Beware of these 8 illegal health products

Consumers are being warned of 8 illegal health products sold over the Internet,

The products were found to contain potent western medicinal ingredients that are not allowed in supplements sold in Singapore, according to its news release.

The eight products were marketed for energy boosting, muscle building or weight loss purposes. Seven of the eight products were found to contain yohimbine, raubasine, vinpocetine and deanol, which are not allowed to be present in health supplements sold locally, HSA said.

The agency said the products came to light during its surveillance of internet sale activities, and investigations showed that some consumers in Singapore may have purchased the products online. The ingredients can cause “serious adverse reactions” when not taken under strict medical supervision, they added.

The names of the eight products are:

Yohimbine, raubasine and vinpocetine are used in the treatment of circulatory problems, while deanol has been used in the treatment of central nervous system disorders, according to HSA.

Skinny 22” was found to contain an undeclared western medicinal ingredient called phenolphthalein, a laxative used to treat constipation – despite claims that it only contained plant and fruit extracts.

The ingredients present in the listed products may interact with other medications that consumers are taking. Possible adverse reactions associated with these ingredients are:

• Yohimbine: Insomnia, anxiety, palpitations, chest pain, sweating, blurred vision high blood pressure
• Raubasine: Gastric discomfort, dizziness, hypotension, confusion, rapid heartbeat
• Vinpocetine: Facial flushing, decrease of blood pressure, dizziness, headache, insomnia, sleep disturbances, rapid heart rate
• Deanol: Constipation, itching, insomnia, restlessness, headache
• Phenolphthalein: Rashes, abdominal cramps, breathing difficulties, kidney disorders

The HSA has advised members of the public to stop using the listed products immediately, and consult a doctor if they feel unwell. They also cautioned consumers to exercise caution when purchasing health products, and obtain them from reliable and reputable sources locally, as the dangers of online purchases include the lack of information on the sellers’ location, the products’ source, and the conditioned under which the products were manufactured and stored.

Products sold online could also potentially be counterfeit or include undeclared potent ingredients, HSA added.

Health products with exaggerated claims like “rapid weight loss”, “guaranteed results” or “scientifically proven” should also be viewed with caution, as they cannot be verified, according to HSA.

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Category: Features, Health alert