice before. Ill add it to my list of things to look at 🙂
I took these pills last year and started off weighing 192lbs. In around 3-4 months i was down to 165 lbs without changing my eating routine. Only side affects I have experiences is dry mouth. Other than that they have worked great.
Hey guys,
I have also actually been wondering about the adverse side effects of this slimming pill. I have been taking this for about 2 months and I can definitely say that it has made a very big change on my weight and on my mother’s as well my mother lost 5inches off her waist and so have I. Besides the tingling sensations, profuse sweating, liquid stool, and frequent visits to the restroom, I have not experienced any bad effects, or at least effects that my mother and I could not bear.
the only thing that worries me though is the effect the medicine may have in the long run. I was told by my supplier to take the pills for two months then abstain from it for a month and detoxify for a week and, if I still wish to do so, go back to taking the pills.
I dont know whether to say that these pills are soo dangerous to one’s health since there has been no proof that it is. But, if it does have, then stopping the intake would definitely not be hard.
My teachers and friends at school have noticed the very big change that I have had, so I told them about hokkaido and some of them have started taking the pill. But, once there is proof of it being not good for one’s health, then Ill advice against it.
I have a question does anyone know that there is fake Hokkaido slimming pills out there or even how to tell which ones are fake. And about the guy from kern county that had his shipment seized. I live in kern county and I know tons of people that order them straight from the manufacturer and never had that problem and I get the real ones and there is no typos on the bottle and the shipments never been labeled wrong.
I have been taking them for a week now with no side effects. That’s probably why the stories vary so much. The number one way to tell if you have the real deal is when you open up the pills the real ones have a tan powder and the fake ones have a dark brown powder
hi joe! I appreciate your effort in doing a research re hokkaido pills..
Im from the Philippines..I took Jap-Hok for 4days as instructed on the label..I lost 4kg in 4days but that was such a TRAUMATIC EXPERIENCE! In the first 3 days of taking it, I felt “blank”,like somewhat “floating” and dizzy..the effect was immediate..like 30mins after taking 2 pills before breakfast.
The positive effects:
-I NEVER felt hungry ,I don’t have appetite, I even forced myself to eat so as not to skip a meal..
-I felt very active like the symptoms kinda subside once I do brisk walking or running… I’m an ER nurse so that effect might have been beneficial for me.
-I noticed my belly,arms and thighs suddenly shrank down.
The Negative effects:
-I felt dryness on my throat and skin even if i drink lots of water.
-I had a problem with my short term memory,weird?yeah, but my colleagues shared the same symptom too.
-the worst side effect is palpitations!
On the 4th day,i felt tingling sensation on both hands,numbness of arms and legs radiating to face,cold sweats and pale skin.I almost felt like dying or passing out!i was rushed to the hospital where I work,did an ECG,blood tests and IV hydration.The ER Doctor (who’s my friend) was shocked to see Ischemia on my ECG which might predict or might lead to HEART ATTACK! Thank God other tests did not confirm it so.however, my Potassium level has dropped due to dehydration which is very dangerous.
when I told the doctor I took the pills,he warned me that those pills usually contain “methamphetamine” that is used to treat severe obesity but has harmful even fatal effects too.
I hope this would be a Lesson TO EVERYONE!
Don’t risk your lives over such slimming pills!
Anne, thanks for writing and for mentioning the ischemia. That is a VERY serious condition. I keep wondering what is in Jap Hok pills that would cause that. I don’t trust the product label to tell us all that that product contains.
I’m Back Sir, and again I’m taking this tablets i already lose a lot of weights :)) Thanks to Hokkaido pills. The only side effects is hard bowel movement. I don’t know why. 😀 But I already lose a lot of weight because of this. EFFECTIVE again.
ok sounds good Marius but remember I don’t think you need to lose much from your website picture
Hello.. I started taking it yesterday and experience same side effects.. Dry throat specifically that I have to drink water continuously. Yet, today, when i took it, minutes after i felt so weak, wanna vomit and feeling chills all over my body.
I’m from Philippines anyway.. I’m about to buy at an online store my friend recommended (she took this pill also and I saw that she really loss weight) but decided to just buy at the stores here in our place because of the shipment fee. I bought the pills at P250 pesos.. Here’s the link that my friend is recommending me http://www.sulit.com.ph/index.php/view+classifieds/id/3981143/ORIGINAL+JAPAN+HOKKAIDO+SLIMMING+PILLS
No one seems to be talking about WHERE they’re getting these from. With the ZXT we were talking about the distributors and who to trust and how they were handling (or not) the complaints.
Is there anyone here that can share where they’re getting their product from? Particularly since that horror story from the man in California. Is everyone ordering these direct from the Philippines? Is there anyone here that brought product into Canada?
Any comments and feedback on sources would be appreciated.
Hi Joe,
I have read the comments about Hokkaido and I tell you this stuff really works.
This really helped me in losing weight. I have always been on the heavy side all my life and had tried all sorts of weight loss regimen there is in the market. Some did work but it takes so much time and effort, and even so, I only lost very little.
I have been afraid to take pills as it is always featured with bad side effects and doesn’t really work (some are very expensive). I even at some point tried Orlistat (anti-obesity pill) for 2 weeks out of desperation and the experience was very embarassing and uncomfortable (as it gives you very nasty smelling-oily poop).
Now a cousin of mine tried Hokkaido, and I’ve really seen the difference. She lost around 20lbs from her 180lbs frame and it was only for 1 bottle. I was impressed and asked her to order one for me.
I took 2 pills before breakfast and yes, same symptoms as what others described above. Dry mouth, tingling sensation, thirst, loss of appetite, mild headache. I got a bit scared but reading the literature, it is expected. So i let it pass and continued, for as long as my body allows it (see I am that desperate). Then gradually it gotten better. I experience lesser symptoms, and good thing was, I lost my appetite consistently all throughout. I am happy it did because it is hard for me to cut down on food that I really crave for.
My clothes were starting to fit better within a week of taking it. And i feel better and ‘clean’ inside, because it has a diuretic effect. I had a regular bowel movement and am less constipated. But not really bad painful LBM like when you’re taking slimming teas.
As for the side effects, I think it would depend on who is taking it. Make sure you do not have any kidney or heart problems before getting into this regimen. Or better yet get a general health check first. I think it applies to all, especially if you’re trying to lose weight.
I’m almost halfway down my 1st bottle and I have lost almost 8-10lbs already. Which is really good because I had never lost so much weight with less exercise in a span of weeks. I’ll continue taking it until I reach my desired weight. Then eventually stop. My take on this product is, it really Does work with minimal side effects.
Hope this review helped.
Ella, thanks for the feedback. much appreciated. let me know how things go weight – wise when you get off Hokkaido pills. Im curious if the weight comes back and if it does, how fast it returns.
hi everyone… Im taking hokkaido on my third week now.. on my first day i experienced very dry mouth and the tendency to want to vomit …and cold hands and feet… on my third day i started experiencing profuse sweating… and i dont eat the whole day which causes slight headaches… but then i lost a lot of weight.. Im a musician so i need to maintain my figure for me to look good on stage. I’d say this pill works for me and i dont experience that much of col hands and sweating already..just dry mouth.. so i just drink lot of water… 🙂
wow joe,
thanks so much for this very informative post. i was about to purchase my very 1st bottle. i decided to read actual testimonial from past users and thankfully i landed on your blog.
now it got me thinking if buying those hokkaido pills for a very cheap price is worth risking my health.
thanks
-april
April, glad I could help you 🙂
Hi joe,
Want to hear somebody from hokkaido to say something on this pill..
Joe, I have tried Hokkaido Pills and yes they are effective. I was hesitant at first but when I tried it, it works like wonder. no major side effects except for the drying of throat and not craving for food. I feel so full even if I have eaten just 1/4 of my regular meal. the first week I have loss 4kg. I was 59 kg and not proportional to my height of 4″11. so I took the pills for a month. for my second week I loss 5kg and for the 3rd and last week I loss 7kg. all in all I loss 16kg for a month. Gained down to 43kg. I didn’t exercise or whatsoever. I stopped using the pills cause I wanted to try another slimming pill that is Slimmina. but it seems not working for me and it is even more expensive than Hokkaido. So I will just give Slimmina 1 week chance and then I will throw it away and back to hokkaido again.
I just want to share my experience on this product. But my advice always take precautions when taking any pills. And beware of fakes cause I’ve been said that fakes does have side effects like kidney failure etc.And if possible exercise. and eat less. that is the natural way of getting into shape anyway.
perhaps google and some other medical books will prove you their uses
sir you should do more research, your info regarding hokkaido is one sided.. i research every single ingrdients mentioned above and i found out that they have medicinal uses.
Andrew I respect your opinion so since you have done your own research can you tell me which of the ingredients causes dry mouth and which ingredients causes people to stop eating? Any studies you found to support it Id love to see also
to those males who are taking hokkaido slimming pills, did u have decreased libido? thanks!