The National Agency for Food and Drugs Administration and Control (NAFDAC) is notifying the public of the recall of some sibutramine-containing products by three regulatory bodies in Asia due to the increased risk of cardiovascular diseases and stroke in users.
Sibutramine is an appetite suppressant previously authorized for the treatment of obesity but has been withdrawn from sale by the manufacturers and its licenses suspended by the European Medicines Agency (EMA) in 2010 based on new safety information discovered from a reviewed study of the medicine. It was discovered from the review that the risk of sibutramine outweighs its benefits due to its link to cardiovascular events (such as heart attack and stroke). Weight control should be achieved through healthy lifestyle measures like eating healthy and appropriate exercise.
Product Details
The details of the affected product are as follows;
Recalling Authority | Product Name | Product Manufacturer | Product photo |
Malaysian Ministry of Health (MOH) | Slymchoco chocolate | Did not comply with Malaysian labeling requirements. Lacked name and address of manufacturer, packer, distributor, or proprietor. |  |
Health Science Authority (HSA), Singapore | Nature Slim | Not stated |  |
Slimming Seven Day by Figure Up | Not stated |   | |
Energy Booster Figure-UP New Look Strong Version | Not stated |   | |
Hong Kong’s Department of Health (DH) | HOTCHA Botanical Beverage Mix Chocolate
| Unknown |  |
HOTCHA Botanical Beverage Mix Hazelnut Coffee | Unknown |  | |
Korean Named candy | Unknown |  |
Although the products are not in the NAFDAC database, they are mostly marketed as “effective weight loss supplements”, and illegally sold online through social media platforms like Instagram.
Importers, distributors, retailers, and consumers are advised to exercise caution and vigilance within the supply chain to avoid the importation, distribution, sale, and use of the above-mentioned products. Members of the public in possession of any of the products should discontinue the sale or use and submit stock to the nearest NAFDAC office.
If you have used any of the products, or someone you know, has used it, or suffered any adverse reaction/event after use, you are advised to seek immediate medical advice from a qualified healthcare professional. Consumers should consult healthcare professionals before using any medication for weight control.
Healthcare professionals and consumers are advised to report any suspicion of substandard and falsified medicines to the nearest NAFDAC office, 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 the medicinal product 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!!!
