Warning against unlabelled slimming products issued

Case involving 19-year old victim reported.

According to a report, the Department of Health appeals to people not to consume unlabelled slimming products bought online, as they may contain undeclared and banned drug ingredients.

The appeal followed the receipt of notification of a case involving a 19-year-old woman.

She attended the Tuen Mun Hospital Accident & Emergency Department on May 24 because of palpitations.

She had consumed seven kinds of unlabelled slimming products bought online. She was discharged on May 25.

The seven products showed sibutramine, hydrochlorothiazide, fluoxetine, chlorpheniramine and bisacodyl in six products. Animal thyroid tissues were found in another product.

Sibutramine is a Part I poison and was banned in 2010 because of an increased cardiovascular risk.

Hydrochlorothiazide is used for hypertension treatment, which may cause hypotension and electrolyte imbalance.

Fluoxetine is used for depression and may cause postural hypotension and alopecia, and it must be sold with prescriptions at pharmacies under the supervision of pharmacists.

Chlorpheniramineis used for relieving allergic symptoms.

Bisacodyl is a laxative that may cause abdominal pain, while animal thyroid tissues are not an appropriate agent for weight reduction.