Health alert: Consumers should give the slimming product Mei zi qian wei su a wide berth.

The Department of Health warns consumers not to buy the slimming product Mei zi qian wei su that contains the Western drug ingredient Sibutramine.

Sibutramine is an appetite suppressant, which can increase blood pressure and heart rate. People with heart problems should not take it.

The department said products containing Sibutramine are Western medicines and must be registered before sale. They can only be sold on a doctor's prescription and dispensed under a pharmacist's supervision.

People who have purchased the product should immediately stop using it and seek medical advice if they feel unwell.

They should dispose of the product or submit it to the department's Pharmaceutical Service at 3/F, Public Health Laboratory Centre, 382 Nam Cheong Street, Kowloon. For enquiries, call 2319 2839.

Complaint triggers lab tests

The appeal followed laboratory tests on the product after a complaint was received last month.

The department reminded importers, wholesalers and retailers that possession and sale of unregistered pharmaceutical products is an offence liable to a maximum fine of $100,000 and two years' jail.

It also advised people to control their weight through eating a balanced diet and exercising. They should consult a doctor before using drugs for weight reduction.