Weight loss drug banned

BAHRAIN has banned the sale of weight loss and anti-obesity drug Reductil and ordered it be immediately withdrawn from all pharmacies.

Health Ministry drug control director Mohammed Nasser said the action had been taken because the US-manufactured pills may negatively affect the cardiovascular system and could potentially cause heart attacks.

"The drug contains the active substance Sibutramine and scientific studies have proven its side-effects on human health including side-effects on the cardiovascular system," he said.

"Many obese and overweight patients complain of heart diseases and cardiovascular system diseases and the European Drug Agency (EDA) has directed to stop taking the drug in European countries."

Mr Nasser said many other health authorities had also been directed not to use the drug in a circular issued yesterday.

"The ministry has alerted all the doctors in Bahrain to stop prescribing the drug," he said.

"It has also alerted the pharmacies to stop selling it and has urged patients who use the drug to review with their doctors to see if they can use other drugs."

Mr Nasser said that the ministry had begun co-ordinating with the drug's selling agent in Bahrain to work on withdrawing the product from the local market.

"Reductil is the only drug that was authorised and contains the active substance Sibutramine," he said.

Mr Nasser also warned people against buying such drugs from abroad.

"The consumer must be cautious with the drug formulations of some weight loss products that some people bring personally from abroad to ensure that it does not contain banned Sibutramine," he added.

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