“Adulterants Detected In Beauty Products, Traditional ... - BruDirect”

Adulterants Detected In Beauty Products, Traditional ... - BruDirect

Posted: 19 Apr 2010 04:21 PM PDT

Bandar Seri Begawan - Adulterants, potent medicinal substances whose improper use could lead to a variety of serious health problems, rank highly among the top concerns of the Ministry of Health in its continuous efforts to safeguard the well-being of consumers and patients in the Sultanate.

Two health and beauty products were recently found to contain potentially harmful adulterants. Tienshan Snow Lotus Pill, a traditional medicine, was found to be adulterated with Dexamethasone, while Nouvelles Visages Toner Lotion (A and B), a cosmetic product manufactured by Nouvelle Beauty Centre Sdn Bhd, Malaysia, was found to contain Hydroquinone and Tretinoin.

The Ministry of Health confirmed this find in a press release yesterday, stating that the presence of adulterants had been detected in Tienshan Snow Lotus Pill and the Nouvelles Visages Toner Lotion (A and B).

According to the press release, several more health products had been recalled by drug control authorities in neighbouring countries as well as in China. The products are Exterwomen and Extramen, manufactured by BYG Worldwide Bhd, which were found to be adulterated with Tadalafil and Hydroxythiohomosildenafil, respectively; Amberine Capsules, manufactured by Nature's Grace (M) Sdn Bhd and OBE XLIM, found to contain Sibulramine; and Lin Yan Chiao Chieh Tu Pien Tablets, manufactured by Hefei Shenlu & Double Crane Pharmaceutical Co Ltd, China, were found to be adulterated with Chlorpheniramine and Paracetamol.

Those adulterants detected in these traditional medicines and cosmetic products are potent medicinal substances, which should only be used under proper medical supervision, the ministry stated in its press release.

Long-term unsupervised consumption of Dexamethasone may lead to serious adverse effects such as irregular heartbeats, muscle weakness, bone fracture, swelling of the lower leg and increased risk of infection.

Meanwhile, unsupervised topical use of Hydroquinone, By Achong Tanjong a lightening agent, may cause skin irritation, reddening and burning of the skin, nephropathy and hepatocellular adenoma; while Tretinoin can cause skin peeling and is also teratogenic, meaning it should not be used by pregnant women. Excessive use may also cause retinoic acid syndrome such as fever, shortness of breath, hypotension, and liver, kidney or multi-organ failure.

Unsupervised consumption of Tadalafil or the "analogs" of Sildenafil, meanwhile, may cause heart attack or severe hypotension, particularly in susceptible individuals with heart conditions who are taking nitrate drugs; and undeclared western drug ingredient Sibutramine can cause severe adverse reactions such as high blood pressure, heart palpitation and insomnia, and in severe cases, renal and hepatic impairment, the ministry further stated in its press release.

Consumption of Chlorpheniramine may cause dizziness, lowering of blood pressure, confusion, incoordination and drowsiness. As for Paracetamol, although it can be used for self-medication, undeclared amounts of the substance in traditional medicines can cause overdose in patients who are already taking Paracetamol, and this can lead to kidney and liver damage.

No approval has ever been given by the Ministry of Health for the importation and sale of these products, the ministry said, adding that following the latest report, "the products are not allowed to be imported and sold in the country."

Consumers who have been taking any of the affected products are advised to stop taking them immediately and to discard them. Should they experience any adverse - reactions or feel unwell, consumers must consult their doctors immediately.

Members of the public involved in the retailing of the product were also reminded that it is an offence under Poison Act 1956 to sell any product containing any substance controlled under the Poison Act.

The penalty for such an offence, upon conviction, is a fine of B$8,000 or imprisonment of six months. For further information, call the Pharmacy Enforcement Section at 223 0036. -- Courtesy of Borneo Bulletin