Watchdog eyes hangover pills

By CATHY ARONSON

A natural remedy for hangovers is in danger of being withdrawn from sale after complaints it encourages heavy drinking.

Advertisements for Hangover Over have been pulled while the Ministry of Health investigates if the product makes claims that breach the Medicines Act.

The herbal hangover pills have been selling for $5.95 at bottle stores and pharmacies - on stands with a red flashing light - for six months.

The product has been advertised on television and radio, and approved by the Therapeutic Advertising Pre-vetting System, Taps.

The television ad shows a man walking his dog and mowing his lawn after drinking and says: "I live for my weekends. You should see what I did yesterday."

But the ads have come under fire from the Alcohol Advisory Council, which complained to the Health Ministry's medicine regulator Medsafe that they made false claims and promoted heavy drinking.

Medsafe spokeswoman Clare Van der Lem said if Hangover Over breached the Medicines Act it would be withdrawn while the distributors applied to register it as a medicine, by proving the claims or rebranding.

"We will be in a position to know whether or not any action will be taken by early next week."

The box containing the Hangover Over pills says: "Hangover Over - Make Tomorrow Great - For ALL alcohol-related symptoms and hangovers - while you sleep." The product has about 12 different herbal ingredients including kudzu, ginseng, tangerine peel and ginger root.

The Medicines Act says products that claim to help problems from alcohol are therapeutic medicines that must be registered.

Hangover Over was not registered after Taps gave it approval in March to advertise its health claims and found it did not count as a therapeutic medicine.

Taps adjudicator Nigel Andrews said it was hard to define the difference.

"We didn't think it came under the Medicines Act. It was a grey area."

Ms Van der Lem said the 20-year-old Medicines Act was too black and white for therapeutic products. The ministry was consulting on a proposal for a joint Australian and New Zealand therapeutic regulatory body to approve all products.

"It's in recognition of the fact there is limited regulatory and specialist expertise in this area."

Hangover Over general manager Conrad Bennett said the product sold in Australia for two years without problems.

"We sold it [in New Zealand] based on Taps approval because Taps should check whether the claims are misleading. Otherwise what are they there for?"

He said the product did not encourage heavy drinking but aimed to find a natural way of assisting recovery from hangovers.

Alcohol Advisory Council senior policy adviser Meg Mackenzie said Hangover Over was the first product in New Zealand to directly market itself for hangovers. She said it promoted heavy drinking.

"It sits on the counter with its red light blinking and invites the consumer to take a pill and drink as much as they want with little regard for the detrimental effects."

Ms Mackenzie said the name and package alone made misleading claims.

But the company says the back of the package clearly states it is "a special formulation to assist in the temporary relief of symptoms related to alcohol consumption, motion sickness and jet lag".

WHY YOUR HEAD HURTS

* CAUSE OF HANGOVERS

Hangovers occur because alcohol is a toxic substance. Symptoms and causes include:

Headaches: Caused by dehydration. Alcohol is a diuretic that promotes urination. It also relaxes and enlarges the brain vessels that monitor dehydration.

Hypersensitivity to light and sound: Alcohol suppresses the central nervous system and slows the body down. When the alcohol wears off, the body speeds up to compensate, creating a racing heart and dizziness.

Lethargy and muscle weakness: Caused by a buildup of lactic acid.

Sleepiness: Caused by acid buildup in the blood.

Queasy stomach: Increase of acid in the stomach.

Wobbliness: Blood sugar and energy levels are depleted.

* REMEDIES

Drink in moderation.

Sleep it off in a dark room - it takes 1 1/2 hours to get rid of every standard drink from your body.

Drink plenty of water during and after to rehydrate.

Vitamin pills or drinks can replace nutrients.

Eat before and during drinking. It lines your stomach and absorbs alcohol.

Sweet tea in the morning replaces sugar levels.