A viral diet pill called Molecule has triggered health warnings in Russia after several teenagers were hospitalized, with tests revealing it contained a substance banned worldwide more than a decade ago. The pill, widely promoted on TikTok with catchy slogans like “Take Molecule and forget food exists,” has gained alarming popularity among young Russians looking for quick weight-loss fixes, despite being illegal in Russia and many other countries.
Banned Ingredient Behind the Pill
Laboratory tests confirmed that Molecule contains sibutramine, a prescription-only drug that was once used as an antidepressant and later marketed for weight loss. It was banned in the United States, United Kingdom, European Union, and China in 2010 after studies found it raised the risk of heart attacks and strokes.
In Russia, sibutramine is available only under strict medical supervision for obesity treatment. However, Molecule is sold illegally through online markets, often disguised as “sports nutrition” or even “muesli.” Authorities warn that beyond sibutramine, the pills contain other unidentified ingredients in unknown quantities, making their composition unpredictable and potentially dangerous.
Hospitalisations and Disturbing Side Effects
The health fallout has been severe. At least three schoolchildren have been hospitalized after overdosing on Molecule. A 13-year-old boy from St. Petersburg suffered hallucinations and panic attacks, while a teenage girl from Siberia required intensive care after taking multiple pills at once.
Maria, a 22-year-old user from St. Petersburg, described her experience after two weeks of use: “I had no desire to eat or even drink. The pills affected my mental state; I felt anxious and detached.”
Doctors have reported a range of symptoms, including tremors, dilated pupils, dehydration, insomnia, and hallucinations, warning that the combination of psychological and physical effects makes the pill especially dangerous for adolescents.
Cheap, Accessible, and Deadly
A major reason for Molecule’s continued popularity is its price. A 20-day supply costs around £6–7, compared to £40–160 for regulated medications like Ozempic. For teenagers and adolescents without significant disposable income, this vast price difference makes the illegal pill seem like an attractive option, despite the severe health risks.
Authorities Crack Down and Rebranding
Following public outrage and a series of arrests, Russian authorities have removed Molecule listings from major online stores. But the crackdown has only pushed sellers to rebrand the product under new names like Atom, keeping distribution channels alive. The origin of these pills remains unclear, with links suspected to manufacturers in China, Germany, or Kazakhstan.
How Molecule Differs from Legitimate Weight-Loss Medications
Health experts emphasise the stark difference between Molecule and legitimate prescription medications. FDA-approved drugs like Ozempic work by mimicking natural gut hormones to regulate appetite and blood sugar, backed by rigorous clinical trials and medical supervision. Molecule, conversely, is an unregulated concoction containing banned substances with documented cardiac and neurological risks.
Molecule represents a dangerous trend in a larger landscape of unregulated weight-loss supplements flooding social media. Products similar to GLP-1 patches and other supplements claiming weight-loss benefits circulate on platforms like TikTok, often promoted by paid influencers without proper clinical evidence or regulatory oversight.
Health experts warn that these products are particularly dangerous for vulnerable populations, including children, people with eating disorders, and those concerned about their weight.