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Archive - Reduce Weight
- Starting date:
- August 23, 2006
- Posting date:
- August 23, 2006
- Type of communication:
- Foreign Product Alert (FPA)
- Subcategory:
- Natural health products
- Source of recall:
- Health Canada
- Issue:
- Product Safety, Undeclared Substance
- Audience:
- General Public
- Identification number:
- RA-1200093
These products are not authorized for sale in Canada and have not been found in the Canadian marketplace, but it is possible they may have been brought into the country by travellers or purchased over the Internet.
Product name
Reduce Weight
Manufacturer / Place of origin
Unknown / China
Product description
Reduce Weight is marketed as a weight loss product. This product comes in a red and white package.
Reason for warning
On May 15, 2006 the New Zealand Ministry of Health issued a press release on Reduce Weight because the product is adulterated with sibutramine.
Possible side effects
The adulterant sibutramine (the generic name for Meridia) is a prescription medication which should only be used under medical supervision.
Use of sibutramine may cause serious side-effects, including vision problems and increased heart rate and blood pressure. Sibutramine should not be taken with medications that can affect the level of serotonin in the brain, such as antidepressants.
Special information
No adverse reactions have been reported to Health Canada.
What you should do
Canadians who have this product are advised not to use it, and should consult with a health care professional if they have concerns about their health related to the use of this product.
Health Canada advises Canadians to contact the Health Products and Food Branch Inspectorate at 1-800-267-96755 if they find the product listed above in the Canadian marketplace.
Background
Drugs and natural health products that are authorized for sale in Canada will have either an eight-digit Drug Identification Number (DIN), a Natural Product Number (NPN) or a Homeopathic Medicine Number (DIN-HM) on the label. These numbers indicate that the products have been assessed by Health Canada for safety, effectiveness and quality.
As of the date of this posting, no adverse reactions suspected to be associated with the use of this product have been reported in Canada.
Report a health or safety concern
- Call toll-free at 1-866-234-2345.
- Visit Health Canada's Web page on Adverse Reaction Reporting for information on how to report online, by mail or by fax.
Media enquiries
Health Canada
613-957-2983
Public enquiries
613-957-2991
1-866-225-0709
Images
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