Products found to contain undeclared medicines
|
| |
| Singapore: HSA Alert: Four products sold online found to contain potent or banned ingredients including high levels of arsenic and sibutramine; Two consumers suffered adverse effects |
| |
The Health Sciences Authority (HSA) is alerting members of the public not to purchase or use the following 4 products. Two consumers experienced adverse effects after using two of these products. HSA has tested these products and found that they contain potent or banned ingredients. The affected products are:
- EUZEMA Confidence Revival Cream: contains arsenic (toxic heavy metal), betamethasone (potent steroid), salicylic acid (exfoliating agent)
- HONEY Q Dietary Supplement Product: contains sibutramine (banned medicinal substance), benzyl sibutramine (banned substance), fluoxetine (antidepressant), diphenhydramine (antihistamine)
- SLIME 7D ADVANCE Slimming Pill: contains sibutramine (banned medicinal substance)
- FINOS: contains orlistat (weight loss medicine), sennosides (laxative)
A man in his 30s suffered a skin reaction, purpura (purplish red spots due to small bleeds under the skin), after using EUZEMA Confidence Revival Cream for his eczema for a year. His doctor suspected that the adverse skin reaction was caused by ‘realgar’, a mineral containing arsenic that was labelled on the cream and reported it to HSA. The patient had purchased the cream from a retail website. The website had claimed that the cream is ‘able to beat eczema for good with this powerful natural formula’, ‘steroid-free’, ‘contain 100% all-natural herbs’ and ‘has no side-effects’. HSA tested it to contain very high levels of arsenic (over 430 times higher than the allowable limits), betamethasone and salicylic acid.
Arsenic is a toxic heavy metal. It can cause skin irritations, contact dermatitis (with symptoms such as skin rashes and blisters) or rashes resulting in skin peeling when applied externally. Widespread, prolonged application of products containing high levels of arsenic may lead to arsenic poisoning. Betamethasone is a potent steroid which should only be used under strict medical supervision as it can cause serious adverse effects if used inappropriately. Salicylic acid is used to treat common skin conditions such as acne, psoriasis and dandruff, and could lead to dry, irritated and red skin if used in high amounts.
HSA received feedback from members of the public regarding the online sale of HONEY Q Dietary Supplement Product, SLIME 7D ADVANCE Slimming Pill and FINOS. One consumer experienced vomiting and headache after taking FINOS. All three products were sold for weight loss and claimed to be ‘herbal and natural’. SLIME 7D ADVANCE Slimming Pill additionally claimed to have ‘no banned substances’.
Contrary to the product claims, HSA tested and detected potent medicinal ingredients, including sibutramine, benzyl sibutramine, fluoxetine and orlistat in the products. Sibutramine was previously a prescription-only medicine for weight loss but has been banned in Singapore since 2010 because of an increased risk of heart attacks and strokes. The use of sibutramine and benzyl sibutramine may cause serious adverse effects, including high blood pressure, increased heart rate, anxiety and heart attacks. Fluoxetine is a prescription-only medicine that should only be used under medical supervision, while orlistat is a pharmacy-only medicine that should be used under the supervision of a pharmacist or doctor.
Please refer to the following website in HSA for details:
http://www.hsa.gov.sg/announcements/press-release/hsa-alert-four-adulterated-products
In Hong Kong, the above products are not registered pharmaceutical products.
Ends/Tuesday, Nov 21, 2023
Issued at HKT 15:00
|
| |
