Healthy Skepticism Library item: 12606

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Publication type: Journal Article

Sein Anand J, Chodorowski Z.
[Side effects after the usage of Chinese dieting product Meizitanc].
Przegl Lek 2007; 64:(4-5):346-7
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17724909?dopt=Abstract

Abstract:

Side effects of self-treatment of eight obese women aged between 28 and 45 (average 36.5) with the body mass index (BMI) between 28 and 32 (average 30) kg/m2 have been described. All these women, without any medical consultation and upon their own will had been using Meizitanc as the only remedy for slimming. They started with a dosage of 1 capsule per day, gradually increasing the Meizitanc dose to 3 capsules a day. The patients had used the drug from 2.5 to 6 (average 3.2) months. There were many side effects observed in all women like palpitation, headache and vertigo, warm feeling, nervousness, and tremor of the hands which was observed in four patients. All these effects appeared during the last few weeks and thus forced them to get the consultation in the Poison Information Centre in the Medical University of Gdańsk. All capsules were examined with the use of gas chromatography and mass spectrophotometer GC/MS. It was found that each capsule contained 10 mg of sibutramine. There was no information about the presence of sibutramine in the composition of Meizitanc on the package and leaflet. After discontinuation of Meizitanc all side effects disappeared. CONCLUSIONS: Special caution is advised during the Meizitanc treatment. In case of any side effects like palpitation, headache and vertigo, nervousness or tremor which take place during the Meizitanc treatment the medical consultation is needed.

Keywords:
Adult Anti-Obesity Agents/adverse effects* Anti-Obesity Agents/chemistry Anxiety/chemically induced Body Mass Index Consumer Product Safety Cyclobutanes/adverse effects* Cyclobutanes/chemistry Diet, Reducing/adverse effects Dose-Response Relationship, Drug Drug Contamination* Drug Labeling/classification Drug Labeling/standards Drugs, Chinese Herbal/adverse effects* Drugs, Chinese Herbal/chemistry Drugs, Non-Prescription/adverse effects Drugs, Non-Prescription/chemistry Female Headache/chemically induced* Heart Rate/drug effects Humans Middle Aged Overdose Poland Tremor/chemically induced* Vertigo/chemically induced*