Safety warning issued on slimming aids
Potentially dangerous and illegal traditional Chinese medicine slimming
aids have been discovered on the UK and international markets, the
Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency warned last week.
The MHRA says that the safety, quality and efficacy of these products
cannot be guaranteed because of possible adulteration or contamination
with pharmaceutical drugs or toxic herbal ingredients. “Many of
these products are promoted as natural and safe, and hazardous ingredients
may not be declared on the label,” explained Roy Alder, director
of executive support at the MHRA.
Several dangerous weight loss remedies have been discovered, including
Shubao slimming capsules, which illegally contain undeclared nitrosofenfluramine
and are thought to be responsible for a case of irreversible liver failure
in the UK. Others products have been found to contain methylphenidate,
which may lead to high blood pressure and interacts with antidepressants
and antipsychotics, sibutramine, which may raise blood pressure, and
aristolochia, a banned substance which has been linked to renal failure
and cancer.
Further information and photographs of the products can be found on
the herbal safety news section of the MHRA website and
via PJ Online (www.pjonline.com/links/pj). |
The
Pharmaceutical Journal
Acrobat
Reader