\n\tA new so-called \u201cmiracle\u201d weight-loss pill is sweeping across Russian social media, promising quick results without exercise or dieting.<\/p>\n
\n\tBranded as Molecule Plus, the capsule has gone viral on TikTok, but doctors are warning that its popularity masks serious health risks.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
\n\t\tOn Russian TikTok feeds, videos tagged with #MoleculePlus feature young users flaunting blue boxes and sharing their \u201cweight-loss journeys.\u201d<\/p>\n
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\n\tTeenagers and young adults claim dramatic transformations after taking the pills, often describing it as an easy fix.<\/p>\n
\n\tHowever, some users say the side effects tell a different story. Maria, 22, told the BBC she began taking two pills a day after seeing them online. \u201cWithin two weeks, my mouth was dry, I couldn\u2019t sleep, and my anxiety went through the roof,\u201d she said. Other users have reported tremors, dilated pupils, and loss of appetite.<\/p>\n
\n\tWhat\u2019s inside \u2018Molecule\u2019?<\/p>\n
\n\tDespite its sleek packaging and claims of \u201cnatural ingredients\u201d such as fennel seed and dandelion root, tests by the Russian newspaper Izvestiya found that Molecule contained sibutramine- a banned weight-loss drug once used as an appetite suppressant.<\/p>\n
\n\tSibutramine was developed in the 1980s as an antidepressant and later prescribed for obesity, but studies linked it to increased risks of heart attacks, strokes, and high blood pressure. It was banned in the US, UK, EU, and China more than a decade ago.<\/p>\n
\n\tIn Russia, sibutramine is still legal but only under prescription and medical supervision. Selling or distributing it without one is a criminal offence.<\/p>\n
\n\tYet, the drug continues to circulate through the black market, often repackaged under new names- such as Atom, Molecule\u2019s apparent successor.<\/p>\n
\n\tDoctors sound alarm<\/p>\n
\n\tEndocrinologist Ksenia Solovieva cautioned that users of Molecule have no control over what they are consuming, NDTV reported.<\/p>\n
\n\t\u201cThe amount of active ingredient remains unknown,\u201d she said. \u201cSelf-medicating with such pills can lead to unpredictable and dangerous reactions.\u201d<\/p>\n
\n\tMedical experts say the biggest risk lies in counterfeit or unregulated products that mimic prescription medications without safety testing or dosage control.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
\n\t\tThe rise of Molecule comes amid global fascination with Ozempic and Wegovy, two clinically approved weight-loss drugs. But experts stress that the similarities end at the marketing pitch.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
\n\tWhile Ozempic and other GLP-1 agonists work by mimicking a hormone that regulates appetite and blood sugar, and are FDA-approved and clinically tested, Molecule is unapproved, unregulated, and chemically unrelated.<\/p>\n
\n\t\u201cMolecule promises the same results without any of the science or safety,\u201d one health official said.<\/p>\n
\n\tCheap, accessible, and addictive<\/p>\n
\n\tDespite the warnings, sales continue to surge. A 20-day pack costs about \u00a36\u20137 ($8\u20139), far cheaper than Ozempic, which can range from \u00a340 to \u00a3160 ($50\u2013210) per month in Russia.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
\n\t\tFor students and teens, the affordability and hype make Molecule appealing. Influencers flaunting \u201cinstant results\u201d feed the illusion that the pills are harmless. Even as reports of side effects mount, social media engagement keeps the trend alive.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
\n\t\u201cPeople want fast results,\u201d said Solovieva. \u201cBut these shortcuts come with long-term risks.\u201d<\/p>\n
\n\tThe Molecule craze highlights a growing online market for unregulated health supplements, a space where social media hype often outpaces science.<\/p>\n
\n\tAs Russian authorities struggle to curb illegal sales, experts are urging users to seek professional medical advice before turning to \u201cquick-fix\u201d pills promising effortless weight loss.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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