Worst-case scenario: Liver failure, death
Dry mouth, heart palpitation, dehydration and diarrhoea.
These are some of the possible side effects of taking slimming pills.
“There are various types of slimming pills out there and it will be difficult to generalise what type of side effects can be expected,” said
Associate Professor Lee Yung Seng, a senior consultant with the Division of Paediatric Endocrinology at the National University Hospital.
The most severe reported effect of resorting to such quick fixes is liver failure.
The two cases occurred in 2002, purported to have been caused by an herbal slimming pill called Slim 10.
The then popular slimming pill from China contained fenfluramine, which causes heart-valve problems and liver failure. It led to the death of logistics executive Selvarani Raja, 43, from liver failure.
Singapore actress Andrea De Cruz also suffered liver failure from taking those pills.
But she was saved by now-husband Pierre Png, who donated part of his liver to her.
Prof Lee said doctors at the tertiary hospital did not see an increase in the number of girls complaining of side effects from slimming pills.
“Perhaps it is dealt with at primary health-care setting,” he said.
He said the hospital does not encourage slimming pills for children or teenagers.
“For teenagers who are very overweight and are putting effort in their lifestyle changes, we sometimes can add on medication short term to help them,” he said, adding that such patients are reviewed every three and six months to see if there is a need to continue such medication.
Source: Asia One
Published: 30 Jan 2014
Category: Features, Pharmaceuticals
