Sibutramine slimming alert
November 8, 2010
THE UK Medicines and
Healthcare products Regulatory
Agency on Friday issued a public
warning about various ‘herbal
slimming pills’ which contain the
banned prescription-only medicine
sibutramine.
The MHRA said the move
followed a number of warnings
from overseas regulators, with the
matter of particular concern
because sibutramine has been
withdrawn from the market after a
warning that it increased the risk of
heart attacks and strokes.
In Australia, around two weeks
ago the NSW Health Department
Sibutramine slimming alert
recalled three brands of imported
“slimming food” coffee and
chocolate because they were found
to contain sibutramine.
The recalled products are Moti
Angel Coffee, Sumabe Acai Berry
Coffee and Leptin weight loss
chocolate, with NSW Chief Health
Officer, Dr Kerry Chant, urging
consumers considering using such
products to “discuss a weight
control plan with their general
practitioner”.
The UK MHRA says it regularly
investigates cases where unlicensed
‘herbal’ slimming aids are labelled
as ‘100% natural’ and ‘safe with no
side effects’.
“Often these products are found
to illegally contain undeclared
pharmaceuticals, banned or toxic
ingredients and as such pose a
serious risk to consumer health,”
the MHRA said in a statement.
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