THE HAGUE – The Dutch Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority (NVWA) warns consumers not to use the herbal preparation Montalin. In addition to herbs, the herbal preparation also contains analgesic medicines. These agents have been added illegally and are not listed on the packaging. The web shops that sold this drug had to stop trading immediately. Recently, the NVWA received signals that Montalin is still sold through closed groups.
Montalin is an herbal preparation from Indonesia that according to the label is 100 percent natural: it contains five different herbs. In the Netherlands, the drug is for sale through web shops. It is used for muscle pain, gout, stress, migraine, rheumatism and fever. Reports received by Lareb Reporting Center earlier this year showed that users experienced a remarkably rapid pain relief after using the herbal preparation.
Research
Research by Lareb found that Montalin also contained meloxicam (anti-inflammatory pain reliever, NSAID) and acetaminophen. It is forbidden to add these pharmacologically active substances to herbal preparations. People who take Montalin can ingest high doses of painkillers unknowingly.
The results of the investigation carried out by the NVWA at all 5 web shops that sold the article in the Netherlands confirm the presence of effective amounts of meloxicam and paracetamol in Montalin. These amounts can also cause side effects or unwanted interactions with other medications. The web shops also made inadmissible medical claims.
Consumers
The NVWA has signals that Montalin is still being sold on a limited scale, for example via closed communities on social media or via foreign websites. The NVWA advises consumers not to buy this and, if they already have it at home, not to use it. Consumers who still find such products on the Dutch market can report this to the NVWA.
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