Safety Alerts and Products Recalls > Products found to contain undeclared medicines

Products found to contain undeclared medicines   Slimming products found containing western drug ingredient   The Department of Health (DH) today (December 22) called on members of the public not to buy or use three brands of slimming products because they were found to have contained sibutramine (西布曲明), a western drug ingredient that may cause side effects. The products are “Jacaranda” (爵柯维娜) , “Queenmer FAT LOSS” (新一代快美快速减肥丸) and “Li Da Dai Dai Hua Jiao Nang” (丽达代代花胶囊). A DH spokesman said the department obtained samples of the products for investigation during an operation carried out earlier this year. Upon laboratory analysis, the products were found to contain sibutramine, an appetite suppressant which can cause increased blood pressure and heart rate. Persons with heart diseases should not take it. The spokesman said the slimming products concerned were not registered in Hong Kong and DH has no record of these product being imported for sale. The spokesman said under the Pharmacy and Poisons Ordinance, products containing sibutramine must be registered before sale and can only be sold on a doctor’s prescription and under supervision by a pharmacist. People who have been using the product are advised to immediately stop taking it. They should seek medical attention if they feel unwell. The spokesman said, “Members of the public should control their weight by a balanced diet and adequate physical exercise. Before taking drugs for weight control, they should first consult their family doctors.” Anyone who is in possession of the product should dispose of them or submit them to the DH’s Pharmaceutical Service at the third floor, Public Health Laboratory Centre, 382 Nam Cheong Street, Kowloon during office hours. Friday, December 22, 2006   Jacaranda   Queenmer FAT LOSS   Li Da Dai Dai Hua Jiao Nang