Dubai: Weight-loss products, which have been found to be minimally
effective in helping people lose weight and could instead cause harm, are sold
illegally in the UAE as over-the-counter medicines.
Orlistat (Xenical), sibutramine (Reductil) and rimonabant (Accomplia), found to
help users shed 5kg to 9kg in long-term studies, are available in the UAE as
prescription medicines. All three have side effects with Accomplia reporting the
most serious effects by increasing the risk of psychiatric problems like
depression and anxiety among people with a history of psychiatric problems.
Despite the risks, pharmacists regularly sell these medicines over the counter.
'Big sellers'
A pharmacist on Shaikh Zayed Road told Gulf News he sells all the drugs over the
counter although they are prescription items.
"I sell them over the counter. I sell from 15 to 20 boxes of Accomplia a month.
Xenical used to be popular. I sell three to four boxes now. Reductil is more
popular now. I sell about 12 boxes a month," he said.
Another pharmacist in Bur Dubai told Gulf News Xenical, which causes digestive
and intestinal side effects, and Reductil, which affects blood pressure and
pulse rate, were "big sellers" and were available without a prescription.
Dr Azzan Binbrek, head of cardiology at Rashid Hospital, was especially
concerned about Accomplia being sold over the counter. The drug is not approved
for sale in the United States because of the psychiatric side effects.
Dalia Aziz, head of communications Sanofi-Aventis (Gulf), which makes Accomplia,
warned people against buying the drug over the counter or using their product to
lose weight. "It is not an anti-obesity drug. ... [The drug is meant to] address
a whole cluster of cardio-metabolic diseases, such as diabetes and high
cholesterol," she said.
Officials from the Ministry of Health have told Gulf News they inspect
pharmacies periodically, but suffer from a shortage of inspectors.
