The Danish Health and Medicines Authority warns against taking the weight-loss products Slimex 15 and Slimex 15 New Formula that are sold on the internet. The weight-loss products contain sibutramine that may cause serious side effects.
If you are taking Slimex 15 or Slimex 15 New Formula, we advise you to stop taking the product immediately and to contact your doctor. Please return any unused products to the nearest pharmacy for destruction.
The weight-loss product Slimex 15 is available in the form of yellow or orange capsules, while Slimex 15 New Formula is available in the form of white tablets:
- Slimex 15 (yellow capsule): Our analysis shows that the product contains sibutramine, but this does not appear from the package.
- Slimex 15 (orange capsule): It appears from the package that the product contains sibutramine (”Sibutramine Hydrochloride Monohydrate”).
- Slimex 15 New Formula (white tablet): Our analysis shows that the product contains sibutramine, but this does not appear from the package.
Risk of serious side effects
Sibutramine affects neurotransmitters in the brain, which suppresses appetite. The adverse reactions from sibutramine could turn out to be very serious and may show as a faster heart rate, hypertension, hot flush, constipation, nausea, trouble sleeping, headache, anxiety, perspiration and taste perversion. All medicines containing sibutramine were withdrawn from the market in the autumn of 2010 due to the risk of serious cardiovascular adverse reactions and brain haemorrhages.
We generally urge people to be careful when they buy medicines on the internet. We recommend that you contact your doctor before you buy any medicines on the Internet.
