Foreign Product Alert: Star Majestic Slimming, Sit and Slim II, Ginseng Kianpi Pil, Mayhem, Du Zhong Jin Gu Wan

Starting date:

January 30, 2015

Posting date:

January 30, 2015

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-43557

• 
  Issue
• 
  What you should do
• 
  Background
• 
  Report health or safety concerns
• 
  Images

Issue

These foreign health products have been found by regulators in other countries to contain undeclared drug ingredients.

The 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.

Affected Products

Product Name(s)	Hazard(s) Identified	Source of Alert	Other product information, if available	Images
Unauthorized Weight Loss Products
Star Majestic Slimming	Undeclared sibutramine Undeclared phenolphthalein	Australian Therapeutic Goods Administration	Capsules
Sit and Slim II	Undeclared sibutramine Undeclared phenolphthalein	United States Food and Drug Administration
Unauthorized Weight Gain Products
Ginseng Kianpi Pil	Undeclared dexamethasone Undeclared chlorpheniramine	United States Food and Drug Administration	Manufactured by Kweilin Drug Manufactory
Mayhem	Undeclared dexamethasone Undeclared cyproheptadine	United States Food and Drug Administration	Capsules; Manufactured by Chaotic-Labz
Unauthorized Pain Relief Products
Du Zhong Jin Gu Wan	Undeclared dexamethasone Undeclared chlorpheniramine Undeclared diclofenac	Singapore Health Sciences Authority

What you should do

• Contact the Health Products and Food Branch Inspectorate at 1-800-267-9675 if you find a product listed above in the Canadian marketplace.
• Consult with a healthcare professional if you have health concerns related to the use of any of these products.
• Read the label of the products you buy to verify that they have been assessed by Health Canada for safety, effectiveness and quality. Health products that have been authorized for sale by Health Canada will have an eight-digit Drug Identification Number (DIN), Natural Product Number (NPN) or a Homeopathic Drug Number (DIN-HM).

Background

Prescription drugs should only be used under the supervision of a healthcare professional.

Chlorpheniramine is a non-prescription antihistamine drug. Side effects include drowsiness, dizziness, confusion and blurred vision.

Cyproheptadine is a non-prescription antihistamine drug. Side effects include drowsiness, dizziness, confusion and blurred vision.

Dexamethasone is a steroidal prescription drug used to treat inflammatory conditions such as arthritis and allergic reactions. Side effects include irregular heartbeat, increased blood pressure, stomach ulcer, blood disorders, skin, muscle and bone damage, and nervous system disorders. Consult with your healthcare professional prior to stopping use, as sudden discontinuation of this drug may cause symptoms of withdrawal.

Diclofenac is a prescription drug in the family known as non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and is used to treat pain, fever and inflammation. Side effects include changes in blood pressure, gastrointestinal disorders (with or without bleeding), anemia, kidney failure and reduced blood clotting ability.

Phenolphthalein was previously used as a laxative but is no longer authorized for sale in Canada because it may cause cancer.

Sibutramine was previously used to treat obesity but is no longer authorized for sale in Canada because of its association with an increased risk of cardiovascular side effects such as heart attack and stroke.

Report health or safety concerns

To report a side effect to a health product to Health Canada:

• 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

As of January 20, 2015 no adverse reactions suspected to be associated with the use of these products have been reported to Health Canada.

Images

Select thumbnail to enlarge - opens in a new window