ABU DHABI // A number of sexual stimulants and diet pills have been pulled from pharmacy shelves after they were found to contain undeclared and potentially dangerous ingredients. The Ministry of Health ordered hospitals and pharmacists to withdraw the pills this month. It named male supplements including Xaitrex, and OMG. Dr Amin al Amiri, head of medical licensing at the ministry, said it was following advice from the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), which licenses medicines in the United States.
"We advise people to stop using these products immediately," Dr Amiri said. "Pharmacies should return them to the ministry." The sexual stimulants contain sulfoaildenafil, a compound similar to the active ingredient in Viagra, but which is not listed among the ingredients. The slimming drugs Body Beautiful and Solo Slim, billed as "herbal remedies", were all recalled for containing undeclared chemical ingredients.
The diet pills contained sibutramine, also found in Reductil. Reductil is banned in Abu Dhabi but remains on sale in Dubai. FDA analysis of Solo Slim and Body Beautiful found they contain didesmethyl sibutramine, an approved appetite suppressant. @Email:munderwood@thenational.ae
