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.
This scam reminds me of Cal-Ban back in the 90’s. FDA finally pulled it because it contained ridiculous amounts of caffeine. Giving people a ‘kick’ they think they’re peppier and hence the product works. Stimulants cause weight loss because of the increased metabolic rate but at the cost of the up-down effects. This is a marketing/pyramid scheme company masquerading as a health company.
People do yourselves a favor, do Keto. You’ll lose the weight and feel better. Watch The Magic Pill on Netflix. You’ll thank me.
Joseph, I never heard of Cal-Ban. I guess that one got past me back then 🙂 I did look it up. Cal-Ban was a fiber supplement. It contained guar gum. From the YouTube videos I saw of it, they did make some pretty over-the top claims!
Similar supplements Ive looked at include
Lipozene review
Skinny Fiber Review
Skinny Boxy Max Review
Keto is very popular. Ive known people who have lost weight with it. Keto does have some health effects – such as reducing seizures – but I wonder what long term effects are. I have started watching the Magic Pill documentary on Netflix.
Take a look at my ketogenic supplements review
I worked at a GNC when I was younger for many years and saw so many of these pyramid companies come-and-go all with the same health claims of weight loss and energy. A lot of it is the placebo effect or anecdotal claims. People want the easy route so are easily pulled into supplements.
I hated pushing pills on people knowing most would be excreted and there went there hard earned money while someone else benefited. Years of reading, learning has taught me there is no easy fix and the most effective is diet.
Simple sugars and carbs are the enemy and the true cause of most our modern day ills. That I’m sure of.
Thanks for allowing this philippic against this company. To each is own, but I one person can be educated, learn, and save their money and life by a lifestyle change, then it’s worth it.
Joseph, I understand. Ive seen my share of supplements rise and fall too. Many times the simple answer is the correct answer when it comes to being healthy.
I am 64 and have been using the Le-vel Duo Burn patch. What I have noticed is more energy, no cravings, sleeping better, and no soreness from my polymyalgia rheumatica. This is the first time anything has worked for me. Plus my recovery time from workouts is quicker.
Hi Anabel, thank you for sharing your experiences with Thrive. I’m happy to hear you are experiencing good results with it
I did like a 5 day trial and I must say, I was VERY VERY alert, full of energy, I could multitask better, my concentration was top notch. I did feel very good. I did get some sweats and blushed look sometimes in the face. I could feel my skin heat up a bit, but not uncomfortable at all. It literally felt like I had low levels of electricity going through my veins.
But it’s too good to be true right ? So I stopped.
I’ve had several nutritionist in my area review the program and they all said the same thing. “Its the caffeine boost you are feeling and nothing else due to the coffee bean and tea extracts and Natural Caffeine”.
I am a person who RARELY consumes anything with caffeine. Maybe a soda when going out to dinner once a month. No pop at home, I don’t drink coffee. So my question is would you agree or disagree with the nutritionists assessment ?
When I ask the THRIVE rep’s they all say the same thing, and that is “its the super foods that are in there”. Although they are not experts in nutrition or have any background or schooling. They are not doctors… and they don’t know how to answer my questions.
I’m curious to your thoughts as I must say I REALLY liked how I felt during the trial, but I felt like “what am I doing, am I taking drugs, will I be addicted, is there going to be some adverse side effects somewhere down the road”? Ect… Like I said, “too good to be true”.
Thanks for any comments.
Hi Matt, I think most of the energy feeling you experienced was from the stimulants in Thrive M. In my review of Thrive W – which is the womans version of Thrive M – I compared them both to each other
Here’s the Thrive W review
They both share a LOT in common including several stimulant ingredients. I believe its the stimulants in Thrive W which gave you the energy you experienced.
Ive never been convinced the Thrive patch provides any energy.
So, I could agree with the nutritionists you spoke with to a degree but I think its more than the caffeine. I think its caffeine plus the other stimulants in Thrive M.
There are a LOT of comments here and at the Thrive W review. Read through them. Some people are saying some very interesting things about their experiences.
I hope that helps Matt. If you have any other questions, just ask.
Like how my honest review of this product was taken down, just proves this entire product is a giant scam, will continue to advise people against this product
Chris, are you referring to another site where your review was taken down or this site? I did not remove anything you posted. I do moderate comments and so it may take time for them to be seen. If your review of Thrive was taken down at another website, let us know which site did this so we all know about them.
I tried using the Thrive 3 step process (vitamin capsule, shakes, and patch) not so much to lose weight, but to attempt a general overall course of well-being. After 4 weeks of using everything i was not seeing much of a difference.
I was waking up groggy, feeling sick, and just not with it in general. While it did cut my craving for caffeine (was not drinking that much before, maybe a cup of coffee each day), i found i had less energy throughout the day.
Recently after going off the entire process, within the last 3 days,and switching back to a multivitamin (and small amounts of caffeine), i have found i feel a lot better, and have more energy throughout the day, not to mention sleeping better too.
Be careful, Thrive can have a adverse affect from what it is supposed to do.
Hi Chris, thanks for posting your experiences with Thrive. Its interesting you said you had less craving for caffeine. My hunch is because of the caffeine and other stimulants in some of the Thrive supplements.
Can you wear the patch while swimming?
Hi Chris, great question. I’m not sure. Has anybody tried swimming while wearing the Thrive Patch?
Yes! It can be worn while swimming, bathing, etc.
I was/am the biggest skeptic EVER! I am a masters-prepared RN, a diabetic, and in a very high stress job as a root cause analysis coordinator for health care. I have done the weight loss thing and succeeded by losing 65 pounds with portion control/counting macros, healthy eating, working out and achieving calorie deficits doing this (so I understand the theory of weight loss).
I also know I can do weight loss without a “magic bullet.” I did not take this for weight loss, but if I saw benefits I would be happy. The first couple of days I didn’t see much. Yes, I did get the typical rash where the patch was and a little coconut oil took care of that so that had little bearing on my decision. I also did switch at week 3 from the standard beginner patch to the black label patch after my friend let me try it for 3 days (YOWZA! what a difference!)
The things I did notice was: I was not exhausted when I came home from work, my moods were more stable and I had a little more patience with the hubby and grandkids than I had previously, when I did lay down to sleep- I actually slept (my fitbit showed I was getting more hours of deep sleep), I was having some neuropathic leg pain from my type 2 diabetes at night (my A1c has been 5.7 for 2 years and never over 6.2 so is very well controlled) and this pain has disappeared, and I just feel better.
I have lost 13 pounds in the first 5 weeks I have been taking it with minimal effort. My blood sugars have dropped from 120s to low 100s.
I promised my best friend I would give her 8 weeks. As of right now, I intend to keep using this product as long as I continue to see results. If I had based it off the trial 3 days or the first couple of weeks, I would not give it this review- it took a solid 4+ weeks to feel as good as I do today (going into week 6 this week).
It is not for everyone, but I have seen results and appreciated my friend pushing me to stay with it 🙂
Elizabeth, thanks for sharing your experiences with the Thrive Patch. So you really saw a difference with the black label. Interesting. I wonder if its because its providing more caffeine than the other patches? It will be interesting to retest your A1C in a couple of months to see if it has decreased. Keep us posted on your progress.
Great Review! I have Used Thrive and cant wait to go back on it. More Energy more focus, less aches. Bonus lost a few pounds. I prefer Black label the B12 really helps with mood etc. I have gone off this product as it can be expensive.
I figured I can drink coffee and take vitamins and it will do the same. I was Wrong!
I felt overall so much better on this. Yes the first month can be rough as the body detoxes headaches, ill feeling, etc But once you get past that WOW!.
I have tried Keto etc and realize Our body was meant to follow the food pyramid but in moderation. Research shows cutting out food groups is not good for the body, and causes a host of other issues. (Per my nephew who is a Dr.) Yes there are time extreme measures those diets should be used like for seizures. The caffeine in thrive may not be healthy either but heck we all drink coffee right?
Thanks Julie, glad you liked the review 🙂
For what its worth, I agree with your nephew, the doctor too.
Question. Did you notice more energy with the patch or with the patch + Thrive W?
I was thinking about starting Thrive but was not sure because of my meds. I take Paxil and Adderall. I wasn’t sure if it is safe.
Hi Sara, For what its worth I’m not convinced the ingredients in the Thrive Patch can penetrate the skin. As for the other Thrive supplements (Thrive W, etc), why don’t you show the ingredients to your pharmacist. Your pharmacist can look these up and see if there are any known interactions.
I always include the ingredients in my reviews so just print them up and show the list to your pharmacist.
Here are my other Thrive Reviews
Thrive W Review
Thrive Shake Review
Thrive DFT DUO Patch Review
I hope you will let us know what your pharmacist says
I’ve been on Thrive for 5 months now and I have had an allergic reaction to the patch. I’m assuming the allergy lies with the adhesive that they use. I’ve tried everything that my promotor has told me to do to help alleviate the red, VERY itchy reaction I get. I have even tried specific lotions wore under the patch, which my promotor swore would work, but it’s been no help.
I’m at the point where I may drop the patch portion of the routine and continue using the vitamins and shake. I’m not sure if I’m receiving any benefits from it anyway-no weight loss whatsoever. Might put an update on here after I’ve been off of it.
Hi Stephanie, you are not the only one to tell me they’ve had rashes from the Thrive Patch. I believe in some people the adhesive may cause an allergic reaction although it likely doesn’t do it in everybody. It seems to be only some people who report it. My opinion is I don’t think the patch does anything, so if its only causing you grief, I’d let it go.
Let us know what happens.
A quick reply to the comment ( im not sure the patches do much)
I notice a HUGE difference in the black label patch to all the others……i really know if i forget it. Im achy all day.
The DUO i switched to for a while had my pain levels right back up but the black label is the only one that really works on my body ????
I
Hi Me, thanks for sharing this. Question, how long did it take for you to notice a reduction in pain when you used the thrive Patch?
Month 1 i did normal dft and switched to black label month 2 as i always knew i would need a little more help than the average person……about week 6 i realized my pain was way down…..i have experimented with all combos (pills and patch or shake and patch or pills and shake but nothing gives 100% like when you take all 3 steps…..skeptic i wasn’t i was too desperate…..but to come off gabapentin and have a life is a huge huge deal
(Please note this is me….im a fairly bright 40 year old….i DO NOT give recommendations for anyone to drop their meds for supplements without taking to their doc….)
Me, I notice white willow bark is in all of the Thrive Patches. White willow bark is related to aspirin. L theanine also has effects in the brain as well. Here’s a nice write up on it: https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/sleep-newzzz/201708/what-you-need-know-about-l-theanine
I wonder if your pain reduction might be from a combo of white willow bark and L theanine? I’m just speculating though.
I use coconut oil and the rash goes right away. I am not sure what the component is that causes the rash. I do not get it every day and I also noticed I do not get the rash with the black label patches.
Hi y’all! I’ve been doing some research on MLM companies involved in Health and Wellness and came across this company. I’ve seen plenty of post on FB from promoters, which grabbed my attention (not really in a good way). I’ve looked at plenty of sites relating to this product as well as created a “free” account in order to ask questions directly to the company.
I’ve found some great unbiased reviews about these products as well as breakdowns and descriptions of ingredients. I’ve contacted their support line and I must say there is little to no transparency with their answers. I was often met with sideways answers (not really answering anything but providing me with long winded responses).
My question for anyone who reads this article or follows these comments. Are there any former Thrive promoters that got out of the business for any reason?
Why did you stop?
What where some pros and cons of Le-vel as a promoter.
Where there any bad practices from up-line promoters or customers?
Educational level of promoters on supplements?
These are just general questions not meant to be answered in order. I’ve seen several others provide there experience as a past promoter. Thanks!
Hi Charlene, thanks for sharing that and posting your questions. Current promoters, feel free to weigh in on these questions too.
Hi Just came across your web site, it is great, finally some authentic reviews with the research to back it up!
My comment is couldn’t you just take Saffron and L Arginine as weight loss supplements which based on research indicates they do support weight loss as opposed to taking the Thrive patch? The patch has many ingredients some of which I would not be able to tolerate such as the Garcina Cambogia, 5HTP.
Hi Trudy, thanks so much and I’m so glad you found me on the web! In the absence of evidence that the patch works, what you say sounds just as plausible to me. If you try those, let me know what happens 🙂
I was given a sample from promoter. I took two pills in am and felt wide awake. Then I drank the shake, which was hard to drink because it tasted bad to me. I got nauseated, wired, and just a general weird feeling,that I didn’t like. I then put on the patch and started to break out around the edge of the patch. After an hour I had to take this patch off because I was feeling terrible.
My mind was racing, yet I felt too bad to do anything! I felt so sick from the caffeine over load! I never want to feel this way again! Keep your Thrive! The rash was still there from the patch in the morning. I only wore it one hour, the day before. This is not for everyone!!
All I see are trumped up pro Thrive reviews posted by promoters. I am sure some can take it and love it. I cannot take it and never will again! BTW I am healthy and have no know allergies. The claims are misleading at best.
How much protein is in Thrive? I have a friend who is a promoter who claims she has really toned up the last 2 years on Thrive. Honestly I couldn’t tell a difference . When I researched all I found was 15 grams, which is very little. Do you have any info on it.
Hi Trevor, Yes I do. Here is the review on the Thrive Protein Shake.
You are correct it has 15 grams of protein per shake and 110 calories in addition to several vitamins, minerals etc.
Getting more toned is really about building muscle and losing fat so we can see the muscle. While protein can help us hold on to the muscle we have, protein by itself, wont tone / build muscle to a degree that can be seen. Building muscle comes best from resistance training exercise. Weight loss – if needed – can help the muscles be seen better.
Does that help?
Yes. Thats what I explained to her. She went on to tell me it’s only 15 g of protein but since it’s so premium it’s like ingesting 45g. ? Honestly I’m not sure where they make this stuff up from.
Trevor, Well that is a new one! My guess is she heard that from someone else. Either way, it doesn’t have any basis in fact.
Your “Critical” review has some issues! Mainly, don’t look on Amazon at all – there aren’t reviews there to speak of and here’s why… Section from Le-Vel’s distributor agreement:
“4.17. Ebay/Amazon Sales.
Promoters are strictly prohibited from selling Le-Vel products on Ebay/Amazon or any similar third party auction site or sales site, even if offered at Le-Vel’s suggested retail price… This activity also goes beyond the license we have given to our Promoters, therefore such use constitutes an unauthorized use of our trademarks. Promoters who violate this policy will have their accounts temporarily suspended without pay and may be subject to having their Promotership terminated.”
I know distributors of this product who informed me that Amazon is aggressively removing listings a long with their nearly 50% bad review percentage which you could easily see until about a year ago. The issue is your article makes it sound as though there aren’t any bad reviews at all for an extremely popular product with billions in sales nation wide. How unlikely is that for ANY product – ever? If you want a good mix of reviews, you have to take a look at places like: sitejabber
You should also mention / research the many thrive lawsuits going on over their products. As well as the lawsuits against x-distributors for “trashing” their product which has claims of either being useless or highly dangerous. This is overall a very typical MLM company with all of your typical scandals and issues.
Hi Jim, thanks for bringing this up. when I review a supplement, I like to try to stick to the science and avoid name calling, MLM, bashing and stuff like that. I always felt that when people were given the facts – science -it helps them make a more informed decision.
Site Jabber reviews. Yes, there are some people commenting about Le-Vel there. Some say good things and others say not so good things, similar to what I saw on Amazon
https://www.sitejabber.com/reviews/www.le-vel.com
About the lawsuits. I honestly was not aware of any thing like that when this review was created. That said, you are right in that when I searched for “Le-Vel lawsuit” I did see information like you described. Here’s one from Lazymans website for those who are curious: http://www.lazymanandmoney.com/le-vel-thrive-scam/
At the end of the day, I feel I gave the Thrive Patch a fair -critical-review based on science.
Jim, really appreciate you chiming in on this and giving me the opportunity to respond.
Just for interest, I used HRT patches, which did work for my (many debilitating) symptoms, but the glue gave my skin a nasty reaction of blisters and soreness. I now use skin gel and it works fine.
Hi Ruth, thanks for sharing that. Glad HRT helped you.
I just did Thrive for two months. I did not lose 1 pound and did it exactly as stated. I know personally a promoter who uses pictures of them being overweight from years ago way before they started thrive a couple months ago. They lost the weight before they started thrive. So I I think that is extremely misleading.
Hi Marie, thanks for sharing and for what its worth, I’m sorry Thrive didn’t work for you. I’m also sorry to hear about the promoter posting misleading pictures of herself online.
That doesn’t mean that ppl who have bought it from a promoter and didn’t like it haven’t sold it on amazon or eBay!!! Just bc the company prohibits promoters to sell it on eBay or amazon does not mean that consumers can or have not dine so…. just saying
Is Le-vel LLC GMP certified? I’ve asked several promoters and they’ve said yes, but can’t provide me any documentation saying so. Do you know?
Hi Steph, I am honestly not sure. I don’t remember seeing anything about GMP certification. I did a quick google search and did see they use non-GMO ingredients. I didn’t see anything about GMP certification. Does anyone know about this?
I submitted a support ticket on this question and here is there response.
“Thrive is independently tested, and the facilities where Le-Vel’s products are manufactured and the manufacturing processes are GMP and NSF certified. Unfortunately we do not provide copies of these documents.
These certificates are very lengthy and contain proprietary / confidential information about our facilities and practices. ”
This company is utterly ridiculous.
Tyler, thanks for that info. That is odd. While Ill take their word it’s GMP, one wonders why they would not just say it on their website? Then they would not have to discuss confidential info etc.
So I am a brand promoter and have been very successful with this company. I will list my idea of pros and cons and i have a few questions maybe you can research or have already. There is a supposed “PATENT PENDING” on the DFT, but i’ve found MANY other products with the “sticker” form of absorption. This is the excuse for no amounts listed on ingredients.
I HAVE had MAJOR success with the product. Weight loss the first 5-6 weeks lost me 25 pounds, not because it made me not eat or feel like i was cracked out which was a HUGE concern for something like this. It actually made me want to get up and go. Walks, patience, playing with my child, accidentally cleaning my house, less achy discomfort, and the depression symptoms seemed to disappear completely. I actually recall thinking i was CRAZY. Mental clarity, thinking things through, more organized thoughts and actions.
The support system SUCKS, there is no pyramid there in the promoting side but there is stipulations, i cant sit back and let a promoter beneath me bank the money while i do nothing. i have to make at least 40% of my income, which has been hard for me as i have 1 team of successful promoters and no others so i have what is called a “red leg” that keeps me from hitting rank as long as i’m not 40% of that rank.
Placement can never be altered. Once a promoter there’s no going back. Once someone is there they have to wait 3 months of being cancelled to become a customer again and 6 months to promote again. STUPID, because some people don’t want to work with others and it has RUINED my personal team. Promoting isn’t the focus though.
There’s no help with support no phone number and your pushed to the side when you have a complaint they don’t want to hear. There’s no higher up. Supposedly Paul gravette and jason camper are CEO and co-founders of the company whose patents are pending for the DFT. Why no BBB accreditation i did notice a current A+ rating, but tons of negative remarks.
As promoters we are told to PUSH HEAVY WATER INTAKE Eating after and taking exactly as directed or you will not get any results. 1 of the 3 steps will not work. 1. take 1-2 capsules before your feet hit the floor with water only. 2. wait 20-40 minutes (15 for a less speedy affect) full absorption before drinking lifestyle mix, and 3. slap on the dft and dont take it off until applying another the next day.
We are pushed to know that we are NOT a weight loss product. well, before duo which is supposedly not a weight loss product but a FAT loss product. As in not taking out the healthy weight and muscle, but only fat.
Also my biggest concern is, ARE THESE INGREDIENTS ADDICTIVE? Physical withdrawal? I’m terrified to stop as the company says you will go back to how you were before (which is hard to remember until you feel) but i have friends who missed days and felt like hell, caffeine headaches from a simple 60mg off caffeine ? but coffee is something like 320mg of caffeine. “Why do i want to lay in bed be sad and die when i don’t have it” ?
Is this stuff going to put me through it. If so how do i switch? What has a similar promised side affect list? a multi vitamin wont give me all of that so what will. is there a cheaper alternative? are these really the most premium of vitamins as promised? Maybe you can help me figure out these answers?
thanks for your reviews and putting some of it into perspective.
Hi Brittany, you bring up some good questions and I appreciated your honest feedback on what you liked and didnt like about the the prodcuts/company. Im sure your words will be of help to others who are considering taking Thrive products and/or getting involved with selling them.
if you read through the comments you will find others who have complained of problems when they stopped taking the supplements. Some have said it was akin to “withdrawal” and honestly I am not sure what is causing these problems. I dont see anything in the DFT patch that would cause these issues. I likewise dont see anything in the DFT DUO patch either
Here is the DFT DUO review in case you missed it
http://supplementclarity.com/thrive-dft-duo-review/
Thirve W does have ingredients that are stimulants. Here is the Thrive W review
http://supplementclarity.com/thrive-w-review/
There is more stimulants in Thrive W than caffeine. I wonder if those are what are causing people to have issues when they stop?
Its a good point you make about calling the product a fat loss product rather than a weight loss product in that weight loss doesn’t differentiate between muscle, fat, water etc. That said, without research on Thrive supplements/patches, I cant say either way if fat is the only thing that is being lost. maybe it is or maybe not. It would take clinical studies on people to know.
As I pointed out in this and the DFT duo patch review, there is a patent on Cosmoperine, the metabolite of black pepper that appears to increase forskolin absorption in rats (it probably would do the same in people too I think). whether it also increases absorption of the other things in the patch I cant say.
I scratch my head over the use of green coffee bean in the patch (as in other supplements too). I would not be surprised if its removed eventually. See the review for why I think this way.
That is quite interesting what you said about what its like to be a Thrive distributor. I was not aware any of that was going on.
Thank you! I love seeing honest comments from promoters! Here is my viewpoint on Thrive. Does it work? Maybe. Is it as premium as the company says? Absolutely not. I do believe you will have withdraws, and in fact return to your normal state if you stop. Which brings up the point of why even take it, it’s not sustainable.
To the premium side. Every time I email them for lab studies or third party test to prove the validity of there claim, they say it’s patent pending and studies will be released at a later date. They have said this for the past 3 years. They won’t release any numbers for proprietary blends for fear of there “recipe” being stolen. It’s ridiculous. How do you know what your getting.
Proprietary blends are a sign of weakness. It allows the company to hide cheap ingredients and protecting them from releasing any info on them. If your products where truly premium, you wouldn’t have proprietary blends. Take a look at the total mg of all the ingredients in there proprietary blend. If you take every ingredient and look up there effective dosage and add them all up, you get a number that FAR exceeds what Thrive is actually giving you. They are shorting you big time. If your not getting the effective dosage of each ingredient, you won’t reac the benefits of any of it.
Supplements can be GMP, NSF, or USP certified. Often these certifications are more strict than any FDA process. Only 3% of health and wellness supplements have ever been able to achieve these certs. In order to obtain these you have to prove what’s in there products. They go through at least a dozen third party test that includes purity, process, and ingredient quantities. All test are available to the public for research. There are no proprietary blends and all ingredient quantities are listed on the label.
Take a look at Thorne Research supplements, they are the best of the best. You can find unbiased third party test on all of there products.
Thrive has yet to release any research, test or studies. For a “billion” dollar company this is outrageous. There is absolutely no transparency.
As promised, here is the review of the DFT DUO patch
http://supplementclarity.com/thrive-dft-duo-review/
I also compared the ingredients to the DFT Patch and Black Label patch.
Please leave comments about DFT DUO on that reviews page help people who want to know specifically about that product.
This product in no way or form can put your body in Ketosis….only the foods you choose to consume can do that.
“Flushing mode”?? thats just plain silly….
I have taken the product off and on but in all honesty, I havent done it correctly.
I do know one thing, taking both capsules opon awakening did not effect my mood at all good or bad.
The shakes are just “ok” for taste for me……..
I have been testing the products for 5 days with samples. I noticed the pills gave me headache. I was told to reduce it to one a day. Still a bad headache…so we stopped the pills and just used the patch and shake. The headache remained slight but tolerable. Decided to do research… I read the ingredients and it has shellfish in the pills.
The promoter should have told me! Before I started, I told her that I have deadly allergy to shellfish….my allergy doctor warned me to be cautious with everything. It seem like the promoter is too wraped up in the business opportunities of selling and MLM instead of know the product she is selling.
Handing samples to people and giving no info if the ingredients or instructions how to take it is careless and could create a problem with a negative health reactions.
Anyhow, I chose to go to their website and order the reg. patch after reading this article…..I will try this for awhile. No shakes or pills just patch and post it here my results.
How has your experience been with just the basic patches? Also where did you find the information about shellfish being in the product? I have been researching some to find a good weight management tool for my mother and sister but thankfully I came across this article and your response because my mother is extremely allergic to shellfish ?!
The gel capsule itself is what contains shellfish, and people with an allergy have opened the capsule and mixed the powder with orange juice or something for taste, and haven’t had any issues. It is not completely made from shellfish which is why even “deathly allergic” people only see small reactions, but emptying the contents from the capsule is something to consider as well.
Another thought, while you think the promoter should have told you there was shellfish in the capsule, if you have such a severe allergy, shouldn’t you be inquiring about anything you’re putting into your body? I personally have no allergies, so it wouldn’t cross my mind to list possible allergens to each person that tries the products.
Thrive puts your body into ketosis. Not sure that is a good thing???
Hi Abby, are you referring to the Thrive DUO patch? I’m looking into that right now. Stay tuned for the DUO Patch review soon…
I’m on Day 2 of Thrive and it has been the best thing that I have come across! I am NOT a distributor, just a 50 year old gal who was tired of being tired all the time. I did my research before purchasing and have been beyond impressed. I eat healthy for the most part but still was lacking in energy big time and what a difference this has made without making me feel overstimulated or jumpy in any way.
It just makes me feel 20 years younger as well as better intestinal digestion and sleep. I am of the opinion that I would rather invest in my health than suffer later on.
Hi Debbie, what research did you find that impressed you to try it? Just curious.
Tried a 3 day sample and wasn’t a good experience at all. Into the second day I was a couch potato…..had absolutely no energy…..I was better off not on this stuff. Day 3 I had diarrhea and the decreased energy loss. Apparently this is the body cleansing I was told.
Regardless to say, did not continue. It’s not worth having to miss work for the way I felt and still be expected to commit to paying 300.00 a month for this product.
That’s because your body was in flushing mode. It happened to s friend of mine and on Day 5 she started to turn around and she loves it now.
Hi Deanne, I’m not sure if “Flushing mode” is a clinical term. what are people flushing out?