Canadian Health Authorities have issued a warning about a supposedly natural slimming product called “Nutural Slim” which has been discovered to be a potential health hazard. Federal officials discovered that the product contained the prescription-only weight loss medication Reductil, though this was undeclared on the product packet.
The product is manufactured by Chinese company Yingtai TCM Pharma Co. and is not licensed for sale in Canada. Health officials warned that no one should take Reductil without a doctor’s prescription and listed the possible side effects, which can include increased blood pressure, chest pain and difficulty sleeping.
There are strict guidelines as to who can take sibutramine, the active ingredient in Reductil. It is not advised for use by pregnant women or by anyone who suffers from depression or psychiatric illness. However, as the makers of Nutural Slim were not disclosing all the ingredients, it is very possible that patients contraindicated for sibutramine inadvertently took the medication, thereby putting their health at risk.
The product has been recalled by the distributor from the market place and health officials have advised retailers to remove Nutural Slim from their shelves and consumers to take back the product to the shop from where they bought it. They have also asked consumers not to buy the product from internet sellers.