The Department of Health today (October 10) appealed to people not to buy or use a slimming product named "Healthily.Slim " as it was found to contain an undeclared drug ingredient that may cause serious side effects.
A spokesman for the department said that laboratory tests on the product samples showed the presence of the drug ingredient sibutramine. The samples were obtained during strengthened market surveillance.
The department immediately conducted operations this afternoon, resulting in the seizure of 1,061 bottles of "Healthily.Slim" from retailers and the distributor. The distributor was ordered to recall the products from the market.
The spokesman said sibutramine was a Western drug ingredient used as appetite suppressant for slimming under close medical supervision. The side effects of sibutramine include increased blood pressure and heart rate, symptoms of psychosis, and possibly convulsion. People with heart problems should not take it.
Under the Pharmacy and Poisons Ordinance, products containing sibutramine must be registered before sale and can be sold only on a doctor's prescription and under supervision of a pharmacist.
People who have bought the product are advised not to take it. They are urged to seek advice from their doctors if feeling unwell after consuming the product.
They should destroy and dispose of the product or submit it to the department's Pharmaceutical Service at 3/F, Public Health Laboratory Centre, 382 Nam Cheong Street, Kowloon during office hours.
The spokesman urged people who wanted to reduce weight to consult healthcare professionals for appropriate advice if necessary.
Reprinted from HKSAR Government web page:
http://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/200810/10/P200810100202.htm