Public urged not to consume products with undeclared ingredients
(May 15, 2008)
The Department of Health (DH) today
(May 15) urged members of the public not to buy or use six products
which were found to have contained undeclared western drug
ingredients that may cause serious side effect.
A spokesman for DH said the
department has ordered the involved distributors of the two
slimming products and four products for managing sexual dysfunction
to recall the products. Retailers were also instructed to remove
them from shelves.
He said samples of these
products were obtained by the department during market surveillance
for laboratory testing. Test results on the two slimming products
known as "Kartien" (
) and
"Kartien Easy to Slim" (
)
showed the presence of sibutramine and its analogue,
N-desmethylsibutramine.
Sibutramine is commonly used for
slimming. Its side effects include increased blood pressure and
heart rate. People with heart problems should not take it.
Products containing it must be
registered before they can be sold in Hong Kong. They are
classified as prescription only medicine and can only be sold on a
doctor's prescription and dispensed under the supervision of a
pharmacist.
The four other products
involved are "Armstrong Natural Herbal Supplement"
(
),
"Power 58 Extra" ( 
), "Platinum
Power 58 Extra" ( 
) and "Enhanix New Extra Men's Formula" (
).
Test result on their samples showed
the presence of vardenafil analogue, tadalafil or tadalafil
analogue. As reported by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, the
analogues may pose a threat to consumers because they may interact
with nitrates found in some prescription drugs (such as
nitroglycerin) and may lower blood pressure to dangerous levels.
Tadalafil is a western drug for the treatmentof erectile
dysfunction. It may also interact with nitrates.
The spokesman urged members of the
public who have used the products to stop taking them immediately
and seek advice from healthcare professionals if they feel
unwell.
They should submit them to the
department's Pharmaceutical Service at 3/F, Public Health
Laboratory Centre, 382 Nam Cheong Street, Kowloon during office
hours, or destroy them before disposal. On matters relating to the
recall, they can also call the following hotlines set up by the
distributors:
- 2511 5591 (in respect of "Kartien" and "Kartien Easy to
Slim")
- 2891 1896 (for "Armstrong Natural Herbal Supplement")
- 2342 6102 (for "Power 58 Extra", "Platinum Power 58 Extra" and
"Enhanix New Extra Men's Formula".
The spokesman reiterated that a
balanced diet and exercise are crucial factors in keeping fit and
healthy. People wishing to reduce weight are advised to consult
their healthcare professionals first.
"Likewise, people who had a problem
of sexual dysfunction are urged to consult healthcare professionals
for appropriate advice if necessary," he added.
(Reprinted from HKSAR Government web
page:
http://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/200805/15/P200805150240.htm
)
