Consumers advised to avoid herbal
weight-loss products from China
06 April, 2006
Health Canada is advising consumers not to use
two herbal weight-loss products
from China because they have been found to contain sibutramine,
a prescription drug that should only be taken under medical supervision.
The two products have so far not been found on the Canadian market,
but may have been brought into the country for personal use by travelers
or been purchased by Canadians over the Internet, the agency said
Wednesday.
Sibutramine is a prescription medication that suppresses the appetite.
If used improperly, it can have serious health consequences, including
increased heart rate and blood pressure. The drug can also increase
pressure in the eyes, leading to pain and hemorrhaging.
Individuals with heart or circulatory problems should not take sibutramine,
Health Canada said in an advisory. It should also not be taken with
medications such as antidepressants that can affect the level of
the brain chemical serotonin.
