Adverse drug reactions of a slimming product contaminated with sibutramine

BACKGROUND On the internet numerous diet pills and weight loss courses are advertised. These products may contain active ingredients or contaminants that are not mentioned on the pack or in the patient information leaflet. CASE STUDY The Netherlands Pharmacovigilance Centre Lareb received two reports of undesirable effects associated with the unregistered slimming product 'Green Coffee 800'. A 33-year-old woman reported hypomania and a 44-year-old woman reported abnormal hepatic enzyme levels after the use of this product. Research by the Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority revealed that samples of the slimming coffee Green Coffee 800 contained sibutramine. The Dutch Healthcare Inspectorate issued a warning about this product in August 2010. It is plausible that the Green Coffee 800 in the reports sent to Lareb also contained sibutramine. CONCLUSION The slimming product Green Coffee 800 may contain sibutramine and may cause severe adverse reactions. This product is still advertised on the Internet.