§ Miss Lestorasked the Secretary of State for Social Services, in view of the banning of the drug chlorphentermine in West Germany and Sweden, if he will ensure that slimming pills of the like nature on sale in this country are not injurious to health; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. CrossmanFollowing the withdrawal of certain anti-obesity products from the market in West Germany and Sweden, the Committee on Safety of Drugs considered the need for action in this country. I am advised that the Committee has no evidence which would suggest that chlorphentermine is injurious to health; but it has nevertheless drawn the attention of doctors to the reports from West Germany and has asked them to report any cases of pulmonary hypertension following treatment 125W with appetite suppressants. There is evidence that pulmonary hypertension is associated with the use of aminorex, the second product concerned, and in September, 1968 the Committee declined to release it for clinical trial. The third drug, cloforex, is not on the market here.