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The Department of Health (DH) appealed to members of the public not to buy or consume unknown or dubious slimming products as they may contain undeclared drug ingredients that are dangerous to health.
The appeal followed the DH's receipt of notification from the Hospital Authority of a case involving a 34-year-old Indonesian woman, who was admitted to Prince Margaret Hospital on August 14 for dizziness and head injury resulting from a fall from bed.
During admission, the patient revealed that she had earlier taken a slimming product called "2008 Slim Baby" purchased from an Indonesian shop in Tsuen Wan. Laboratory testing on the product remnant showed the presence of banned drug ingredients - sibutramine and phenolphthalein.
"The finding was incidental as the clinical presentation of the patient was unrelated to the product. Subsequently, the patient made a recovery and was discharged home on August 17," a DH spokesman said.
Sibutramine is a Part I poison and was once a Western medicine used as an appetite suppressant. In November 2010, sibutramine-containing products were banned because of increased cardiovascular risk. Phenolphthalein was once used for treating constipation but has been banned for its cancer-causing effect.
Products containing banned Western drug ingredients are not allowed to be sold in Hong Kong. Sale of an unregistered pharmaceutical product is an offence under the Pharmacy and Poisons Ordinance. The maximum penalty is a fine of $100,000 and two years' imprisonment.
The spokesman urged members of the public not to buy products of unknown or doubtful composition.
People should stop using the products immediately. They should consult health-care professionals if they feel unwell or are in doubt 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 a balanced diet and appropriate exercise. People should consult health-care professionals before using any medication for weight control."
Ends/Friday, August 19, 2011
Issued at HKT 19:06
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