Warning on slimming product found with banned drug ingredients
(January 20, 2012)
The
Department of Health (DH) today (January 20) repeated its call on
members of the public not to buy or use a slimming product called
"FAT 2 AND 1 BURNERS III" as it was found to contain banned drug
ingredients that may cause serious side effects.
Through its surveillance
network, DH found the slimming product named "FAT 2 AND 1 BURNERS
III" offered again for sale on the Internet. DH immediately
conducted investigation and purchased the product from the Internet
for laboratory analysis. Today, analysis results by the Government
Laboratory confirmed that the product contained sibutramine and
phenolphthalein.
In May 2011, DH first
discovered the product was offered for sale on an Internet auction
site. DH had immediately ordered the removal of the product from
the Internet and also exhorted members of the public to stop using
the product. Since then, the product was not found by DH
surveillance programme until now.
DH's investigation
continues.
Sibutramine is a Part I
poison and was once a western medicine used as an appetite
suppressant. Since November 2010, products containing sibutramine
have been banned by the Pharmacy and Poisons Board of Hong Kong
because of the increased cardiovascular risk.
Phenolphthalein is another
banned drug. It was used previously for treating constipation, but
has been banned for its cancer-causing effect.
"Thus, products containing
sibutramine or phenolphthalein are banned and are not accepted for
registration as pharmaceutical products in Hong Kong. The sale of
unregistered pharmaceutical products and illegal sale of Part I
poisons are offences under the Pharmacy and Poisons Ordinance. The
maximum penalty for each offence is a fine of $100,000 and two
years imprisonment," a DH spokesman remarked.
People must stop using the
product immediately and consult a doctor if they feel unwell after
taking the product.
They should submit it to the
DH's Drug Office at 3/F, Public Health Laboratory Centre, 382 Nam
Cheong Street, Kowloon, during office hours as soon as possible
because it is an unregistered pharmaceutical product containing
banned drug ingredients.
The spokesman urged, "People
should not purchase or use products of unknown or doubtful
composition."
"Weight control should only
be achieved through a good diet and appropriate exercise. People
ought to consult healthcare providers for their professional advice
if they have questions and definitely before using any medication
for weight control," the spokesman continued.
(Reprinted from HKSAR
Government web page :
http://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/201201/20/P201201200571.htm
)
