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The Department of Health today (September 7) urged people not to buy or consume two slimming products, Karntien Slimming Herbs Capsules (康婷清脂素) and Karntien Trimming Formula (康婷纖秀方), which were found to contain a Western drug ingredient and may cause side effects.
The importing company of the products has been instructed to recall them from the market and to surrender them to the department. People who have purchased the products should immediately stop using them and seek medical advice if they feel unwell.
A department spokesman said that after a complaint last month in relation to Karntien Slimming Herbs Capsules (康婷清脂素), the department visited the importer and collected samples of this and another slimming product Karntien Trimming Formula (康婷纖秀方) for laboratory tests.
"Sibutramine (西布曲明) was found in both products but they were not registered under the Pharmacy and Poisons Ordinance.
"Sibutramine is a Western drug ingredient used as appetite suppressant. It can cause increased blood pressure and heart rate, and people with heart problems should not take it. Products containing sibutramine are western medicines and must be registered before sale," the spokesman said.
"Products containing this drug ingredient are Third Schedule poisons under Pharmacy and Poisons Ordinance. They can only be sold on a doctor's prescription and dispensed under the supervision of a pharmacist," he added.
People are advised to dispose of them or return the products to the importing company (telephone number 2511 5591).
They may also submit the products to the department's Pharmaceutical Service at 3/F, Public Health Laboratory Centre, 382 Nam Cheong Street, Kowloon, during office hours.
The department has also set up a hotline 2319 2839 for enquiries during office hours.
The spokesman reminded importers, wholesalers and retailers that the possession and sale of unregistered pharmaceutical products was an offence liable to a maximum penalty of $100,000 fine and two years' imprisonment.
"People should control their weight in terms of observing good dietary practice and appropriate physical activities. Before using drugs for weight reduction, they should first consult their family doctors," he said.
Reprinted from HKSAR Government web page:
http://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/200509/07/P200509070161.htm