Warning against the weight-loss product Super Slim
The Danish Medicines Agency strongly warns against using the weight-loss product Super Slim. We do so based on a warning from the Swedish Medical Products Agency against Super Slim, which is sold on the internet. Super Slim contains large quantities of undeclared active substances.
An analysis of Super Slim reveals that the product contains the active substance sibutramine and the substance phenolphthalein. However, this is not listed on the package, and it does not appear on the websites selling the product. On the contrary, it typically appears from the marketing of Super Slim on the internet that the product contains different fruits, vegetables and herbs. We would like to emphasise that this is not the case.
The substance sibutramine can cause a number of side effects and it is one of the constituents of a licensed prescription-only medicine for treatment of obesity. You should only begin treatment with medicine containing this substance if you have consulted a doctor. Furthermore, the analysis shows that Super Slim contains approximately twice as much sibutramine as the highest recommended dose of the licensed prescription-only medicine.
The substance phenolphthalein was earlier used as a laxative, but it is no longer used due to its many side effects. Today, phenolphthalein is used as a pH indicator in laboratory tests.
If you have taken any Super Slim, the Danish Medicines Agency advises you to:
- stop taking the product
- contact your general practitioner, if concerned.
You can hand over any remaining illegal medicine to a pharmacy for destruction.
We also urge persons who buy medicine on the internet to be careful and to seek advice from their doctor before buying any prescription-only medicines. The doctor may assess the effects and side effects of the product, including whether or not the product concerned would benefit the patient.
For further information, please contact Special Consultant Gitte Albæk Nielsen on tel.: +45 4488 9323.