The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) has warned the public not to buy certain herbal slimming products which can be purchased online due to concerns about serious adverse effects. A press release from the MHRA notes that various products available to buy from overseas websites have received international safety warnings and alerts from health agencies in Sweden, Canada, Australia, Hong Kong and the United States. Products including ‘Instant Slim’, ‘Acai Berry ABC’ and ‘Sport Burner’ have been found to contain the prescription-only substance sibutramine which has been withdrawn across Europe due to increased risk of heart attacks and strokes following use.

The MHRA Group Manager for Herbal Medicines Policy said, “We urge people not to take any slimming medicines or products bought online without consulting with a pharmacist or doctor as they risk being supplied with medicines that are not safe or not suitable for them to use. People can also protect themselves by making sure they look out for the Traditional Herbal Registration (THR) logo, as products and medicines bearing this logo have been assessed and quality checked to ensure that they are safe to use.”

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