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Archived – Natural (Xin Yi Dai) and Lasmi
- Starting date:
- August 22, 2008
- Posting date:
- August 22, 2008
- Type of communication:
- Foreign Product Alert (FPA)
- Subcategory:
- Natural health products
- Source of recall:
- Health Canada
- Issue:
- Important Safety Information, Undeclared Substance
- Audience:
- General Public
- Identification number:
- RA-12000522
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.
Source of alert
Hong Kong Department of Health
Product names
- Natural (Xin Yi Dai)
- Lasmi
Manufacturer / Place of origin
Unknown
Product description
Natural (Xin Yi Dai) and Lasmi are both promoted for weight loss:
- Natural (Xin Yi Dai): Green/white capsules. [No image available for this product.]
- Lasmi: Red/orange capsules marked with "Lasmi"
Reason for warning
The Hong Kong Department of Health warned against the use of Natural (Xin Yi Dai) and Lasmi because they were both found to contain undeclared pharmaceutical ingredients.
Natural (Xin Yi Dai) was found to contain sibutramine and phenolphthalein, and Lasmi was found to contain sibutramine and spironolactone:
- Sibutramine is used in the treatment of obesity and spironolactone is used in the treatment of fluid retention. Both are prescription drugs that should only be used under the supervision of a health care professional.
- Phenolphthalein was previously used in over-the-counter laxative preparations but is currently prohibited in Canada as it may cause cancer. Individuals who may have been exposed to phenolphthalein should consult with their health care professional.
Possible side effects
- Use of sibutramine may cause headaches, increased heart rate and blood pressure, chest pain and stroke.
- Abuse of phenolphthalein-containing laxatives has been associated with stomach and intestinal bleeding, anemia, acute pancreatitis and, in cases of massive overdose, multiple organ damage (including liver failure).
- Side effects associated with spironolactone include electrolyte imbalance, breast enlargement in males, gastrointestinal irritation, fatigue, dizziness and reproductive disorders.
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 1-800-267-9675 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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