Taiwan Quick Take: DOH warns against `diet pill'

The Department of Health (DOH) issued a warning on Friday that Qualicana, registered in Hong Kong solely for use as a thyroid medication, has been illegally advertised in Taiwan as a diet pill. Hong Kong's health department last month ordered the suspension of sales of Qualicana. The DOH added that UK-made Reducil and Swiss-made Xenical are the only two brands registered as weight-loss treatments in Taiwan. Reducil works on the the central nervous system and helps lower the absorption of adrenalin, which makes people feel fuller after eating less food than they normally would. However, its possible side effects are constipation and insomnia. Xenical contributes to the inhibition of lipase in the intestines and prevents one third of fat eaten from being turned into energy in the body. Its side effects include diarrhea.