The Department of Health (DH) made the appeal after investigating into two reports made from the Hospital Authority today involving two females feeling unwell reported after taking the products.
Laboratory tests conducted by hospital on the products' samples showed the presence of sibutramine in both. In addition, "Natural (New 新一代)" was found to have contained another drug ingredient of phenolphthalein while the capsule "Lasmi" contained spironolactone.
In the first report, a 13-year-old girl was admitted to Princess Margaret Hospital for symptoms of palpitation, insomnia, sweating and tremor on May 2. She was discharged two days later in stable condition.
Investigation revealed that she had bought Natural (New 新一代) as labelled on the tinfoil containing the green white capsule, from the internet and taken it for three weeks before the onset of symptoms.
The second report involved a 26-year-old woman who showed symptoms of psychosis, like screaming and self-muttering, auditory and visual hallucination around mid-May. She was admitted to Princess Margaret Hospital on May 21 and was discharged in stable condition today.
The woman had taken a slimming product in a form of red/orange capsule marked with "Lasmi" for a few weeks prior to the onset of symptoms. Drug induced psychosis relating to the product was suspected.
Further investigations by DH are continuing.
A department spokesman said phenolphthalein was used for treating constipation but has been banned for its cancer causing effect.
Sibutramine was a western drug ingredient used as appetite suppressant for slimming 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.
Spironolactone is a drug used for reducing the amount of water in the body, to treat oedema and heart failure. It can cause headache, drowsiness and gastro-intestinal disturbances.
Products containing sibutramine or spironolactone must be registered before they can be sold in Hong Kong. They are classified as prescription only medicine and can only be sold on a doctor's prescription and dispensed under the supervision of a pharmacist.
The spokesman urged people who had used the products to stop taking them immediately and seek advice from healthcare professionals if they felt unwell.
They should submit the products to the department's Pharmaceutical Service at 3/F, Public Health Laboratory Centre, 382 Nam Cheong Street, Kowloon, during office hours, or destroy them before disposal.
The spokesman said that a balanced diet and exercise were crucial factors in keeping fit and healthy. People who wanted to reduce weight were advised to consult their healthcare professionals first.
Reprinted from HKSAR Government web page:
http://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/200806/04/P200806040238.htm