The appeal followed investigations by the department into a report by the Hospital Authority concerning the product. A 39-year-old man developed symptoms of moon face (round face), central obesity, thick neck and abdominal stripes after taking the product for treating his skin disease (psoriasis). He was admitted to Tuen Mun Hospital for bilateral knee pain and was found to have developed the symptoms described. He has already been discharged. The product was obtained on the Mainland.
A department spokesman said that a sample of the product taken to the Government Laboratory for testing was today found to have contained Western drug ingredients - dexamethasone acetate (醋酸地塞米松) and sibutramine (西布曲明), as well as phenolphthalein (酚酞).
Dexamethasone acetate is a steroid and is used to relieve allergies and inflammation. Taking it for a long time can cause side effects including moon face, central obesity, hypertension, high blood sugar and peptic ulcer. Sibutramine is an appetite suppressant used for slimming, it can cause increased blood pressure and heart rate. People with heart problems should not take it.
Both dexamethasone acetate and sibutramine are classified as Third Schedule poisons under the Pharmacy and Poisons Ordinance and can be sold only on a doctor's prescription and under supervision of a pharmacist.
Phenolphathlein is a laxative. It has been banned in Hong Kong since 2001 due to its carcinogenic potential.
The spokesman said the department had no record of the health product having been imported into Hong Kong for sale, or having been submitted for registration.
People who have been using the product are advised to stop taking it immediately and seek advice from their doctors if they feel unwell.
They should dispose of the product or submit it to the department's Pharmaceutical Service at 3/F, 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/200706/07/P200706070221.htm