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Foreign product alert

Archived – Soloslim

Starting date:
August 18, 2008
Posting date:
August 18, 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-12000487

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

Soloslim

Manufacturer / Place of origin

EZVille, Ltd., Long Island, NY, U.S.A.

Product description

Soloslim is promoted as an "all natural" product used for weight loss.

Reason for warning

The Hong Kong Department of Health warned against the use of Soloslim because it was found to contain an undeclared compound similar in structure to sibutramine (N-bisdesmethyl-sibutramine). Sibutramine is a prescription drug used in the treatment of obesity.

Soloslim also contains L-carnitine salt. L-carnitine is a prescription drug used in the treatment of carnitine deficiency, which may occur in patients with some genetic diseases, serious liver or kidney disease or with use of certain medications (e.g., valproate).

Both sibutramine and L-carnitine should only be used under the supervision of a health care professional.

Soloslim also contains synephrine. Weight loss products containing synephrine are not authorized for sale in Canada.

Possible side effects

  • Use of sibutramine may cause headaches, increased heart rate and blood pressure, chest pain and stroke.
  • Side effects associated with L-carnitine include nausea, vomiting, abdominal cramps, diarrhea and seizures.
  • Synephrine may cause cardiovascular adverse effects that could lead to stroke, heart attack and/or death.

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.
Advisory

Media enquiries

Health Canada
613-957-2983

Public enquiries

613-957-2991
1-866-225-0709

Images

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