Herbal potions hold dangerous drugs

Qing Zhi is one of the products containing anti-obesity drug sibutramine.

Health authorities have discovered seven "herbal medicines" on sale containing prescription impotence and weight-loss drugs.

Five of the medicines contained sildenafil - the active ingredient in anti-impotence drugs such as Viagra - while two contained anti-obesity drug sibutramine.

Acting Director-General of Health Debbie Chin said all known stocks of the Asian herbal products had been seized and the Health Ministry was warning people their health could be at risk if they took the drugs.

Products were often sold "under-the-counter" and some were being supplied unlabelled in plastic bags.

Some products containing sildenafil, which can fatally interfere with heart medication, were being advertised as natural or herbal Viagra. Sibutramine could cause increased blood pressure and heart rate and could be dangerous in combination with other medications, Ms Chin said.

The ministry's drug-safety agency Medsafe is considering prosecuting.

A Health Ministry statement described the products as:

* Unlabelled red/brown tablets marked 800mg in a small plastic zip-lock bag.

* Unlabelled bright green capsules in a small plastic zip-lock bag.

* Red capsules in gold foil labelled Kang Da.

* Orange/black capsules in a clear plastic pack with red dots.

* Cream coloured capsules (one or two) in an orange, blue and clear plastic pack.

* Blue/white capsules in a small plastic zip-lock bag.

* A pack of six capsules labelled as Qing Zhi.

- NZPA