Foreign Product Alert
2007-03b
January 5, 2007
For immediate release
Health Canada is advising consumers not to use the following product listed in the table below due to concerns about possible side-effects. More info
Qing Zhi
| Date of alert |
January 5, 2007 |
| Source of Alert |
New Zealand’s Ministry of Health Medicines Safety Authority, Medsafe |
| Product Name |
One product is labelled as Qing Zhi and one product is unlabelled. |
| Manufacturer / Place of Origin |
Unknown / China |
| Product Description |
Qing Zhi: pack of 6 capsules packaged in an orange and pink box
1 unlabelled product: blue/white capsules in a small plastic zip-lock bag
|
| Reason for Warning |
On July 21, 2006, the New Zealand Ministry of Health issued a press release on Qing Zhi and one unlabelled product because these herbal products were adulterated with sibutramine, which is a prescription medication used to suppress appetite. Sibutramine should only be taken under the guidance of a health care professional. |
| Possible Side-Effects |
Use of sibutramine may cause serious side-effects, including vision problems and increased heart rate and blood pressure. Sibutramine should not be taken with medications that can affect serotonin levels, such as antidepressants. |
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Media Inquiries:
Alastair Sinclair
Health Canada
(613) 947-1803
For more details on these Foreign Product Alerts, please visit the Health Canada Web site.
This product is not authorized for sale in Canada and has not been found in the Canadian marketplace. However, it is possible this product could be purchased by Canadians travelling abroad or has been brought into Canada through personal importation by travellers or purchased over the Internet.
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.
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.
Health Canada advises Canadians to contact the Health Products and Food Branch Inspectorate at 1-800-267-9675 if they find the product listed in the table in the Canadian marketplace.
For more information about the information contained in this advisory, please contact Health Canada's public inquiries line at (613) 957-2991 or toll-free at 1-866-225-0709.
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.
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