Abu Dhabi: The Ministry of Health has ordered the recall of all products that contain the substance sibutramine after clinical trials found that it may cause heart attacks and cardiac arrests.
The ministry order comes in the wake of recommendations from the US Food and Drug Administration and the European Association for Medicine and requests from the manufacturing company and its agent in the UAE.
The ministry also ordered the withdrawal of Reductil which contains sibutramine from the UAE market.
The ministry has issued a circular to the directors of medical districts, hospitals, public and private pharmacies to recall and suspend sales of sibutramine, Dr Ameen Al Amiri, Executive Director for Medical Practices and Licences in the Ministry of Health, said in a statement.
Sibutramine is in a class of medications called appetite suppressants and is used to help people lose weight.
