Slimming Product With Western Drug Ingredients

Main Category: Obesity / Weight Loss / Fitness
Article Date: 24 Jul 2006 - 0:00 PST

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The product, packed under the name of OPC CARE, was not registered under the Pharmacy and Poisons Ordinance in Hong Kong.

DH obtained a sample of the product from a woman for investigation after receiving a public enquiry on the safety of the product earlier this year. DH¡¦s investigation revealed that the product was brought to Hong Kong from the Mainland by this woman.

A spokesman of DH said members of the public who have been using the product are advised to immediately stop taking it and to seek medical attention if they feel unwell.

According to DH¡¦s record, the product DH has no record of the product having been imported into Hong Kong for sale.

Sibutramine is used as appetite suppressant. It 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. It can cause nervousness, irregular heart beat, insomnia, dizziness, headache and abdominal cramps.

Under the Pharmacy and Poisons Ordinance, products containing sibutramine and mazindol must be registered before sale and can only be sold on a doctor¡¦s prescription and under the supervision of a pharmacist.

Anyone who is in possession of the product concerned 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.

The spokesman said members of the public should control their weight by a balanced diet and adequate physical exercise. Before taking drugs for weight reduction or lowering blood lipid, they should first consult their family doctors.

http://www.info.gov.hk/dh/new/index.htm

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