Warning against Chinese 'weight reduction' tea in Qatar

SCH's pharmacy and medicine monitoring department said the product contained the chemical element Sibutramine, an appetite suppressant found in weight-loss drug Reductil, which is banned all over the world on the grounds it can cause cardiovascular problems and strokes, Qatari daily Gulf Times has reported.

The SCH said the element has been included in the herbal tea product without its mention in the provided leaflet and that marketing the product in such a manner amounted to fraud and forgery.

The daily said it conducted a brief survey of local supermarkets and pharmacies and discovered that this particular product was not widely available. However, it cautioned that it might still be in stores as the SCH warning had not reached all the retailers.

Reductil, Meridia and Sibutrex, which contain Sibutramine, were banned by the SCH several months ago and are no longer available in Qatar.

For people who consume Sibutramine, the frequently encountered side effects include dry mouths, nausea, strange taste in the mouth, upset stomach, constipation, trouble in sleeping, dizziness, drowsiness, menstrual cramps/pain, headaches, flushing or joint/muscle pains.

Sibutramine can substantially increase blood pressure and the pulse in some patients. Symptoms that require urgent medical attention are seizures, problems in urinating, abnormal bruising or bleeding, melena, haematemesis, jaundice, fever and rigors, chest pain, hemiplegia, abnormal vision, dyspnea and edema.Sibutramine is structurally related to amphetamines