Zantrex
Zantrex-3 is a herbal supplement marketed by "Zoller Laboratories", a subsidiary of Basic Research of Salt Lake City, Utah. It is marketed towards people under 30 in fast paced television advertisements depicting athletic-looking people. The advertisement proclaims Zantrex as "America's number 1 selling weight loss pill!".
Ingredients
Its active ingredients include Yerba Mate, Guarana and regular caffeine. It's estimated that the pill contains as much caffeine as 3-4 cups of coffee. Additional ingredients include green tea extract, Damiana (a South American aphrodisiac), Schizonepeta, Ginseng, Maca root, Niacin and Kola nut.
Side effects
The pill may potentially have side effects similar to those associated with excessive caffeine consumption. Listed side effects include:
- Jitters, anxiety, increased sweating
- Increase in heart rate, increase in blood pressure
- Nausea, stomachache, diarrhea
- Loss or suppressed appetite
- Cold sweats, restlessness, shaking, irritability
- Increase in urination (as caffeine is a mild diuretic)
- Niacin is a vasodilator, and in some cases, use of Zantrex-3 causes uncontrollable swelling in all parts of the body. In severe cases, users develop the condition Angioedema
Pop Culture
Near the end of the fifth season of VH1's Celebrity Fit Club, Contestant Dustin Diamond used Zantrex-3 as a dietary supplement.1