Products found to contain undeclared medicines
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| Singapore: HSA Alerts Public to Two Illegal Weight Loss Products Purchased Online Which Led to Two Patients Being Hospitalised |
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The Health Sciences Authority (HSA) is alerting members of the public not to purchase or consume two illegal weight loss products found online which led two young persons to be hospitalised with hallucinations and acute kidney failure after consuming them.
One of the products, ‘Nutri Drops Grapefruit Diet’, was tested by HSA to contain potent, undeclared chemical ingredients, such as sibutramine, benzyl sibutramine (a chemically-related compound of sibutramine) and phenolphthalein. Sibutramine, a weight loss drug, has been banned in Singapore since 2010 due to serious safety concerns. The level of sibutramine detected was found at high quantities that could increase the toxicity of this product.
The second product ‘Nutrex Research Adipodex’, marketed online as a dietary supplement, was labelled to contain yohimbine which is a potent western medicinal ingredient not allowed to be present in supplements sold locally.
Both products were purchased online and were touted to help in weight loss. ‘Nutri Drops Grapefruit Diet’ was labelled to contain all natural ingredients such as grapefruit, raspberry ketone, hawthorn berry, green tea and pomegranate but was detected to contain banned ingredients. The product claimed to work in ‘7 miracle ways’ to increase metabolism, and burn fats. ‘Nutrex Research Adipodex’ claimed to be a ‘powerful stimulant weight loss sensation’.
Members of the public who are consuming these products are advised to stop using ‘Nutri Drops Grapefruit Diet’ & ‘Nutrex Research Adipodex’ immediately and consult a doctor if they feel unwell.
Please refer to the following website in HSA for details:
http://www.hsa.gov.sg/content/hsa/../TwoIllegalWeightLossProducts.html#
In Hong Kong, the above products are not registered pharmaceutical products.
Ends/ Wednesday, December 10, 2014
Issued at HKT 13:00
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