A spokesman for DH said the product, known as "Karntien" (康婷清脂素), showed the presence of sibutramine.
Sibutramine is 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.
Products containing it 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 said the department had ordered the involved distributors of the product to conduct a recall exercise in May this year. Retailers were also instructed to remove them from shelves.
He said DH today received notification from the Toxicology Reference Laboratory of the Hospital Authority of a case involving a 29-year-old woman who felt unwell after taking the product in July this year. The woman was admitted to Pamela Youde Nethersole Eastern Hospital for treatment and was subsequently discharged. Sibutramine metabolite was also detected in patient's urine.
Investigations revealed that the product was prescribed by a female Chinese medicine practitioner. DH personnel today searched her clinic in Causeway Bay and seized some 40 boxes of the product.
Enquiries are continuing.
The spokesman urged members of the public who have used the product to stop taking it immediately and seek advice from healthcare professionals if they feel unwell.
They should submit them 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.
A hotline 2125 1133 has also been set up by DH for public enquiries. It will be operated from 9 am to 1 pm on Saturday and Sunday and from 9 am to 5 pm from Monday to Friday.
The spokesman reiterated that a balanced diet and exercise are crucial factors in keeping fit and healthy. People wishing to reduce weight are advised to consult their healthcare professionals first.
Reprinted from HKSAR Government web page:
http://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/200808/08/P200808080351.htm