Brunei's
Ministry of Health (MoH) is warning the public against purchasing Meizitang, a
botanical slimming soft-gel, and seven traditional medicines that have been
found to be adulterated.
In a press release issued by the MoH on
Tuesday, Meizitang, which is offered for sale on the Internet, was found to be
adulterated with sibutramine.
The product which was imported by an
individual was detained for laboratory analysis.
Sibutramine is an undeclared western drug
ingredient used for slimming which is no longer recommended for medical use in
obesity due to its adverse effects on the heart and liver.
Consumption of sibutramine can cause severe
reactions such as high blood pressure, heart palpitation and insomnia, and in
severe cases renal and hepatic impairment, the ministry said.
The health ministry also announced that seven
traditional medicines has been recalled by the Drug Control Authority in the
neighbouring country because they were also found to be adulterated.
The recalled traditional medicines are:
Vall-Boon Tongkat Ali manufactured by Vall-Boon Factory Sdn Bhd, Malaysia; Tian
Ma Tu Chung Seven Leave Ginseng manufactured by Ving Hong Enterprise; Pao Ni
Kang manufactured by Shitek Micro Algae Sdn Bhd; Antri-Eze Capsules
manufactured by Seadragon Healthcare Sdn Bhd; Sear Heang Tu Chung Wan Pills
manufactured by Ge Lou Pai; and Wiku Jahe Kencur, Akur Mujarab Sachets and Cap
Wijaya Kusuma An Ki It Powder by PJ Ibnu Sabil.
The first five medicines are all manufactured
in Malaysia whilst the last two were products made in Indonesia.
Vall-Boon Tongkat Ali was found to be
adulterated with dexamethasone, chlorpheniramine and pheniramine, while Tian Ma
Tu Chung Seven Leave Ginseng was found to be adulterated with dexamethasone and
chlorpheniramine.
Pao Ni Kang was found to be adulterated with
repaglinide and Athri-Eze Capsules was adulterated with dexamethasone,
frusemide and paracetamol.
Both Dexamethasone and chlorpheniramine were
the hidden ingredients discovered in Sear Heang Tienchi Tu Chung Wan Pills.
Meanwhile, the last two medicines were found
to be tainted with prednisolone and chlorpheniramine, and phenylbutazone and
paracetamol respectively.
The press release stated that all the
adulterants are potent medicinal substances which should only be used under
proper medical supervision.
Long term unsupervised consumption of
dexamethasone or prednisolone may lead to serious adverse effects such as
irregular heartbeats, muscle weakness, bone fracture, swelling of the lower leg
and increased risk of infection.
Ingestion of chlorpheniramine or pheniramine,
an antihistamine can cause dizziness, lowering of blood pressure, confusion,
incoordination and drowsiness, said the press release.
Unsupervised consumption of repaglinide, an
anti-diabetic agent may lead to nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea and abdominal pain
whereas the consumption of frusemide, a diuretic, may cause hypotension,
gastro-intestinal disturbances, gout and bone marrow depression.
The long term consumption of phenylbutazone
may lead to gastric pain, hearing disturbance, shortness of breath, swelling of
face or lower legs, and blood disorder.
Meanwhile, paracetamol which is normally used
for pain and fever, may cause rashes, lowered blood pressure and blood disorder
and overdose may lead to kidney and liver damage with long-term regular
consumption.
The Ministry of Health in the press release
stressed that it has never approved the importation and sale of these products.
The products are not allowed to be imported
and sold in the country, and consumers who have been taking any of these
affected products are advised to stop taking it immediately and to discard it,
the ministry said.
The ministry further advised those
experiencing any adverse reactions or feeling unwell, to consult their doctors.
Members of the public involved in the
retailing of the product are reminded that it is an offence under the Poison
Act 1956 to sell any products containing any substance controlled under the
said Act.
The penalty for such an offence, upon
conviction is a fine of US$8,000 or imprisonment of six months.
Nurhamiza Hj Roslan
The Brunei Times
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