Is that medicine Western or Chinese?
Is that medicine Western or Chinese?
THE CASE
If you take imported complementary medicine or supplements, you really cannot be sure of what you are taking. There are a lot of snake-oil merchants out there. You are most likely to be sold mislabelled products in gyms, on the Internet or in Eastern medicine shops.
During 2007 the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) has ordered recalls on a number of complementary medicines including:
Excite for Women and Ultimates for Men
These products were recalled on 26 April 2007 and were shown to contain a substance closely related to viagra, a sildenafil analogue. People taking this medicine believed they were taking "natures safe alternative", when in reality they were taking a prescription only Western medicine. Sildenafil is especially dangerous for people who have heart disease, who are liable to strokes or who are taking certain other medicines. The supplier of these products, Herbal Health International, were risking their customers lives, as well as misleading them. They are still listed for sale on their website. The TGA considered this a Class I recall, that the products were potentially life-threatening and could cause a serious health risk.
Top Gun for Men Herbal Extracts 750mg tablets
Were recalled on 30 July 2007, again this product was found to contain a substance closely related to Viagra, cialis. The supplier, La Viva Blue Pty Ltd, put their clients at the same risks as outlined above. The TGA considered this a Class II recall, where the product could cause illness.
Physio Care Lida Dai Dai Hua Jiao Nang Slimming Capsules
Were recalled on the 29 October 2007. This product was shown to contain sibutramine, marketed in Australia as the prescription only weight loss drug Reductil. Sibutramine has a large number of contraindications and interactions with other drugs. These capsules were marketed by Mekong Grocery as Physio Care, may have only been sold in South Australia. Persons taking these capsules were under the impression that they were taking a herbal weight loss product, but were in fact taking an illegally imported and supplied Western prescription medicine. The TGA considers this a Class I recall, the product being potentially life-threatening or able to cause a serious risk to health.
Dymatize Nutrition Anabolic Meth-X 100 capsules
Were recalled on the 29 October 2007 they were found to contain ipriflavone, a synthetic bioflavanoid. Through a legislative loophole this substance is available in the US as a supplement, but this is not the case in Australia. It is marketed as an anabolic agent, but it's safety and effectiveness has never been assessed, therefore it is prescription only and should only be used under the supervision of a doctor. It was sold by Superior Supplements, and is still advertised on Australian sites on the Internet. The TGA considered this a Class I recall, that the product being potentially life-threatening or could cause a serious risk to health.
VPX 'No Shotgun' and BSN 'Cell Mass' Body Building Powders
Were recalled on the 22 October 2007. These products were marketed by Crestkey Pty Ltd through Elite Physique and contain traces of the drug coumarin. This compound has been associated with liver and kidney damage, and has been banned as a food and cigarette additive in many countries. The TGA considered this a Class I recall, because the product is potentially life-threatening and could cause a serious health risk. They are still advertised on Australian sites.
During 2008 the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) has ordered recalls on a number of complementary medicines including:
Nutrex Research Lipo 6 liquid capsules
Recalled 2/10/2008 because at least some batches contained the substance yohimbine. which has long been considered an aphrodisiac. There is no evidence for this, and there is no evidence that it helps in weight loss.
Zhen De Shou 10 x 250mg capsules
These were recalled on 5/11/2008. These fat loss capsules were illegally imported and supplied. They were found to contain the prescription medicines sibutramine and Phenolphthalein .were detected in a sample. These medicines must only be used under medical supervision.They were found to contain contain sibutramine, marketed in Australia as the prescription only weight loss drug Reductil. Sibutramine has a large number of contraindications and interactions with other drugs. The label merely says
"Not applicable for woman in pregnancy and patients of cordis-vasal disease and apoplexy"
whatever all that means.
MY VERDICT
Bear in mind that the person recommending this type of product probably has no, or at best, little health care education and that they have no idea what is really in the product. Shop assistants and personal trainers have absolutely no expertise in medicines, they just pretend they have. It is immoral and cynical in the extreme to sell Western pharmaceuticals as traditional Chinese herbal remedies.
I hope the authorities responsible are monitoring Internet sites to make sure these products are still not being sold in Australia.
If you want to know all the side-effects and contraindications of any medicine ask pharmacists, they are experts.
THE CASE
If you take imported complementary medicine or supplements, you really cannot be sure of what you are taking. There are a lot of snake-oil merchants out there. You are most likely to be sold mislabelled products in gyms, on the Internet or in Eastern medicine shops.
During 2007 the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) has ordered recalls on a number of complementary medicines including:
Excite for Women and Ultimates for Men
These products were recalled on 26 April 2007 and were shown to contain a substance closely related to viagra, a sildenafil analogue. People taking this medicine believed they were taking "natures safe alternative", when in reality they were taking a prescription only Western medicine. Sildenafil is especially dangerous for people who have heart disease, who are liable to strokes or who are taking certain other medicines. The supplier of these products, Herbal Health International, were risking their customers lives, as well as misleading them. They are still listed for sale on their website. The TGA considered this a Class I recall, that the products were potentially life-threatening and could cause a serious health risk.
Top Gun for Men Herbal Extracts 750mg tablets
Were recalled on 30 July 2007, again this product was found to contain a substance closely related to Viagra, cialis. The supplier, La Viva Blue Pty Ltd, put their clients at the same risks as outlined above. The TGA considered this a Class II recall, where the product could cause illness.
Physio Care Lida Dai Dai Hua Jiao Nang Slimming Capsules
Were recalled on the 29 October 2007. This product was shown to contain sibutramine, marketed in Australia as the prescription only weight loss drug Reductil. Sibutramine has a large number of contraindications and interactions with other drugs. These capsules were marketed by Mekong Grocery as Physio Care, may have only been sold in South Australia. Persons taking these capsules were under the impression that they were taking a herbal weight loss product, but were in fact taking an illegally imported and supplied Western prescription medicine. The TGA considers this a Class I recall, the product being potentially life-threatening or able to cause a serious risk to health.
Dymatize Nutrition Anabolic Meth-X 100 capsules
Were recalled on the 29 October 2007 they were found to contain ipriflavone, a synthetic bioflavanoid. Through a legislative loophole this substance is available in the US as a supplement, but this is not the case in Australia. It is marketed as an anabolic agent, but it's safety and effectiveness has never been assessed, therefore it is prescription only and should only be used under the supervision of a doctor. It was sold by Superior Supplements, and is still advertised on Australian sites on the Internet. The TGA considered this a Class I recall, that the product being potentially life-threatening or could cause a serious risk to health.
VPX 'No Shotgun' and BSN 'Cell Mass' Body Building Powders
Were recalled on the 22 October 2007. These products were marketed by Crestkey Pty Ltd through Elite Physique and contain traces of the drug coumarin. This compound has been associated with liver and kidney damage, and has been banned as a food and cigarette additive in many countries. The TGA considered this a Class I recall, because the product is potentially life-threatening and could cause a serious health risk. They are still advertised on Australian sites.
During 2008 the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) has ordered recalls on a number of complementary medicines including:
Nutrex Research Lipo 6 liquid capsules
Recalled 2/10/2008 because at least some batches contained the substance yohimbine. which has long been considered an aphrodisiac. There is no evidence for this, and there is no evidence that it helps in weight loss.
Zhen De Shou 10 x 250mg capsules
These were recalled on 5/11/2008. These fat loss capsules were illegally imported and supplied. They were found to contain the prescription medicines sibutramine and Phenolphthalein .were detected in a sample. These medicines must only be used under medical supervision.They were found to contain contain sibutramine, marketed in Australia as the prescription only weight loss drug Reductil. Sibutramine has a large number of contraindications and interactions with other drugs. The label merely says
"Not applicable for woman in pregnancy and patients of cordis-vasal disease and apoplexy"
whatever all that means.
MY VERDICT
Bear in mind that the person recommending this type of product probably has no, or at best, little health care education and that they have no idea what is really in the product. Shop assistants and personal trainers have absolutely no expertise in medicines, they just pretend they have. It is immoral and cynical in the extreme to sell Western pharmaceuticals as traditional Chinese herbal remedies.
I hope the authorities responsible are monitoring Internet sites to make sure these products are still not being sold in Australia.
If you want to know all the side-effects and contraindications of any medicine ask pharmacists, they are experts.