FDA warns public vs Bangkok pills

MANILA, Philippines - The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has cautioned the public against taking Bangkok pills, a popular slimming drug that is not authorized by the agency to be sold in the country.

According to FDA director general Kenneth Hartigan-Go, they have monitored that Bangkok pills are being advertised, promoted and offered for sale in a website although they are not registered with the agency.

Go said this is a violation of Republic Act No. 3720, as amended by Republic Act No. 9711, which prohibits the “manufacture, importation, exportation, sale, offering for sale, distribution, transfer, non-consumer use, promotion, advertisement of any health product which is not registered with the FDA.”

“More importantly, the public is informed that Bangkok pills have been found to contain ephedrine, bisacodyl, furosemide, phentermine and fenfluramine which are drug substances that may pose dangers to the consumers,” he said in FDA Advisory 2014-042.

In combination, the drugs could cause hallucination, paranoia, insomnia, respiratory problems, hypertension and development of heart valve abnormalities, kidney failure and even death.

“Therefore, it is not allowed to be sold or placed in the market because of the unsafe combination of substances contained in the product,” Go added.

Go had advised all consumers to be “more vigilant and critical about on-line and printed advertisements so as not to fall prey to the marketing schemes of unscrupulous companies.”