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The Department of Health today (December 22) called on people not to buy or use three brands of slimming products because they were found to contain sibutramine, a Western drug ingredient that may cause side effects.
The products are "Jacaranda", "Queenmer FAT LOSS" and "Li Da Dai Dai Hua Jiao Nang".
A department 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 could cause increased blood pressure and heart rate, and should not be taken by people with heart diseases.
The spokesman said the slimming products concerned were not registered in Hong Kong and the department 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 could only be sold on a doctor's prescription and under supervision by a pharmacist.
People who have been using the product were advised to immediately stop. They should seek medical attention if they felt unwell.
The spokesman said people 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 department'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/200612/22/P200612220256.htm