Health Canada has issued a serious warning to consumers not to use Emagrece Sim or Herbathin because they may contain substances that could lead to serious side effects or injury. Both products are being marketed as natural health weight loss products.
Recently, the FDA found that Emagrece Sim, also known as the Brazilian Diet Pill, and Herbathin, contain the prescription-only compound fluoxetine HCl (the active ingredient in Prozac), the controlled substance chlordiazepoxide HCl (an active ingredient in Librax) and the controlled substance fenproporex. Neither product is authorized for sale in Canada.
Because discontinuing use of chlordiazepoxide HCl, fluoxetine HCl, and fenproporex requires medical supervision, consumers who are already taking either of these products are advised to continue taking them and to consult with their physicians immediately.
There are serious health risks associated with abrupt withdrawal of these drugs, such as fatigue, agitation, accelerated heart beat, anxiety, depression, or suicidal thoughts.
Anyone taking these products should be cautious since their mental alertness and physical co-ordination may be impaired. Driving or operating machinery, for example, could be affected.
The active drug ingredients that both Emagrece Sim and Herbathin contain could cause serious interactions with other drugs or natural health products.
Emagrece Sim and Herbathin are manufactured in Brazil by Fitoterapicos (also spelled Fytoterapicos) and Phytotherm Sim. While these products are not authorized for sale, they have been imported and distributed in the U.S. by Emagrece Sim Laboratories Inc. and Herbathin Inc. (doing business as EMIEX Corp.).
Health Canada advises consumers to contact the Health Products and Food Branch Inspectorate at 1-800-267-9675 if they find Emagrece Sim or Herbathin in Canada.
To date, no adverse reactions from the use of Emagrece Sim and Herbathin have been reported in Canada.
