The Dangerous Allure of 'Molecule': A Weight-Loss Pill Captivating Young Russians

Molecule, a pill promising rapid weight loss, went viral on Russian TikTok earlier this year.

Young people's feeds started filling up with captions like Take Molecule and forget food exists and Do you want to sit in the back of the class in oversized clothes?

Clips showed fridges lined with blue boxes featuring holograms and Molecule Plus labels.

The orders began piling in, as teenagers shared their weight-loss journeys on social media.

But there was a catch.

Maria, 22, had purchased the pill from a popular online retailer. She took two pills per day and, after two weeks, says her mouth dried up and she completely lost her appetite.

I had absolutely no desire to eat, let alone drink. I was nervous. I was constantly biting my lips and chewing my cheeks, she recalled.

Maria developed severe anxiety and began having negative thoughts. These pills were having a profound effect on my psyche, she stated.

Other TikTok users reported issues including dilated pupils, tremors, and insomnia. At least three schoolchildren have reportedly been hospitalized due to severe side effects.

In April, a schoolgirl in Chita, Siberia, required hospitalization after overdosing on Molecule, reportedly in a bid to lose weight rapidly for summer.

Another schoolgirl’s mother reported her daughter was admitted to intensive care following a similar incident.

Additionally, a 13-year-old boy from St Petersburg needed hospital treatment after enduring hallucinations and panic attacks related to the pill, which he requested due to school bullying regarding his weight.

Substance banned in UK, EU and US

Molecule's packaging often boasts natural ingredients like dandelion root and fennel seed extract; however, investigations revealed it contains the dangerous substance sibutramine.

Originally used as an antidepressant, sibutramine was later identified as an appetite suppressant with substantial health risks.

Banned in the US since 2010 and illegal in the UK, EU, and China, it remains available in Russia for prescribed treatment of obesity, but unlabeled sales can lead to legal consequences.

Yet, unregistered sales persist, with many selling the pills in dangerous dosages, making Molecule a cheap alternative to legitimate weight-loss treatments like Ozempic.

Endocrinologist Ksenia Solovieva warns: Self-administration of this drug is very unsafe because we do not know how much of the active ingredient such 'dietary supplements' may contain.

Despite regulations, Russians face imprisonment for purchasing and reselling Molecule due to its illegal status. In April, the Safe Internet League alerted authorities about the increasing trend among youths, which led to several online marketplaces removing Molecule from listings, only to find it resurfacing under new names like Atom.

Recent legislation allows authorities to block websites selling unregistered dietary supplements, but sellers adapt by labeling them as sports nutrition to evade detection.

Retailers on TikTok often disguise the pills' sales amid listings for muesli, biscuits, and other innocent products. When contacted, one marketplace acknowledged the challenge in removing products that do not explicitly mention sibutramine.

Controversy surrounds the pills' origins, with reports of varied production claims across different suppliers. Some are said to originate from China or Germany, but inconsistencies remain in the validity of these production claims.

• Details of support with eating disorders in the UK are available at BBC Action Line

Online communities centered around eating disorders are rife with Molecule promotions, utilizing hashtags and coded language to bypass moderation attempts. Medical professionals indicate that the drug is particularly harmful to youths and those struggling with eating disorders, leading to urges for action from influencers like Anna Enina, who cautioned followers against the pills based on her personal struggles.

After enduring severe side effects, Maria now actively warns others about the dangers of taking Molecule within weight-loss communities, even reaching out to minors and their parents.

Despite her efforts, Molecule continues to gain traction online, serving as a constant reminder of her hardships every time Maria scrolls through her TikTok feed.