減肥製劑中含安非他命類藥物之調查

REPORT ON THE SURVEY OF ADULTERATION OF AMPHETAMINE-LIKE DRUGS IN THE ANOREXIANT PREPARATIONS

在1990年8、9月間，衛生署藥物食品檢驗局受理由中華民國消費者文教基金會檢送消費者提供各處中醫診所、減肥中心等99 件減肥藥物檢體，檢驗是否含有安非他命類要物。檢驗結果含有安非他命類藥物者33件（33.3%），其中以含Diethylpropion者19件最多，依次是Phentermine 11件，Methamphetamine 2件及Phenylpropanolamine 1件，進一步分析顯示，在99件檢體中，有52件檢體來自24家中醫診所（藥房），佔最大部份（52.5%）；其中13件檢體（25%），取自12家中醫診所（50%），經檢驗出含有安非他命類藥物，對於隨意輕信媒體廣告，欲減肥之紳士、仕女實應格外小心。

The adulteration of traditional Chinese medicine preparation with chemical substance which was banned by the health authority for the reason of public safety has been a serious problem in Taiwan. The public in general are unaware of the seriousness of this problem. In the past, amphetamines, amphetamine-like drugs including amphetamine and its related substances such as diethylpropion, phendimetrazine, etc, were used to treat narcolepsy and hyperkinetic child. Our recent observation indicated that the appetite suppresive effect of this banned substance and its derivatives was utilized to treat obesity. The danger of potential drug abuse and severe side effect of these chemicals were well documented. From 99 samples of anorexiant preparations, we have found that 33 samples were adulterated by the amphetamine-like drugs. 52 out of the 99 samples came from 24 traditional chinese medicinal practitioners or Chinese herbal drug stores. In addition, 13 samples (25%) which were found containing amphetamines were collected from 12 traditional Chinese medicinal practitioners or chinese herbal drug stores. Among those 33 amphetamine-like drug adulterated samples, 19 samples contain diethylpropion which is the most widely used one. The result from this study indicated that the adulteration of these chemical substances among the traditional Chinese medical practice has reached an alarming state. It requires strict enforcement to curtail such illegal and dangerous activities. (1 Nat/ Public Health Assoc (ROC): 1992:11(1):44-48).