The Health Bureau (SSM) said in a statement yesterday that the Hong Kong Health Department has announced that slimming pills sold under the brand name “2WEEKS” contain sibutramine, therefore the bureau is urging residents not to take them.
According to Wikipedia, sibutramine, formerly sold under the brand name Meridia among others, is an appetite suppressant which has been discontinued in many countries. Until 2010, it was widely marketed and prescribed as an adjunct in the treatment of obesity along with diet and exercise. It has been associated with increased cardiovascular events and strokes and has been withdrawn from the market in several countries and regions including Australia, Canada, mainland China, the EU, Hong Kong, India, Mexico, New Zealand, the Philippines, Thailand, the United Kingdom, and the United States. However, the drug is still available in some countries and regions.
The statement said that according to official records, the bureau has not permitted the product to be imported and sold in Macau. The statement stressed that even though sibutramine can suppress one’s appetite, it can increase the risk of suffering from cardiovascular diseases.
The statement said that in order to protect public health, the bureau will continue to closely monitor the distribution of the “2WEEKS” pills in Macau. The bureau urged residents not to purchase the pills.
The bureau asked residents who have bought the product to stop taking the pills and send them to bureau at 2/F China Plaza, 51 Avenida de Sidónio Pais. For any enquiries, one can contact the bureau by calling 8598 3441 during office hours.
This undated handout photo provided by the Health Bureau (SSM) shows the “2WEEKS” slimming pills.
