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The Department of Health (DH) today (August 28) appealed to people not to buy or consume a slimming product named "ARMA-Sin Gang San" (新康散) because it was found to have contained drug ingredient banned in Hong Kong.
The appeal was made following a report from the Hospital Authority concerning a 30-year-old Indonesian woman who developed hallucinations and confusion after reportedly taking the product for two weeks since July.
The woman was admitted to Pamela Youde Nethersole Eastern Hospital for treatment. She is now in stable condition.
It was reported that the product came from Indonesia and the woman bought it from a friend.
Laboratory tests on the samples of the product showed the presence of sibutramine and fenfluramine which may cause serious side-effects.
A Department of Health spokesman said the product was the same as the one involved in a public complaint in July. In that complaint, an Indonesian woman, 27, developed symptoms of psychosis after taking the product. She was discharged from Queen Mary Hospital after treatment.
Department officers subsequently seized 24 boxes of the product from two locations and police arrested three people for further investigation.
He said 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.
Fenfluramine was used previously as an appetite suppressant for management of obesity but was banned in Hong Kong in 1998 after studies linked it to heart valve disease.
The spokesman said: "Products containing sibutramine must be registered before they can be sold in Hong Kong. Products containing this drug ingredient are prescription-only medicine and can be sold only on a doctor's prescription and dispensed under the supervision of a pharmacist."
The spokesman said people who have been using the product should stop using it immediately. They should consult their doctors for medical advice if they feel unwell.
He said that a balanced diet and exercise were crucial factors in keeping fit and healthy. People who want to reduce weight are advised to consult their doctors first.
Reprinted from HKSAR Government web page:
http://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/200808/28/P200808280191.htm