In response to a request of the US Food and Drug Administration to recall three weight loss pills, the Drug Administration of Vietnam (DAV) has confirmed that the three US-made medicines have not yet been licensed in Vietnam.
The Ministry of Health announced three medicine products of Bethel Nutritional Consulting, Inc., New York, including Bethel 30 green capsules, Quick Thin gold capsules, and Bethel Advance white capsules have not been allowed for import into the country.
The capsules tested positive for Sibutramine and Phenolphthalein. FDA advises that these products may pose a threat to consumers because Sibutramine is known to substantially increase blood pressure and/or pulse rate in some patients and may present a significant risk for patients with a history of coronary artery disease, congestive heart failure, arrhythmias or stroke.
This product may also interact, in life-threatening ways, with other medications a consumer may be taking while Phenolphthalein may present health risks that could include potentially serious gastrointestinal disturbances, irregular heartbeat, muscle cramps, and cancer in cases of long term use.
In addition, Phenolphthalein is considered a banned medical substance in Vietnam. Vietnam had earlier issued a decision to suspend and recall all pharmaceutical products containing Sibutramine from the domestic market and had removed this medicine from list allowed to be circulated in Vietnam.
