The Director-General of Health, Dr Ashley Bloomfield has today published a warning to consumers about two products, Go lean Detox and Go Detox, which have been marketed for weight loss.
The warning is published on the Medsafe website.
Consumers should stop taking these products and return them to the supplier or dispose of them safely.
Go lean Detox and Go Detox have been tested by ESR on behalf of Medsafe and found to contain two prescription medicines, sibutramine and phenolphthalein. These substances are not declared on the product label.
Medicines containing sibutramine were previously marketed in New Zealand for weight loss. However, they were withdrawn from the New Zealand market, and other markets internationally, in 2010 following review of a study that found an increased risk of heart attacks and strokes associated with this medicine. Phenolphthalein has a known laxative effect and is no longer used in medicines in New Zealand.
Medsafe has been notified of one report of a patient experiencing side effects after taking one of these products.
While there’s no reliable information about how many people have taken these products, anyone who has these products is advised to stop taking them immediately and either return them to the supplier or dispose of them safely.
Consumers should also seek medical advice if they feel unwell when taking these products.
Medsafe has notified known distributors of the two products, which are thought to have been sourced from Vietnam, to immediately stop supplying them.
Stocks of the products have been seized as a result of the warning.
Adverse reactions to these products or to any herbal product should be reported to the Centre for Adverse Reactions Monitoring.
Consumers can also report any concerns to Medsafe.
This warning has been issued as a privileged statement by the Director-General of Health under section 98 of the Medicines Act 1981.
