Do you know if Pfizer decided to get out of the Hoodia research? Why??
494351
Yes: \n"In 1937, a Dutch anthropologist studying the San Bushmen noted that they used hoodia to suppress appetite. But it wasn't until 1963 when scientists at the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), South Africa's national laboratory, began studying hoodia. Initial results were promising -- lab animals lost weight after taking hoodia. \n\nThe South African scientists, working with a British company named Phytopharm, isolated the active ingredient in hoodia, a steroidal glycoside, which they named p57. After getting a patent in 1995, they licensed p57 to Phytopharm. Phytopharm has spent more than $20 million on hoodia research. \n\nEventually pharmaceutical giant Pfizer (makers of Viagra) caught wind of hoodia and became interested in developing a hoodia drug. In 1998, Phytopharm sub-licensed the rights to develop p57 to Pfizer for $21 million. Pfizer recently returned the rights to hoodia to Phytopharm, who is now working with Unilever. "\nsource below
597210
I just saw a segment on tv about Hoodia. It is a leaf of a plant that African warriors eat while out on a hunt, because it suppresses their appetite..so in that situation it works. HOWEVER, the doctor who I saw on this segment said that you have to be sure you are getting authentic Hoodia because some companies are passing off other things as Hoodia. He didn't explain, or I don't remember him explaining, how you could tell. My opinion is this, the good old fashioned exercise and change of diet is your best option for weight loss. How did all those women back in the day remain so thin and healthy without Atkins, South Beach or Hoodia? :::::shutter:::::
870927
Ok Greg: I have a news flash for you, the makers of Enzyte were just under investigation for fraud by the Federal Government. They had to change their adds do to the c...p they were handing out to the public.\n\n   They're giving the public the idea that they can make the penis grow. Why doesn't it make the left leg grow, or the right foot, what makes it so smart that it know what to make grow?\n\n   If they had a drug that could do this it would be like the fountain of youth, believe me, every man in the Country would be breaking their doors down but yet, they have to give free samples away, why? you can get up to three months free, doesn't this make you think something is strange. I do.
782441
I've tried it.  It's a cactus from some region in Africa.  It hasn't been found to be dangerous -- but that doesn't mean it's totally safe; they're selling it, so it must not have any immediate dangers.  I've never heard of a horror-story about Hoodia, or had one myself.\n\nI bought a bottle about 2 years ago.  It cost 50$ for 90 pills.  The directions tell you to take 2 capsules before every meal.  I never took that many in a day.  I only took 1 or 2 every once in awhile when I was trying to diet and curb my cravings.  It kind of works, but it's not a miracle by any chance.  It was fun to experiment with it though.  It's very expensive, and if I took it as often as they said I should, I would go through a bottle in no time -- too expensive for me.\n\nThey say it works by turning off something in your brain that tells you to eat.  In my experience it basically did that.  Sometimes it feels like my brain is pressuring me to eat, and when I took 1 or 2 capsules, it's like I was alleviated of that pressure.  It takes a little while to kick in though.  Plus it only lasts for about an hour.\n\nIt was just discovered a few years ago.  They can't grow enough of it, that's why it costs so much.  The pharmaceutical companies are trying to set up huge farming operations to produce it in mass-quantity, but it must take a few years for the plants to grow.  Then the price should go down.\n\nI was under the impression in the next few years they should have it for much cheaper.  The brand I got was Hoodoba Pure, and I got it off Amazon.com .  The full name of what it's called is Hoodia Gordonii (the name of the supplement).\n\nYou can read more about it here:\nhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hoodia_gordonii#Medicinal_uses\n\nThe bottom-line for me was that it's too expensive now, and even though it seems to work well, it hasn't been fully tested to see how effective or how safe it is.\n\nAlso, beware of searching stuff about Hoodia Gordonii on the internet.  You might find something, thinking it's real information like a news article, when really it's just an advertisement in disguise -- I found this out first-hand.  Also I heard some companies are saying their product is made of Hoodia, when only a small percentage of it actually is, and so they can sell it for much cheaper.  If it's cheap, it's not real.
1117260
Yeah, some ladies at my work.  But it's a pretty big commitment from what I understood.  I don't think they sell or buy the products anymore.  However, I did hear one of the ladies talk about her commission checks for a couple of months - she made a bit of money while everyone was really excited about it.  Like I said, I think that the glamour wore off - it is a commitment.
334970
Seems to me psychotherapy is going out of fashion as the drug companies become ever more powerful and steer western medicine on the path of pharmaceuticals rather than the much more healing approach of figuring out the basis for unwanted behaviors and then working toward changing them. Perhaps you could explore this theme. I mean, really....all these kids on psyche drugs? That can't be good....
947742
NONE it is dangerous to stop meds cold turkey, taper off!
587975
Hoodia is a cactus.  It's products are worthless for health -- just some trendy way to separate you from your money
739420
I took it for a short time....for depression. I had headaches, and gained weight.  Also, when I stopped taking it...my hearing kept going in and out.  I kept hearing this zzip..zzzip...I could actually feel a strange vibration going thru my head...and that's when I figured out it was my hearing....fading in and out.  Really weird.  And they say it is not habit forming....but, then they say "well, you can't just stop taking it..you have to be weaned off of it."  If that's not an addiction....then explain that one to me!! I ended up just going to a counselor and now I am doing great....I just had to have someone not involved with my life to help me figure things out.
271642
I read this somewhere in a gossip mag, but can't remember which one. It was in January. I remember, because I was on my way to California and picked it up at the airport. May still have the mag at home. I'll try to find it. I remember reading how unhealthy it was though! Dangerous. I think what you are talking about though is something like Clenbuterol.
90981
My mom is taking something call Hoodia...It curbs your appetite and I think it cuts your caloric intake to 50% percent. In one week she dropped a pants size...She's only been taking it for 3 weeks. She still eats what she wants but the portions are alot smaller. One of my grad. professors recommends it also. He lost 100 pounds and he says he's tried everything and it was the only thing that has ever worked for him
599763
http://www.fda.gov/bbs/topics/ENFORCE/ENF00509.html\nhttp://www.fda.gov/foi/warning_letters/m460n.pdf\n\nOrudis KT does not seem to have been taken off the market, except a certain batch was recalled in 1997 for lack of content uniformity.  \n\nPlease confirm the drug has been taken off the market.  Cannot document this infirmation.  If you have more information, please share.
992754
Worked Great!\n\nPersonally I think 100% Hoodia in tablets is best! \n\nCheck with your doctor before starting any weight loss program.\n\nI tried many diet pills/shakes/bars with no or little results. \n\nThan I tried Hoodia and......\nHoodia has worked for me...and with no side effects. \n\nFor all you doubters, here is the prior feedback for another Answers user who followed my advice:\n\nAsker's Rating: *****\nvery good comment i lost 2 lbs in a week\ni think i can almost get in my leather dress, i can hit the town in no time \n\n\n**** VERY IMPORTANT NOT TO GET RIPPED OFF --- \n\n#1. Be sure you are buying pure Hoodia...look for the import certificate on the website. No matter the price, if they do not display this, you really do NOT know what you are getting!\n\n#2. Be sure it is 100% Hoodia & not mixed w/other herbs, etc.!!\n\n#3. Keep in mind it stops your hunger pangs…you MUST remember to break your habit to always eat at certain times.\n\n#4. Drink a full 8oz. glass of water with it!\n\nHoodia (HOOD-ee-uh) gordonii - A genus of 10 to 20 species from southwestern Africa. \nHoodia gordonii is the stoneage wonder plant found throughout the dry arid regions of the South western African continent now on the verge of making history in the fight against obesity. It is a genus belonging to the Asclepiadaceae family which consists of approximately 20 species. Used to stop hunger, quench thirst, and provide energy among other things since prehistoric times, Hoodia gordonii was first discovered by the San tribesmen and women to get through the most difficult of times. \n\nYou can read a good article about how it works at:\n\nhttp://www.hoodia-diets.info/hoodia-diet-capsules.htm\nhttp://www.hoodia-diets.info/hoodia-gordonii-diet-use.htm\nhttp://www.hoodia-diets.info\nhttp://hoodia-research.blogspot.com
675671
yes i just stopped taking it last month. i had a terrible feeling like a bad hangover for about a week.
680371
are you sure you aren't thinking of hoodia?
93953
Market factors enter in when a large company decides to discontinue a product.  It is my belief that such sources of aggrevation become avenues of opportunity.  Not only make your own, look into getting into the market, you won't have RJR to compete with.
739441
A locum prescribed me reductil while my GP was on holiday.  When I next saw him, he said that he didn't think they worked and wouldn't have prescribed them.  I had to lose 10% of my bodyweight in 3 months - that's part of the licensing process, apparently.  I didn't manage to lose that much, so don't take them any more.  So well done for losing a stone!  That's better than nothing!!\n\nI found that my sleep was really distubred while I was taking them - I had lots of restless nights and felt awful because I was so tired all the time.