Update 6/4/22. Few products have generated as much interest as the Thrive Patch, also known as the “Thrive Premium Lifestyle DFT.” The patch is supposed to provide a time-released steady stream of weight loss and energy-boosting ingredients into the body that is said to be “greatly superior to that of any consumable product.” Does the Thrive weight loss patch work or is it a scam? I think this question hinges not only on the ingredients used in the product but also whether those ingredients actually be absorbed through the skin and into the body? These are the big questions I'll address in this review.
Why A “Critical” Review?
While the title of this review includes the word “Critical” I want to make clear that I am not referring to something bad, meant to bash the product. In the world of science, a “critical review” means a review that contains information that the author feels is critical for people to know about.
My hope is this review will help you better understand the Thrive Patch, the DFT technology and ingredients used in the product.
What Does DFT Stand For?
DFT stands for Dermal Fusion Technology. It's a phrase used by Le-Vel (The Thrive company) to refer to the Thrive Patch. From the name, it sounds to me like the patch is supposed to fuse with the dermis and epidermis of the skin, and in doing so, allow the ingredients in the patch to pass into the body. From there, those ingredients are supposed to help with weight management, curb appetite and give people energy to work out better.
When I looked at this product, there were 3 different types of DFT patches. They are:
- Thrive Premium DFT
- DFT Ultra
- Black Label DFT
Let's first look at the Premium DFT Patch and then cover both DFT Ultra and Black Label DFT patches below.
Thrive Patch Ingredients
According to a PDF on the Le-Vel.com website, there are 6 ingredients in the Premium DFT patch. They are:
- ForsLean
- Green Coffee Bean Extract
- Garcinia Cambogia
- COQ10
- White Willow Bark
- Cosmoperine
I can't tell how much of each ingredient is in the Thrive Patch. If any Thrive Promoters can share that with me, I'll be glad to update this part of my review.
Either way, since the ingredients are listed in the order I've put them here, I believe this means that ingredients at the top make up most of the product, and those at the bottom make up the least.
At the heart of the DFT technology is the very last ingredient in this list – Cosmoperine. This is what Dermal Fusion Technology is based on. Let's take a look at that ingredient next.
What Is Cosmoperine?
On the DFT patch pdf file which can be downloaded from Le-Vel.com, we see that cosmoperine is trademarked by the Sabina corporation. Sabina is a company that makes a very of supplements and holds patents on them too. Cosmoperine is the common name for a compound called Tetrahydropiperine (THP).
On the Cosmoperine.com website, we see THP is the name given to a metabolite of black pepper. The page I linked to also states cosmoperine (THP) can enhance the absorption of various drugs (and supplements) when they are applied transdermally (on the skin).
Here is the US Patent page for THP.
The US Patent, tells us the Sabinsa Corporation (which owns the trademark on THP/cosmoperine) has provided evidence THP can increase the absorption of Forskolin when both compounds are applied to the skin (rat skin according to the patent). Since it works in rat skin, I'll assume it also works when used on human skin.
Forskolin (also called coleus forskohlii) is another name for ForsLean which is also in the Thrive Premium DFT patch. The Sabinsa corporation calls their preparation of forskolin, ForsLean.
So, to summarize, it appears the driving force (the secret sauce, if you will) in the DFT patch is Cosmoperine. This ingredient allows other ingredients to be carried through the skin. But, just because those ingredients can get into the body from penetrating the skin, does that also mean they will work?
This is the BIG question.
Let's look at the research on the Thrive DFT Patch next
Thrive Patch Research
I searched the Le-Vel website for research to show that the Thrive Patch caused people to lose weight. No evidence could be located
I then searched the web for:
- Thrive Patch Research
- Thrive DFT patch Research
- Le-Vel Thrive DFT Research
No clinical studies could be located.
This says to me the Thrive Patch may have no published, peer-reviewed clinical studies showing it causes people to lose weight.
Remember, just because the ingredients in the Thrive DFT Patch might penetrate the skin does not mean that they will cause weight loss. They might or might not. These are two different issues.
So, to get a better idea, we will have to look at each ingredient in the Patch to see what might be going on.
Let's do that next.
ForsLean
This is a trademarked version of a supplement called coleus forskohlii (say, cole-E-us-four-skoll-EE). Since it is listed first, it makes up most of the Thrive Premium DFT patch ingredients.
As I noted in the review of coleus forskohlii, there is weight loss research on this ingredient. Some of that research shows it might work and other studies show it might not work.
In one study, which lasted 12 weeks and involved 19 overweight women, researchers noted coleus forskohlii might reduce gaining weight.
In other words, it didn't cause the women to lose weight, but just reduced their odds of gaining weight. The women in this study used 500 mg of coleus forskohlii per day.
This study used ForsLean, the same brand of coleus forskholii that is in the DFT patch. That's good.
Remember, the women took an oral supplement. They didn't put it on their skin. Would a transdermal patch also work? I can't find a single weight management study involving a ForsLean transdermal patch.
Green Coffee Bean Extract
The active ingredient in green coffee bean is often said to be a compound called chlorogenic acid. As such, chlorogenic acid is likely the extract used in the TDF Patch. I'm not convinced this compound works.
As I revealed in the green coffee bean review, one of the very best studies on this compound was retracted by the authors because they could not verify the results of the study. Here is the study. As can be seen, the words “this article has been retracted” as well as and “Retracted” appear scrolled across the study pages.
In 2014, a small study was published that involved 20 healthy people. For 2 weeks people drank 40 grams of green coffee (1.4 oz) and for another 2 weeks, they drank 40 grams (1.4 oz) of black coffee. They were told to not alter their eating patterns.
Researchers noted when people drank green coffee, they had a lower body mass index (BMI), lower cortisol levels and had lost more abdominal fat, than when they drink black coffee. They also experienced lower blood pressure and their blood vessels were more elastic too.
Regardless of our feelings about this study, the people in this investigation drank the coffee. They did not use a transdermal patch.
See the list of weight loss scams for more insights.
Garcinia Cambogia
This is also called HCA or hydroxy-citric-acid. I'm on the fence when it comes to Garcinia Cambogia and weight loss. As I pointed out in my review of garcinia Cambogia weight loss research, I have seen research showing:
As well as research showing
At best, it's a toss-up. Many studies have problems, which further complicates things. No study appears to have been done to see if a transdermal patch of garcinia Cambogia helps people lose weight.
Read the Garcinia Cambogia review and pay attention to the side effects controversy too.
COQ10
CoQ10 is short for coenzyme Q10. It's also called ubiquinone because the molecule is ubiquitous, or everywhere, in the body. It's a substance that helps our mitochondria turn calories into energy.
I have never seen a study of CoQ10 and weight loss or weight management. When I looked for evidence, I saw articles saying it helped, but no website showed me proof – published clinical studies involving people.
This is the CoQ10 brand I use
White Willow Bark
White willow bark contains a compound that looks like aspirin. So it has some pain-reducing effects. This is why you might see it show up in arthritis supplements such as Instaflex (click to read review). It's also an ingredient in Thrive W so see that review for more insights.
Weight loss and weight management supplements sometimes contain white willow bark. This is likely because of the reputation aspirin has for increasing the effects of caffeine and ephedra. In the fitness world, this combination is called the “ECA Stack” where ECA stands for:
- Ephedra
- Caffeine
- Aspirin
I think this is the reason I saw white willow bark in these two weight loss supplements from TV trainer, Jillian Michaels:
Thrive Black Label And Ultra Patches
There is more than one type of Thrive Patch. There is also:
- Thrive Ultra Patch
- Thrive Black Label Patch
The difference between the Ultra and Black Label patches is not only in the ingredients used but also the size of the patches may be different too.
In the table below, I compare the ingredients in all 3 different types of Thrive Patches – in the order, they are listed on the product pdfs – so you can compare them to each other.
| Thrive Premium Patch | Thrive Ultra Patch | Black Label Patch |
|---|---|---|
| ForsLean | ForsLean | ForsLean |
| Green Coffee Bean Extract | Green Coffee Bean Extract | Green Coffee Bean Extract |
| Garcinia Cambogia | Garcinia Cambogia | Garcinia Cambogia |
| CoQ10 | CoQ10 | CoQ10 |
| White Willow Bark | White Willow Bark | Cosmoperine |
| Cosmoperine | Cosmoperine | Satiereal Saffron Extract |
| Satiereal Saffron Extract | Green Tea Extract | |
| Green Tea Extract | White Willow Bark | |
| 5-HTP | ||
| L-Theanine | ||
| L-Arginine | ||
| Quercetin | ||
| Guarana | ||
| Yerba Mate | ||
| Vitamin B12 |
As previously said, they don't tell us how much of each ingredient is present in the different DFT patches. We can only assume that the ingredients listed at the top are most plentiful while those at the end of the list are the least.
All versions of the Thrive Patch contains the cosmoperine ingredient. That's good. Remember this is the ingredient that appears to help carry other ingredients through the skin.
As you can see, the Black Label Patch has the most ingredients. But, does this mean it's better than the other two? We can't know which is best unless they are all pitted head to head against each other in a clinical study.
Clinical studies on this topic cannot be located.
That said, let's cover a few of the ingredients in the Ultra and Black Label patches and see what we can discover about them as far as weight management is concerned.
Satiereal Saffron Extract
This is an ingredient in both the Thrive Ultra and Black Label patches. Satieral is the name given to an extract from saffron. The extract is called Crocus Sativus. The company that makes the satiereal extract is a French company called InoReal.
Here is the US patent for 
The name satiereal, refers to satiety, the feeling of fullness and not wanting to eat anymore.
There is some research on Satiereal.
In a study published in 2010, 60 overweight women were given either satiereal or a placebo for 8 weeks. The women consumed 176.5 mg of satiereal per day. Researchers noted women who used satiereal weighed less than women who got the placebo. Those women also reported less snacking too.
There have also been some studies on saffron to help depression.
In a 2005 study of women who were depressed, 45 women were randomly given 30 mg of saffron or a placebo for 6 weeks. Women getting the saffron (Crocus sativus, which is what Satiereal comes from) scored better on depression questioners compared to women who got the placebo.
Several other studies also hint that saffron can help mild to moderate depression too. But, does satiereal work when it's in a patch? The research involves taking it orally – not in a patch.
Heres Satiereal Saffron on Amazon
5 HTP
This is an ingredient in the Black Label Thrive Patch. Another name is 5 hydroxy-tryptophan. It's a variation on the amino acid, tryptophan. The 5 HTP molecule (like tryptophan) helps us make serotonin which plays a role in mood as well as appetite. As far as depression is concerned, studies are sometimes criticized for having issues.
As for reducing appetite and weight loss, this also has been studied. In one investigation, 20 overweight women were randomly given either 900 mg of 5 HTP or a placebo for 6 weeks. The woman who received the 5 HTP lost more weight than women who took the placebo.
How much weight did they lose? Somewhere between 3 to 5 pounds over the course of the study. That's not much given the study lasted 6 weeks.
No study using a transdermal patch can be located. All the studies appear to give 5 HTP orally.
L-Theanine
This is an amino acid that is found in tea. Theanine sometimes finds its way into weight management supplements. I believe it's used in supplements in the hopes it might help calm people down. The idea is people who are less stressed are probably less likely to overeat. This study lends evidence that L-Theanine can have a calming effect on people. In this study, 50 mg was used in healthy people.
In one study that involved 16 people, Theanine seemed to make people feel calmer when they were relaxed, but it didn't seem to have any anti-anxiety effects when they were stressed – in other words, when ya really need it to work.
L Arginine
Arginine helps us make nitric oxide which can help relax blood vessels and this is why it's sometimes used in exercise supplements – as way to drive more blood/oxygen to muscles during exercise. For more on nitric oxide see the review of SuperBeets.
Arginine also helps us make human growth hormone (HGH). While growth hormone can play a role in muscle building, and this, in turn, might lead to weight loss, I think one has to take a lot of it to increase HGH levels.
See the SeroVital review for more insights.
In one study of arginine and weight loss, 90 overweight men and women were given either 3 grams or 6 grams of arginine a day or a placebo for 8 weeks. Researchers noticed those taking arginine showed significant reductions in body weight, blood pressure, blood sugar, hemoglobin A1c, body fat, triglycerides, and total cholesterol. These changes were not seen in those getting the placebo.
What about weight loss? Those getting 6 grams of arginine a day lost about 8 pounds while those getting 3 grams a day lost about 3 pounds.
This investigation was based on a Masters Thesis. One problem was that the study was “single-blinded.” This means the researchers knew who was getting arginine and who was getting the placebo. Also, body fat was determined using skinfold calipers and the researchers only measured 2 sites (triceps and subscapularis regions). That might be an issue because if more sites were measured could lead to more accurate results.
Regardless, this was an oral arginine study. No patch was used.
Quercetin
Quercetin is an antioxidant found in foods such as broccoli and blueberries. Does it affect appetite, weight loss or anxiety? Proof cannot be located.
Other supplements containing quercetin include:
- Life Shotz (click to read review)
- Ceraplex (click to read review)
- Tissue Rejuvenator (click to read review)
See those reviews for more information.
Guarana
This is a source of caffeine. Caffeine is popular in weight loss products and energy drinks. The idea being that the more awake you are, the more you will move and burn calories. Other products I've looked previously that also contained guarana include:
Caffeine – alone – seems to have little weight loss research. In other words, caffeine is almost always used alongside something else.
Yerba Mate
As I mentioned in my review of the fat burner called Thermo Detonator, I located a study were people who took 1000 mg of yerba mate seemed to burn fat better than those who took a placebo. I don't think the Thrive Patch has that much yerba mate.
Other products reviewed here that also contained yerba mate include:
See those reviews for additional information.
Vitamin B12
Vitamin B12 is a water-soluble vitamin that we actually store in the body. While healthy people may not need this nutrient regularly, other people like vegans, older folks and those taking certain medications may be deficient. Vitamin B12 is also popular in weight loss supplements. I think there are 2 reasons for this:
1 The vitamin might give us more energy
2 The vitamin might help weight loss
If you not deficient, vitamin B12 probably does not boost energy levels. As for weight loss, there is no good proof it does this either.
See my review Vitamin B12 and Weight Loss.
Does Vitamin B12 Cause Cancer?
Thrive Patch Active Ingredients
When I review a product, I like to try to drill down to what I believe might be the active ingredients. I do this not only because I'm curious, but also because people ask me.
Because they want to save money.
After looking at all the ingredients these are the ingredients that might be most responsible for any weight loss effects that people might notice. Here they are:
| Thrive Premium Patch | Thrive Ultra Patch | Thrive Black Label Patch |
| ForsLean | ForsLean | ForsLean |
| Garcinia Cambogia | Garcinia Cambogia | Garcinia Cambogia |
| Cosmoperine | Cosmoperine | Cosmoperine |
| Satiereal Saffron Extract | Satiereal Saffron Extract |
Notice the similarity between the different types of Thrive Patches. Of course, cosmoperine is present in all of the DFT patches because, as reviewed above, this is the ingredient that's supposed to carry the other ingredients into the body.
Also, notice that ForsLean (coleus forskholii) is the first ingredient listed in ALL of the DFT patches.
As for the other ingredients listed in the table above, I found human weight loss/ appetite suppression studies on them (which you can read above). That research though involves when they are taking orally. Whether they work the same way when used in a patch, I cannot say.
For those on a budget here are those ingredients to purchase individually:
Thrive Patch and Weight Loss?
Le-vel distributors often say that the Thrive Patch is not a “weight management” supplement and not a weight loss supplement.
But, what does “weight management” really mean? It's a vague term. Think about it. Just saying you are managing your weight doesn't say how you are managing your weight. Are you managing it to gain, lose, or maintain weight?
The fact is many of the ingredients in the patch are weight loss compounds. Specifically, these 3 ingredients are in many weight loss supplements:
- ForsLean (Coleus forskohlii) click to read the review
- Green Coffee Bean click to read the review
- Garcinia Cambogia click to read the review
Thrive Patch Side Effects
When I looked for online testimonials, I didn't see anyone complaining of terrible things when they used the DFT Patch, so that's good.
In the comments below, a few people, have mentioned the Patch caused rashes, blisters and/or caused red/itchy skin. To reduce this it may be wise to rotate where the patch is placed on the skin. Don't place the patch on the same area all the time.
I think the side effects would probably hinge on whether the ingredients really can get into the body in significant amounts. That said, let me make a blanket statement and say:
- If you take any medications, (like blood thinners) or are breastfeeding or pregnant, show the ingredients to your doctor and pharmacist first.
- Stop using the patch at least 2 weeks before having surgery
- If you have any health issues like heart disease, high blood pressure, depression, diabetes, psychological issues, or liver or kidney problems, show the ingredients to your doctor and pharmacist.
Who Makes The Thrive Patch?
Thrive supplements are a product of the Le-Vel LLC. They are also known as Le-Vel Brands LLC. Their website is Le-Vel.com. Their address is 9201 Warren Pkwy #200, Frisco, TX 75035. Their contact phone number is: 888-557-0005.
The BBB rating for Le-Vel was A+ when this review was updated. The Better Business Bureau noted “patterns of consumer complaints” surrounding refunds and the creation of unauthorized accounts. See the BBB file for updates and more information.
SiteJabber gave Le-Vel 3 stars out of 5 when this review was updated. See the SiteJabber site for more insights.
The review of Thrive W has more information and hundreds of comments and testimonials.
My Suggestions
When taken orally, I believe the ingredients which might be the active ingredients are:
This is for taking them orally. I am unable to locate proof they work when placed on the skin.
Does The Thrive Patch Work?
Here are my opinions on the Thrive DFT Patch.
1. There is evidence cosmoperine can penetrate the skin (of a rat) and increase the absorption of some drugs when applied to the skin. Presumably, this means it also works on human skin too. I'll assume it does.
2. There is evidence cosmoperine can enhance the absorption of ForsLean (coleus forskhloii) when both are applied to rat skin (let's assume human skin too). Since ForsLean is the first ingredient listed in all of the Thrive Patches could this be the main active ingredient?
3. I believe there is a lack of clinical research showing the patch increases blood levels of the ingredients in the human body.
4. Most of the research on the ingredients involves taking them orally – not placing on the skin with a transdermal patch.
I'm genuinely intrigued that an ingredient placed on the skin can enhance the absorption of other ingredients. That said, even though the Thrive Patch is touted as being a better delivery system, I want to see a few human weight loss studies before I give a final judgment. I'm really looking forward to published studies on this.
Tried Thrive for a year….I experienced: heart palpitations, flushing, dizziness, insomnia, rashes from the patches (and I tried them in many locations), and the initial “boost” of energy did not continue after several weeks. My upline told me several things: drink more water, try one capsule rather than two, your body will adjust to this “new influx of nutrition,” you are just detoxing, on and on. I tried their suggestions, and it made things no better at all. After researching this product, and several others like it, I finally came to several realizations.
1) Thrive promoters are NOT trained in nutrition…at least the vast majority of them. They are simply trained on how to get more people to sign up under them, thus assuring their product is free, they make higher commissions, and they move closer to their car bonuses, trips, etc. “Live the life you deserve,” one of their slogans, must apply to the higher ups in the company who actually achieve these things…the vast majority of people in this company never get there.
2) There is a cult-like mentality within the company, and the CEO’s are viewed as pseudo gods. They hold calls regularly, to which many promoters dial in. These calls, where they talk at you rather than with you, typically equate to nothing more than pep rallies for their promoters. I have listed to several of these calls (which were recorded) and I never heard any real research, facts, or other solid evidence that this product is that much better than anything else out there. Testimonials are the best that the company can do…and testimonials certainly do not equate to reliable data. After the calls, facebook explodes with comments about the calls and the CEO’s. “That was amazing!, Incredible call.” “Our CEO’s are geniuses!” etc. You are right, they are…they figured out how to become millionaires by using tons of sheeple. And don’t you dare “call their baby ugly.” As soon as you question the validity of the product, get ready for the “facts” used throughout the company.
3) There are many untruths told throughout the company. The patch is patent pending, so therefore there are no clinical trials available is one of my favorites. Really? Again, they are more comfortable relying on testimonials than scientific fact I suppose. Others are “you feel bad because you are detoxing.” Ok, think about that…if you are removing such bad toxins from your body, wouldn’t you feel better? I am not totally convinced that detoxing is a “thing” anyway, but if it is, other detox programs take weeks to complete. I was told that detoxing was the reason I felt like crap on day 2 of using the product…day 2. Pretty amazing that it works that quickly, right?
4) Excuses and irrational rationales: Detoxing (again) is responsible for your feeling crappy. You aren’t using it correctly (not sure how else to use pills, a shake, and a sticker….eat, drink, stick–in that order). Your body will adjust to the nutrition. You must have a TON of nutritional gaps. Soil depletion creates these gaps, as our crops are no longer nutritious (which is funny, considering Thrive is PLANT-BASED..so why would it be any different if this claim was true). Always trying convince others (and themselves) that this is worth it somehow.
5) They use “buzz” words to try and put the product on a pedestal. It isn’t a shake…it is a “premium lifestyle mix.” Wait, what? You mean if I simply drink this shake, I will have a premium lifestyle? Actually you might….at $150-$200 per month, your lifestyle might be a bit more “at home.” What makes it a premium lifestyle anyway? Phrases like “giving people the life they deserve.” First of all, you aren’t giving anything…you are selling it to them…and if they get two others to buy (on autoship), they get theirs for free. Not really free….it’s just that other people are paying for theirs now….is that ethical? And the number of people who actually get theirs “for free” is astonishing…what does that say about the markup on these products? If they can afford to give away so much “free” product, and they still make money, it must be fairly cheap to make the product in the first place…the markup must be ridiculous. And the second part of that quote: the life they they deserve….ok, what life do I deserve? Why do I deserve it? Again, a catchy slogan meant to build hopes, only to have them crushed for most people who fail in the company.
6) Finally, after speaking to several doctors and thrive promoters, the gap that exists between the knowledge bank of each is astonishing. Promoters (not all, but most) seem to know only what the company tells them, what they read on the company site, what they hear on the company calls etc. Like robots, they spread this information which has not been vetted or clinically tested. The doctors that I spoke with, on the other hand, have much different opinions. None of the doctors I spoke with would recommend the program…the closest I got from two of them was that it probably won’t hurt you if you are a healthy person, but it is probably a waste of money. Others simply said that there is no such thing as a magic pill, a magic supplement, etc…just exercise and make healthy food choices.
I was not happy with my “thrive experience” as you can probably tell. I have done as much research on the product as I care to do at this point (and that was a lot), and my conclusions are based on the facts that I was able to obtain. My opinion is that you can be healthy without products like this. Healthy lifestyles do not need to include supplements. Participating in a business that takes advantage of others without providing any sort of clinical proof that it works is, in my opinion, unethical, and I would advise against it.
My sister in law has been using Thrive and it has done wonders for her so I wanted to try it myself. My only concern was the weight loss factor. I am struggling with trying to gain weight but the other positive benefits are very appealing. I suffer from fatigue and mild depression and complete lack of energy. Would this be recommended for someone like me who is about 15 pounds underweight?
Hi Sheila, as I understand it, most of the products are for weight loss.
I actually disagree with this statement. My husband, who is underweight, has actually been able to gain weight (close to 10 lbs) that he has struggled for 10 years to do.
Hi Laura, the patch contains ForsLean, Green Coffee Bean Extract and Garcina Cambogia, all Willey used in weight loss supplements. I have no explanation why your husband gained weight but I do thank you for sharing that.
People underweight have actually been known to gain weight while on the thrive program. And many people over weight have been able to get to a healthy weight.
Hi Kat, thanks for the feedback. I can’t explain that.
I believe the products are also very much marketed to help you with energy, and giving you all of the nutrients that you need to be the healthiest you. So in theory, this could help. At least when used as the whole experience package. I have not tried this, I’m just looking at how it is marketed, and what friends have told me about their experiences.
Krhfy6, thanks for the feedback. If you try it let me know what happens.
I am currently in Thrive. Although I’m not taking it for weight loss I have lost a total of 8 pounds in 3 weeks. My energy level has went from 0-100 real quick. I keep waiting for it to stop working but so far it hasn’t and I’m currently 3 weeks in. I am loving my energy and most of all my children and my boyfriend tell me that they can notice a big difference in my mood and attitude. I’m getting things done without going then stopping. As I stated I’m not taking it for weight loss but for my mood and energy and it has helped tremendously!
Tee Tee, which Thrive supplements are you taking that are doing this?
First, the probiotics, even just the 6 in this, will heal your gut which will allow your gut to start absorbing the nutrition your body needs. This aids in losing weight or gaining depending on your body needs. If your gut is not healthy your not healthy whether your over weight or under weight. And thrive is not just about losing weight. Its about feeling better so you can thrive in life. If you have energy then you will live your life to the fullest.
My sister in-law works there and she says it’s all about the stimulants in the products. She said they keep you on a ‘high’ and make you crash if you don’t use the products there by believing the it was working for you. And the other ingredients are just to make it sound good.
She compared it to the magnetic bracelets, they don’t actually have enough magnetic power to penetrate your skin but if your gullible enough to buy it so be it. She also noted there’s a reason their BBB rating is now an ‘F’.
I will mention that there is a patent pending on the DFT and that is why you will not find any clinical trials on it yet. Once the patent is released, then you can find those and you can come back and fix your report.
Yes I am a promoter of Thrive, yes it has made a huge difference in my life. And I will NOT go back to the life I was living before. For everyone else who has, I’m so sorry you have. And as far as needing to know how much natural caffeine is in each product, I’ll be happy to let you know how much is in each. 40 mg in two women’s capsules, 50 mg in two men’s capsules, 25 mg in a full packet of lifestyle mix and 19 mg in the black label DFT.
The green coffee bean extract used in the the other DFT’s is used only for antioxidant purposes only. 🙂
Hi Shannon, thank you for sharing. There are many things that do not have patents yet have clinical trials. Regardless, when the DFT patch does have such research, I will be very happy to update my review with that information.
Thanks for the info on green coffee bean. While I do feel there are better antioxidants out there, I’m glad you addressed that 🙂
Have you tried Athletic Greens?
Hi Dianna, I have not but they are on my list of things to look at.
Thrive is horrible. Made me dizzy, heart palpitations, upset stomach, anxious, bloated. I would not recommend this to anyone. I am healthy with no medical issues.
I cannot repeat how horrible this 3 day experience was for me. Just glad I was able to get the 3 day sample of pills, shake, patch and not waste money buying it.
How did you get a 3 days sample Connie ?
Look on ebay
This happened to me too
Is there an expiration date listed somewhere on the package? I am having a hard time finding it. I see something that says July but not sure of year etc. Mine have a yellow color to the sticky side and I was not sure if that was normal
The date on the package is the manufactured date and the product has a shelf life of 2 years.
I have to say that I used thrive for the first month. Loved it! Tons of energy, very focused, no sugar or caffeine cravings and no afternoon slump. I woke up early bright eyes and kept going until I went to bed at night.
So, after the first week became a promoter because I could not afford it every month. Did not find 2 people to sign on auto-ship by the end of the month, so I couldn’t get my next shipment for free. Since I could not afford the monthly supply, $190, I could not take it.
Within 24 hrs of stopping, I developed a headache which turned into a 48 hour migraine, the worst I have ever experienced in my life. Could not get out of bed. Had I been able to, I would have gone to the ER.
Once a full 72 hours passed with lots of fluids, I finally began to feel normal again. I am convinced it is the stimulants in the product. I was initially told there were no stimulants in any of the THRIVE products. When digging more for answers, was told the stimulant was caffeine from the “black tea” but there was only a total of 40mg between the pills, shake and patch.
I am very suspicious about that now. Especially because they are not required to label the amount of milligrams are present. I am so happy to have found this information. I think I will stick to products that clearly state the actual amounts of ingredients and or are regulated……….When your on the product, you feel that you can accomplish anything, but as soon as you stop, you crash….that’s my experience.
I took thrive in 2014 it worked great I stopped taking it for a year and started drinking energy drinks and soda more. I’ve taken vitamin packs and pre work out from gncs. I feel that thrive can be compared a lot to them.
However I started thrive again and feel great. I’m not overweight but did notice my belly shrinking a bit. I think this is just due for me having a healthier mindset after taking this product. Not drinking soda not eating junk I drink a gallon of water a day. I have seen some people get rashes I believe this is due to people’s skin reaction to the patch.
Thrive does recommend you put the patch on a lean part of your body and switch the location where it goes every day or couple days. I have wore the patch on my hand and noticed it makes, my hand itch. I’ve had no problems wearing it on my shoulder. All the ingredents I’ve looked up seem ok to me.
Espically if you are drinking energy drinks or pre work.
Hopefully this helps someone out. I did not notice any mood change when I stopped taking thrive, except that I wanted a soda instead. I’m just glad I’m not the person drinking a red bull at 7 am anymore.
Tavis, thanks for sharing. I wonder if your belly went down when you took Thrive because you stopped drinking soda? Is it possible, you wanted soda (when you were not taking thrive) because your body was “looking” for something else with stimulants? Just some thoughts that occurred to me. Either way, Im glad you are happy with the product and wish you much success with the business.
My concern with these products and the people promoting them is the fact that they are appalled when the notion of rigour and scientific critique are mentioned to qualify their products. Real research is needed to verify the true safety and efficacy of these types of products.
It may very well be the only product of its kind, but until I see hard UNBIASED actual research that has an n of more than 20, I’m not taking the chances. Not all of these ingredients are harmless. Garcinia Cambogia has been linked to organize dysfunction, willow bark has been linked to reye syndrome, etc. Some people give these things to their kids.
It’s important to remember that these products are not regulated by strict bodies like the FDA, and as such, the quantities of the ingredients can be various and inconsistent from one patch to the next. Unregulated is unregulated And I don’t want to hear any mumbo jumbo about how “big pharma just doesn’t want you to know this miracle supplement.” Big pharma at least uses rigorous, time tested science to validate their products.
My only comment on this is that FDA proven safe is not guaranteed safe either. All you have to do is watch TV to see all the advertising on medication and product recalls because of some very serious side effects. The FDA is an agency that approves products and medicines from whom ever greases their palms the most. And no I’m not a distributor or user of Thrive products.
I’m just a person doing research to see if it might actually help with some of the side effects of all the medicines I take due to Rheumatoid Arthritis, Fibromyalgia, Sjogren’s Syndrome, etc. I stay depressed all the time due to going from a very active person to a person who at 43 will be in a wheelchair within the year.
Everyone sees the advertising for the medicines (humera, orencia, etc.) that show people pretty much resuming a normal life. ..what a joke. I was diagnosed 8yrs ago and have tried all these. No one tells you that only 17% of people achieve remission with these medicines.
Yet are you told that in the advertising?
So just because they’re FDA approved this means that they work and are guaranteed safe? Really listen when they spell out, very quietly and rapidly, the massive and very dangerous side effects of these medicines.
cmartin, I am very sorry to hear what you are going through. I will say a prayer for you today that your prognosis isn’t as grim as you say.
Thank you Joe. I have heard from several of my long distance relatives that have MS and/or other autoimmune diseases that Thrive worked for some but not others. I am not really concerned about the caffeine in the products because if anything can get me, a pot of coffee and a gallon of tea drinker, off that amount of caffeine all the better.
And yes I use that much caffeine to try to stay awake and try to function during the day. So that being said, I’m going to try Thrive to see if it might help. I’ll update as I can.
Cmartin, thanks and I do hope it helps you. I’ll look forward to hearing about your progress.
Have you heard of this new supplement: Aroga Life
Hi Alex, I have not herd of Agora Life. I’ve added it to my list of things to try to look at.
I had a really bad crash after taking a three day trial of thrive i had symptoms associated with drug withdrawal it was the best three days of my life followed by the worst
Hi Jessie, oh I am so sorry to hear that! I thank you for sharing what happened to you and I truly hope you are feeling better now.
I have been taking thrive “w” for 2 months now and love it. I have never felt better! Lately I have been experiencing really bad acne breakouts does anyone know if their is something in thrive that can cause acne to get worse?
Hi Angela, here is my review of Thrive W in case you missed it.
I used Thrive for 2 weeks and got a rash anywhere I wore the patch. Needless to say I have quit. It is my second time trying Thrive as the girl I bought it from insisted when the first 8 weeks did nothing for me, I was not doing it right. Ahhh…. I was supposed to have the vitamins as soon as I opened my eyes in the morning.
Whatever, I tried it again and this rash is enough to make me crazy on both arms. I have had the rash a full week now. When I asked her if anyone else had the rash she said no and it can’t possibly be the thrive well the rash is the shape of the patch.
I am DONE with Thrive!
Some people could be sensitive to the adhesive in the patch. My wife has to move hers from day to day. All people are different and things affect them differently. If after 8 weeks of proper use You saw no improvement, you have no need for the products at this time. I do not recommend using it in these cases. If the patches cause skin sensitivity issues no matter where you apply them and that’s the only issue, stop using the patches. You may benefit from thrive at a later date, or may not.
My husband & I also got a horrible red welt in the shape of the patches that itched like crazy for over a week.
I used thrive for 7 days and ended up on 2 weeks of steroids for severe allergic reaction. When I asked my promoter about it, she said to just keep taking them because there is nothing to be allergic to in them. Since taking the steroids, I have not had a recurrence of the rash. Stay away from this stuff.
Thank you for this information, it has helped to fill in some blanks. As a recovering addict, I am careful what I put into or onto my body…this seemed to be an easier softer way….now, I am sure I don’t want anything to do with it!!! Thanks for helping me understand so I and others can make better choices!!
Hi Maria, you are very welcome!
Have you looked into Plexus products? All natural and plant based, they are awesome products and all manufactured and packaged in Scottsdale Arizona. You can google it and look for thousands of positive testimonies on youtube. It has helped me and my family tremendously. email me and I can give you more information if you are interested.
Hi Diana, I have a few reviews on Plexsus supplements here. Here they are
Plexus Slim
Plexus Slim New Formula
Plexus Boost
Plexus Accelerator
Plexus ProBio5
I’m a recovering addict also who’s battled with weight most of my life. I have many friends in recovery who age using Thrive and it makes me think they are seeking the easier softer way.
My weight journey is spiritual, emotional, intellectual, and physical. I had to have enough. Recently I’ve seen the effects of diabetes and COPD on my mom and her quality of life, I think for me enough is enough.
Back in December I started eating healthier and being more active in the gym and now outside in my HP’s playground. I’ve dropped 40 lbs so far.
Whatever you do stay in prayer. This coming from one addict to another. 🙂
I have dft patches that were manufactured Sept. 2015, how long are they good for?
Lyn, do they have an expiration date on them?
They are good until Sept 2017, they have a 2 year shelf life.
Thanks Sharon 🙂
I tried thrive for about 2 weeks it gave me a ton of energy definelity curved my appetite. But after a week of using it my whole body begin to get itchy and then I noticed were i placed the patch i got a bad rash. The girl I bought it from told me I wasn’t drinking enough water. The next day i put the patch in a different place hours after my whole body was on fire i formed another rash and my lips and face were tingly. Needless to say I had to stop the using product
Cindy, For what its worth, I dont see how lack of water would cause the rash you described.
Cindy it seems to me that the rash was due to an allergic reaction to one of the herbs or the combination of herbs in the patch…I am curious, did you have the same reaction to the capsules or the shake? I ask because I started using it about 2 weeks ago and because I am a certified Herbalist and have been in the Herbal and Natural Health products for over 15 years I decided to do some research so that I could create a monthly product plan from their products that will suit my specific needs…
the “blanket” Thrive Experience (pills, patch, shake) is NOT going to work for everyone and I know that if people don’t see some kind of results in the first month (even though most herbal supplements need to be taken for at the very minimum 2 months before results are seen) they will give up on it….and that is why I am creating my monthly Thrive system to fit my needs and if I don’t see a difference after that, I will not be using it again.
I too have tried finding out more information about the ingredients in he product. I have a friend that sells the products. I tried the *4 day free trial, and felt absolutely no change..she insisted some people don’t feel *the thrive feeling* until day 6 or 8, but most feel “it” within the first two days.
I’m all about supporting the small business person but in my opinion it’s one big ponzi pyramid scheme with the people on top being really good motivational speakers telling vulnerable individuals what they yearn to hear to get them to sign on as distributors. I think it’s a faze and will pass and hopefully I can stop seeing it pop up on my timeline. … Great article by the way!
Jennifer, thanks for stopping by and sharing. Feel free to share my review on your timeline :
Jennifer – what are you trying to find out about the ingredients? All the ingredients are listed on the packages. Believe me when I tell you that Thrive is not a faze. So many people are looking for the quick, three day fix. Well, there isn’t one. Eat properly, exercise and feed your body the nutrition it needs to do what it is supposed to do. There is no Promoter that I know who is going after vulnerable individuals……..and if you are all about supporting the small business person then you would learn more about your friends business before trashing it on here
There is nothing wrong with somebody wanting to find out more about a product than what the person who is making money off of the product wishes to share. And it seems that most of the ingredients are for losing weight/burning fat etc. than for nutritional value..someone wanting to make money off of you is probably not going to list whatever potential side-effects there are. BUT if it is a great product than doing a little research should be a good thing-right?
Absolutely agree. I researched every single ingredient in every single product. I have been using the Thrive Products for 15 months. These products have changed my health in so many ways that I cannot imagine that I would ever stop taking them. I have talked to Nutritionists, dieticians and my Doctor. I have taken the products to them and been told that there is nothing in them harmful and lots in them that is helpful.
I wish people would research everything they ingest. Take a look at the ingredients lists on the food in your cupboards. Read labels before you purchase food. If you think there is nothing harmful in the food you are eating then you need to do more research.
You also mentioned that it is a big pyramid scheme. It is not. You need to learn the difference between MLM and Pyramid. There are many other MLM Companies our there such as tupperware, avon, watkins……there are lots of them. They are not illegal pyramid schemes – they are MLM Companies.
And people that are Promoting Thrive will have no problem telling you everything about the product – their goal is to build a business on a reputable Product and Company – otherwise their business would soon collapse.
Hate to say it, Connie. You speak like an addict of drugs. Just reading your babble sets my mind, I WON’T USE THRIVE!
Thank You for making the point of the difference between a MLM and Pyramid scheme. So many people want to look for an excuse NOT to try Thrive… when the reality is, you don’t need an excuse. You either do or don’t want to try it, the excuse isn’t needed. I know there isn’t much for people to research on because I’ve looked myself… so this blog does help. However, for people to simply say they don’t want to try a product because of how it is sold is silly to me. NO ONE forces people to be a promoter… you have the option of simply being a customer. No differently than you are a customer to any and all other companies out there.
I am a customer, I have been taking Thrive for over 3 months now. It can not make medical claims, however, I am not taking Thrive to lose weight. If it happens, I see it as a side effect. I actually have an auto immune disorder that causes me to not want to get out of bed in the morning and there has not been a drug that a doctor has given me that has changed that feeling, however, Thrive does… so for that reason, it works or me.
I find it hilarious that people often will take over the counter vitamins and minerals and event take medication from a doctor without even hesitation or a moment of research simply because it came from a doctor. I realize there is a difference between being FDA approved or not…. but I at least feel there is more natural ingredients in Thrive than the multiple drugs my doctors were wanting me to take.
Just like anything out there, everything truly isn’t for everyone…. my reason for checking out this site in the first place was to find out more about the DFT patch… I’m thinking of only doing the capsules and shake because I’m not sure that adding the DFT patch is effective enough for the price of it… I’d almost rather just drink another shake. 🙂
Hear hear!
my understanding is that this is an 8 week program,,,,and you should not use it any longer than that,,,,so WHY are people using it for years ? I think it may be highly addictive…..
Hi Billie, My guess is that the 8 weeks is to get people into a habit that leads to long term change. That said, I’m not sure what happens after the 8 weeks. Do people keep thriving forever?
The drug component that is in Thrive has to have an 8 wk limit to bypass Canadas Laws, my daughter has been thriving for over a year and she has become rage happy. If I say something she doesn’t agree with she sees red and loses her shit immediattely.
This is not normal for her, she has always been rational and open to discussion, in the last six months she has verbally abused me at least 3 times. I read about the side effects of increased levels of epinephrine and it fits with her over emotional responses in her life.
She has had a few of these responses at her job too. this is scary, The first day I tried it, instant migraine and throbbing liver, her response was “detox”, when I said I would not continue it, she lost it on me and after 3 months silence when she did start speaking to me again we don’t talk about it.
I am pretty worried about her
Hi Marie, I’m very sorry about the rift this has caused between you and your daughter.
Oh Wow……….I can’t believe what people think. I will continue to use Thrive because I choose to give my body the Premium Nutrition that I get from Thrive. Why do people continue to brush their teeth? That toothpaste must be highly addictive!!!!!
Why are people who “thrive” SO WORRIED about a person questioning “their” product?? It is the SMART thing, not to mention the human thing to do. So don’t sweat it, if your product really is superior you should welcome skepticism.
I agree Jen………I have no problem with people questioning me. I have a problem with people making assumptions not based on fact.
My first questions is do YOU question everything you put into your body, or are you just questioning Thrive because it is not the run of the mill nutritional products sold at Walmart of GNC?
It is 8 weeks because 8 weeks or 2 months is how long you should take an herbal supplement before you decide it’s not working…Herbs are food NOT medicine…so it is unrealistic to think that anyone will see results in 3 days or even 14 days…QUESTIONS ARE GOOD ABOUT ANY AND EVERYTHING…
I hope this helps. I have a certification Herbalist Diploma as well as many other certifications for digestive enzymes, body cleansing, and iridiology (study of the iris) and certificates with herbal companies such as Nature’s Sunshine and Renew Life. I stumbled upon this review during my RESEARCH of QUESTIONS I have concerning the THRIVE PRODUCTS!!
I noticed you said natures sunshine Ken brailsford created that company. I’ve been with his latest company Zija and I truly cannot say enough good things about the products. If you research moringa it truly is life changing.
Great point!
Thrive is marketed as an “8 week experience” because as someone mentioned above, to see full results from taking products like these you need to continue them for 8 weeks. I know many people who have been using these products for over a year, some for over 2 years. They keep using it because it keeps working, the same reason a lot of people keep drinking coffee in the morning- because it keeps working!
I personally have loved every minute of my experience with Thrive. Using all three products daily, my energy levels are higher, my mood is better, and I even crave healthier foods as opposed to a lot of the junk that I was eating before I started with Thrive.
I would also like to mention that the “Thrive Experience” Is NOT marketed as a weight loss program, it is marketed as a health and wellness program, and weight management is a part of health and wellness.
Finally, the reason that the reviewer could not find any information about these ingredients in the DFT patch being absorbed through the skin is because this product is the first and only one of its kind.. I thought that one was pretty obvious. All in all, I love the product, and so does everyone else I know who uses it.
Hi Justin, Thank you for sharing and you bring up some interesting questions.
1. If it the patch the first product to put these ingredients in a patch – which I believe you may be right – dont you feel this is even more important to do research to see if they show the same effect as when they are taken orally? I mean, without some research that skin absorption is the same as oral absorption, how do you know if it works?
You said the experience is supposed to last for 8 weeks to see the full effects. Well, without research, to show 8 weeks is needed, how do you really know? I mean, who made up the 8 week time line if it has no research?
Even if the thrive experience is not marketed for weight loss, we cant deny that many of the ingredients in the patch are commonly used for weight loss. Garcina Cambogia, green coffee bean and forslean (coleus forskohlii) are all well known weight loss supplements.
I’m not trying to be difficult. I’m just asking questions.
Regardless, I’m really glad you are finding the supplements valuable to you and really hope you continue to do so.
The 8 weeks is to completely fill your nutritional gaps. Continuing it keeps them filled. Everyone has nutritional gaps, it doesn’t matter how clean you eat. We have one promoter that lived “lived off the land” so to speak. During the summer they grew their own food and during the winter they ate what they canned and froze but once she started Thriving, she couldn’t believe how much better she felt. She was VERY particular about what she put in her and her family’s bodies!!! She’s not going to put something that’s harmful into it. She’s done her research as well. Janice, we’re not drug addicts, we’re just very passionate about sharing a product that changes lives for the better.
You have miss spelled Thrive by Le-Vels products in the search bar. It’s not a DTF Patch. It’s a DFT Patch. I would encourage to fix the spelling in your article. Thank you.
Hi Andreanna, you are correct and I corrected my mistakes. Thank you for letting me know. I noticed your distributor link in your signature didn’t work and so I removed it from your comment. If you care to reply with the correct link to your site, Ill be happy to let it be posted.
I took Thrive back in November of 2015. I have Crohns disease…ever since I have taken this I have developed gastris issues that have continued for 6 months. Thrive seemed unconcerned when I contacted them about it. My gastro doctor told me that I should have never touched this stuff…so be very careful!
The “white willow bark” is for the pain relieving anti inflammatory properties. Stating that because it’s not stacked with ephedra/caffeine/white willow you don’t know why it’s in there doesn’t make sense. When if you just google it, you will see what it’s used for 🙂
Rachel, White willow bark is basically primitive aspirin and so you are correct in that it has some anti-inflammation properties. Weight loss supplements – such as those I mentioned in the review – also contain it. But I dont think they contain it for the reasons we are discussing here. I think its in weight loss supplements in the hopes that it increases weight loss. If you google White willow bark weight loss” you will see others talking about this.
The White Willow Bark is for pain…..Thrive is NOT a weight loss product. Yes it does have weight loss properties but it is NOT specifically for weight loss.
Shannon, Most of the ingredients in the patch are commonly used for weight loss. If its not for weight loss, then what is the purpose of the patch?
Well it basically is stacked with those 3 products. Synephrine, is a very close compound to ephedrine, which is in thrive. And we already know that there is caffeine in this product too.
Is there anything in Thrive W pills, shake, and DFT patch that will cause a raise in blood pressure?
CB read my other reviews.
Here is Thrive W review
Here is the Thrive Shake
Is anyone worried about all the “mood elevating” ingredients in this product and what will happen when you stop using the product?
My biggest concerns were in this area as I did my own research into some of the ingredients in other thrive products. I was, in the end, concerned most about synephrine and it’s apparent ban by the NCAA.
What I see when I look at thrive is a multivitamin packed with stimulants. So what happens when you run out or can’t afford more right away?