Products found to contain undeclared medicines
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| Singapore: HSA Alert: Five products detected to contain potent adulterants; three consumers experienced serious adverse effects including diabetes |
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The Health Sciences Authority (HSA) is alerting members of the public to not purchase or consume five products which were marketed online. HSA tested the products and found that they contained potent adulterants, including medicinal ingredients and the banned substance sibutramine. These adulterants had caused serious adverse effects in consumers. The five products are:
- X-Gout (contains dexamethasone, indomethacin, paracetamol and piroxicam)
- dcr Natural Herbs Honey Enzyme (contains paracetamol)
- KMS2 Dark Chocolate Mocha Botanical Beverage (contains sulphamethoxydiazine and amethocaine)
- Speedy Slim Capsules (Black) (contains sibutramine)
- Speedy Slim Capsules (Gold) (contains sibutramine)
The products were sold on local e-commerce and social media platforms.
A woman in her 40s developed Cushing’s syndrome, a life-threatening steroid-induced condition, after taking X-Gout for one year. The woman gained 22 kilograms over a few months, experienced shortness of breath and swelling of the lower limb. She was diagnosed with diabetes when she consulted her doctor on the symptoms. As these symptoms indicated inappropriate steroid consumption, her doctor reported the case to HSA for investigation. HSA tested the product and detected four medicinal ingredients: dexamethasone, a steroid; indomethacin and piroxicam, which are both non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, and paracetamol. Long-term unsupervised use of steroids such as dexamethasone can cause increased blood glucose levels (which may lead to diabetes), Cushing’s syndrome (characterised by a round face or “moon face” appearance, and upper body obesity with thin limbs), and other serious adverse effects.
A man in his 40s developed Cushing’s syndrome after taking dcr Natural Herbs Honey Enzyme for about 6 months. When he stopped using the product, he experienced withdrawal symptoms such as loss of appetite, lower energy levels and subsequently, rashes on his body. Based on the man’s symptoms, his doctor suspected that the product was adulterated with steroids and alerted HSA. HSA obtained samples of the product which were tested and found to contain paracetamol. It cannot be ruled out that there may potentially be other adulterants or steroids present in other batches of the product, since Cushing’s syndrome is often associated with long-term inappropriate consumption of steroids.
HSA had received feedback from a member of the public who experienced side effects such as fast heartbeat, thirst, and dry mouth after consuming KMS2 Dark Chocolate Mocha Botanical Beverage for a few days. The sellers had made claims that the product “speeds up fat burning by inducing heat, helps soothe digestive systems and boost metabolic cycles to reduce appetite and is safe without rebounding weight”. HSA tested the product and found them to contain sulphamethoxydiazine, an antibacterial medicine, and amethocaine, an anaesthetic.
HSA detected and seized Speedy Slim Capsules (Black) and Speedy Slim Capsules (Gold) following feedback from members of the public that there were unapproved slimming products being sold on Instagram. These products made exaggerated claims such as “target at breaking down stubborn extra fat”, “cut off starch absorption”, and “losing weight and clearing fat”. Both products were tested by HSA and were found to contain very high levels of sibutramine, a prescription-only weight loss medicine that has been banned since 2010 due to an increased risk of heart attack and stroke.
Please refer to the following website in HSA for details:
http://www.hsa.gov.sg/announcements/press-release/hsa-alert-five-products-detected-to-contain-potent-adulterants-three-consumers-experienced-serious-adverse-effects-including-diabetes
In Hong Kong, the above products are not registered pharmaceutical products.
Ends/Friday, Dec 31, 2021
Issued at HKT 15:00
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