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The Department of Health (DH) today (September 28) called on members of the public not to buy or use four slimming products - Aomeisi OPC, Tiantiansu, Lanting and Curvesome - which were found to have contained western drug ingredients that may cause side effects.
A DH spokesman said the department obtained samples of the products for investigation after the Hospital Authority reported two cases in which one admitted patient were found to have consumed three of the products while another patient had consumed one of the products. However, the admission of the former patient was not related to the products consumed while it was possible that symptoms of the latter patient were related to the product consumed.
Upon laboratory analysis, Aomeisi OPC and Tiantiansu were found to have contained sibutramine and mazindol . Lanting was found to have contained fenfluramine and Curvesome was found to contain fenfluramine and metformin.
Sibutramine is an appetite suppressant which can cause increased blood pressure and heart rate. Persons with heart diseases should not take it.
Mazindol is a psychotropic substance with central nervous system stimulant property. The adverse effects of which include nervousness, irregular heart beat, insomnia, dizziness, headache and abdominal cramps.
Metformin is used for controlling blood sugar. Its adverse effects include anorexia, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea and lactic acidosis.
Products containing sibutramine, mazindol or metformin are Third Schedule poisons under Pharmacy and Poisons Ordinance, i.e. they can only be sold on a doctor's prescription and dispensed under the supervision of a pharmacist.
The spokesman said the slimming products concerned were not registered in Hong Kong and DH has no record of the products being imported for sale.
Fenfluramine was used previously as an appetite suppressant for management of obesity but was banned in Hong Kong in 1998 after studies linked it to heart valve disease.
People who have been using the products 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 products 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.
Reprinted from HKSAR Government web page:
http://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/200609/28/P200609280236.htm