Health Canada, Jun 4, 2009
2009-88
June 4, 2009
Advisory
Health Canada is Warning Canadians Not to Use Slim Magic Herbal Weight Loss Products
OTTAWA - Health Canada is warning consumers not to use the
unauthorized product Slim Magic Herbal, which is promoted as a weight-loss
product, as it was found to contain an undeclared pharmaceutical ingredient
similar to the prescription drug sibutramine. Canadians who have this Slim Magic
Herbal product are advised to immediately discontinue its use.
Sibutramine is a prescription drug used to treat obesity. The use of
sibutramine may cause serious side-effects, including cardiovascular reactions,
such as increased blood pressure, chest pain, and stroke, in addition to dry
mouth, difficulty sleeping and constipation. Sibutramine should only be used
under the supervision of a healthcare practitioner.
Sibutramine should not be taken by people who have had a heart attack,
coronary artery disease, heart-related chest pain, irregular heart beats,
congestive heart failure, a stroke or symptoms of a stroke, in individuals with
controlled or poorly controlled high blood pressure, or in patients who are
depressed or have a psychiatric illness. Sibutramine is not recommended for
women who are pregnant, breastfeeding or planning to become pregnant.
Slim Magic Herbal also contains glucomannan which is a thick soluble fiber
used for the treatment of weight loss. As glucomannan has a great capacity to
absorb water and expand, it may pose a serious health risk due to obstruction of
the esophagus.
Slim Magic Herbal products are not authorized for sale in Canada and have
been recalled by the company from the Canadian marketplace. Health Canada also
warns Canadians not to purchase these products from the Internet or from any
other source.
Health Canada advises retailers to remove Slim Magic Herbal from their
shelves, and consumers to return the product to the point of purchase. Health
Canada is taking steps to confirm that the product has been removed from the
Canadian market.
The text in this article was prepared by Health Canada.