13 May 2010
The Department of Health (DH) today (May 13) called on members of the public not to buy or use four slimming products as they were found to contain undeclared western drug ingredients that may cause serious side effects.
The products concerned are USA Yaku Cell Slimming Capsules (美國雅酷細胞減肥素),青瓜の排油素,木瓜の排油素and冬瓜の排油素. They are not registered pharmaceutical products.
The appeal was made following the detection of undeclared western drug ingredients, sibutramine and its analogue, as well as phenolphthalein, in the product samples by laboratory tests today. The products were purchased from the Internet during DH's market surveillance exercise.
DH's investigation continues.
Sibutramine is a Western drug ingredient used as an appetite suppressant for slimming and should be used under close medical supervision. Its side effects include increased blood pressure and heart rate, symptoms of psychosis and possibly convulsion. People with heart problems should not take it.
Sibutramine analogues, being chemically similar to sibutramine, are expected to have the same side effects as sibutramine.
Phenolphthalein was once used for treating constipation but has been banned for its cancer-causing effect.
A DH spokesman said: "A product containing sibutramine must be registered before it can be sold in Hong Kong. It can be sold only on a doctor's prescription and dispensed under the supervision of a pharmacist."
The spokesman exhorted members of the public not to buy or sell products of unknown or doubtful composition.
Sale of unregistered pharmaceutical products was an offence under the Pharmacy and Poisons Ordinance. The maximum penalty is a fine of $100,000 and two years' imprisonment, he said.
People should stop using the products immediately. They should consult a doctor if they feel unwell after taking the products.
They should destroy and dispose of the products or submit them to the department's Pharmaceutical Service at 3/F, Public Health Laboratory Centre, 382 Nam Cheong Street, Kowloon, during office hours.
The spokesman said: "Weight control should be achieved through good diet and appropriate exercise. People should consult healthcare professionals before using any medication for weight control."