Redotex is a drug manufactured in Mexico and being sold in the U.S. as a weight-loss product. According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) it is a misbranded drug and is not legal to sell as either a drug or a dietary supplement. It is not permitted for use by DoD personnel or civilians.

According to a 2022 FDA Import Alert, it is an “unapproved new drug.” In addition, it contains triiodothyronine, atropine, diazepam, aloin, and d-norpseudoephedrine—a combination of thyroid, laxative, stimulant, and tranquilizer drugs. Atropine, diazepam, and d-norpseudoephedrine are on the DoD Prohibited Dietary Supplement Ingredients list.

Redotex has been shown to cause serious and potentially fatal adverse reactions. In addition to posing a health hazard, the product contains two DEA Controlled Substances—diazepam and d-norpseudoephedrine (also known as cathine)—that will cause a positive drug test. It is very important to read product labels, and if the label is not in English or contains any of the drug ingredients listed in the FDA Alert, steer clear, as it is an illegal product.

 

Updated 19 April 2022

References

Cantrell, L. (2012). Redotex® revisited: Intentional overdose with an illegal weight loss product. The Journal of Emergency Medicine, 43(2), e147–e148. doi:10.1016/j.jemermed.2011.07.023

Forrester, M. B. (2010). Redotex ingestions reported to Texas poison centers. Human & Experimental Toxicology, 29(9), 789–791. doi:10.1177/0960327110363442

Gao, H. T., Lasoff, D., & Minns, A. (2021). Two cases of thyrotoxicosis due to redotex ingestion, a Mexican weight loss drug. The Journal of Emergency Medicine, 60(4), 495–497. doi:10.1016/j.jemermed.2020.10.035

Graves, C. L., & Newfield, R. S. (2018). Dangerous dieting – Mexican diet pills and T3 thyrotoxicosis. Journal of Case Reports and Images in Pediatrics, 1, 100002Z100019CG102018. Retrieved from https://www.ijcripediatrics.com/archive/2018-pdfs/2018100002Z19CG-graves/100002Z19CG.pdf

Rodríguez-Flores, M., Kaufer-Horwitz, M., & García-García, E. (2019). Safety of drug combinations based on psychoactive agents in the treatment of obesity. International Journal of Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics, 57(05), 270–272. doi:10.5414/cp203395l