The National Agency for Food and Drugs Administration and Control (NAFDAC) is notifying the public that the Malaysian Ministry of Health and Singapore Food Agency (SFA), has warned against the use of three(3) food products marketed for weight loss, Lemo A Detox slimming sachets, Lemo S Detox slimming sachets, and Lemo D Detox slimming sachets. The products were discovered to contain banned medicinal substances of sibutramine and sennosides.
The product is being sold on various e-commerce platforms and marketed as effective weight loss products with claims to suppress appetite, detoxify,help digestion, burn fats and accelerate metabolism.
Sibutramine increases the risk of heart attack and stroke, among other health consequences. Side effects of sibutramine include anxiety, headaches, dizziness, abdominal pain, and palpitations.
However, the prolonged consumption of sennoside, which is used for the relief of constipation, which may lead to stomach pain, diarrhoea, nausea and lazy bowel syndrome and dehydration.
Sibutramine: Initially developed to treat depression but used for treating obesity on weight loss effects. However, sales and usage of sibutramine was suspended worldwide since 2010 after reports of serious side effects such as strokes and cardiovascular disorders.
Sennoside: Effective remedy for diarrhea but usage as food ingredients was banned as it may cause side effects (such as stomachaches and vomiting) on excessive intake, and may cause stomach cramps, chronic constipation and intestinal disorders over the long run.
Product details
The details of the products are as follows;
Product Name: Lemo A, S and D Detox slimming sachets
Product Country of Manufacture: Malaysia
Product Name | Banned substances detected* | Product Image |
Lemo A Detox Slimming Sachets | Sibutramine | |
Lemo S Detox Slimming Sachets | Sibutramine | |
Lemo D Detox Slimming Sachets | Sennosides |
Please, note that this product is not registered by NAFDAC. It is marketed and sold online.
Members of the public in possession of the above product are advised to discontinue sale or use and submit stock to the nearest NAFDAC office.
If you have this product, please DO NOT use it. If you, or someone you know that is using this product, or suffered any adverse reaction/event after the use, you are advised to seek immediate medical advice from a qualified healthcare professional.
Healthcare professionals and consumers are advised to report any suspicion of sale of substandard and falsified medicines to the nearest NAFDAC office, or call NAFDAC on 0800-162-3322 or via email: sf.alert@nafdac.gov.ng
Similarly, healthcare professionals and patients are also encouraged to report adverse events or side effects related to the use of medicinal products to the nearest NAFDAC office, or through the use of the E-reporting platforms available on the NAFDAC website www.nafdac.gov.ng or via the Med- safety application available for download on android and IOS stores or via e-mail on pharmacovigilance@nafdac.gov.ng
NAFDAC……….Customer-focused, Agency-minded!!!