Planned maintenance may cause outages to the Department of Health and Aged Care’s network from 5:15 pm AEDT on 30 November to 10:00 pm AEDT on 1 December 2024. Access to TGA databases such as TBS Portal, ARTG and DAEN may be affected. We apologise for any inconvenience.
Change Me Herbal Slimming capsules pose a serious risk to your health and should not be taken.
The Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) has tested a product labelled Change Me Herbal Slimming capsules and found that:
- the capsules contain the undeclared substance sibutramine.
- consumers are advised that sibutramine is a prescription-only medicine (which was the active ingredient in Reductil). It was withdrawn in October 2010 after a study showed an increased risk of major cardiac events.
The supply of Change Me Herbal Slimming capsules containing undisclosed sibutramine is illegal.
Change Me Herbal Slimming capsules have not been assessed by the TGA for quality, safety or efficacy as required under Australian legislation, and the place of manufacture is not approved by the TGA.
TGA investigations have shown that a number of people in Australia may have bought the product online.
Information for consumers
- Stop taking Change Me Herbal Slimming capsules and take any remaining capsules to your local pharmacy for safe disposal.
- If you have any concerns arising from your use of this product, consult your health care practitioner.
Action the TGA is taking
The TGA is working with the Australian Border Force (ABF) to help stop future shipments Change Me Herbal Slimming capsules from entering Australia.
If these capsules are found at the border by the ABF they will be seized and destroyed.
The TGA is advising consumers to exercise extreme caution when purchasing medicines from unknown overseas Internet sites and has produced a short video on the risks associated with buying medicines and medical devices online. Products purchased over the Internet:
- may contain undisclosed and potentially harmful ingredients
- may not meet the same standards of quality, safety and efficacy as those approved by the TGA for supply in Australia.
Report counterfeit medicines and medical devices
If you are worried about counterfeit medicines or medical devices, and want to report an issue, you can report the matter to the TGA:
| Phone: | 1800 020 653 |
|---|---|
| Online: | Report a perceived breach of the Therapeutic Goods Act or questionable practices relating to therapeutic products |
| Email: | info@tga.gov.au |