Dan Bai Shou Shen Su

Foreign Product Alert
2008-135
August 18, 2008
For immediate release

Health Canada is advising consumers not to use the products specified below due to concerns about possible side-effects. More info

Date of alert: August 18, 2008

Source of Alert: Hong Kong Department of Health

Product Names: Dan Bai Shou Shen Su

Manufacturer / Place of Origin:
Guang zhou shì jiashèng wù ke jì yòu xiàn gong si, under the supervision of a Hong Kong company, Kang shì yuán guó jì jí tuán (xiang gang) yòu xiàn gong si /Unknown

Product Description
Dan Bai Shou Shen Su is promoted for weight loss.

Reason for Warning
The Hong Kong Department of Health warned against the use of Dan Bai Shou Shen Su because it was found to contain undeclared thyroid hormones and sibutramine.

Thyroid hormone preparations and sibutramine are both prescription drugs and should only be used under the supervision of a health care professional.

Thyroid hormones are used in the treatment of hypothyroidism (underactive thyroid gland), goiters and some forms of thyroid cancer. Sibutramine is used in the treatment of obesity.

Possible Side-Effects
Side-effects associated with both thyroid hormones and sibutramine include headaches, increased heart rate and blood pressure, and chest pain.

Additional side-effects associated with thyroid hormones include seizures, tremors, excessive sweating, insomnia, diarrhea and vomiting.

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Media Inquiries:
Health Canada
(613) 957-2983

For more details on these Foreign Product Alerts, please visit the Health Canada Web site.

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These products are not authorized for sale in Canada and have not been found in the Canadian marketplace, but it is possible they may have been brought into the country 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 any of the products listed above 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.