Fat Killer
Carbohydrate Cut
Sugar-Carbohydrate Cut
Zhuang Yao Gu Shen Capsule

Foreign Product Alert
2008-171
November 10, 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: November 10, 2008
Source of Alert:Hong Kong Department of Health
Product Name:
Fat Killer
Carbohydrate Cut
Sugar-Carbohydrate Cut
Zhuang Yao Gu Shen Capsule

Manufacturer / Place of Origin: Unknown

Product Description
Fat Killer, Carbohydrate Cut and Sugar-Carbohydrate Cut are promoted for weight loss while Zhuang Yao Gu Shen Capsule is promoted for the treatment of erectile dysfunction.

Fat Killer:


Carbohydrate Cut:


Sugar-Carbohydrate Cut:


Zhuang Yao Gu Shen:

Reason for Warning
The Hong Kong Department of Health (HKDH) warned consumers not to buy or use Fat Killer, Carbohydrate Cut and Sugar-Carbohydrate Cut because they were found to contain the undeclared pharmaceutical ingredient sibutramine and an unauthorised substance with a structure similar to sibutramine. The HKDH also warned against buying or using Zhuang Yao Gu Shen Capsule because it was found to contain the undeclared pharmaceutical ingredient sildenafil.

Sibutramine is used in the treatment of obesity while sildenafil is used in the treatment of erectile dysfunction. Sibutramine and sildenafil are both prescription drugs and should only be used under the supervision of a health care practitioner.

Possible Side-Effects
Unsupervised use of sibutramine may cause headaches, increased heart rate and blood pressure, chest pain and stroke.

Unsupervised use of sildenafil by patients with heart disease can result in serious cardiovascular side-effects such as sudden cardiac death, heart attack, stroke, hypertension, chest pain and abnormal heartbeat. Additionally, use of sildenafil may be associated with other side-effects including temporary vision loss, seizure, prolonged erection, headache, flushing, nasal congestion and abdominal pain. Products containing sildenafil should not be used by individuals taking any type of nitrate drug (e.g., nitroglycerine) due to the risk of developing potentially life-threatening low blood pressure.

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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.