Press Release

DH urged public not to take a slimming product with banned drug ingredient

28 Aug 2008

The Department of Health (DH) today (August 28) appealed to members of the public 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 which was banned in Hong Kong.

The appeal was made following a report from the Hospital Authority concerning a 30-year-old Indonesian woman who developed hallucination 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 effect.

A spokesman for DH said the concerned product was the same as the one involved in a public complaint received in July. In that complaint, an Indonesian woman, aged 27, developed symptoms of psychosis after taking the product. The woman was discharged from Queen Mary Hospital after treatment.

Officers of DH mounted follow-up actions immediately resulting in the seizure of 24 boxes of the product from two locations and the arrest by the Police of three people for further investigations.

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 only be sold on a doctor's prescription and dispensed under the supervision of a pharmacist."

The spokesman reiterated that members of the public 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 are crucial factors in keeping fit and healthy. Members of the public who want to reduce weight are advised to consult their doctors first.