FDA warns vs ‘fat burner HCA’ slimming capsule

The Food and Drug Administration on Tuesday warned the public against a new slimming capsule that it said contains amphetamine and sibutramine.

In FDA Advisory 2014-011, the FDA said amphetamine and sibutramine may cause symptoms ranging from irregular heartbeat to pulmonary hypertension, and even death.

"The public is hereby warned against buying and using Fat Burner HCA 500mg capsule in the market or through online," it said.

"All FDA inspectors are hereby ordered to seize unregistered slimming products or those containing amphetamine, sibutramine or steroids from all outlets or establishments where they are found or offered for sale or use," it added.

FDA said Fat Burner HCA 500 mg is an unregistered slimming product whose product label indicates it is made by America Bysilver Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd.

It said the capsules are packaged in a box of foil strips collected by the FDA Inspectorate at the Bureau of Customs (BOC) in Port Area, Manila.

It said the samples it tested were from a batch manufactured in 2013 and will expire in 2018, "and there is a chance that the same batch of the product is being offered for sale or use to unsuspecting buyers."

Symptoms

The FDA noted it had warned the public last January against using 26 slimming products which contained amphetamine, sibutramine and steroids.

"Amphetamine causes irregular heartbeat, confusion, urine retention and painful urination, hyperthermia, hyperreflexia, muscle pain, severe agitation, rapid breathing, and tremor. Large overdose may produce symptoms such as psychosis, anuria, cardiogenic shock, cerebral hemorrhage, circulatory collapse, extreme fever, pulmonary hypertension, renal failure, rapid muscle breakdown, serotonin syndrome, and stereotypy," it said.

It added fatal amphetamine poisoning usually involves convulsion and coma.

Sibutramine has been shown to increase the risk of serious heart events, including non-fatal heart attack or non-fatal stroke and death, it added.

Meanwhile, the FDA appealed to the BOC to be more vigilant in guarding against the entry of unregistered or illegal health products. — VC, GMA News