The Department of Health (DH) today (May 30) called on members of the public not to buy or use a brand of proprietary Chinese medicine called "Fu Fang Xiao Xie Ling Yi" which contained a western drug ingredient and may cause side effects.
The appeal followed DH's investigations into a report involving a 33-year-old man who had been taking the product since March this year. The man has not suffered from any side effects of the product.
A DH spokesman said that three samples of the product taken for laboratory tests were found to have contained a western drug ingredient - griseofulvin.
The drug ingredient is used to treat fungal infection of nails, skins and hairs. It could cause side-effects such as headache, skin rashes and gastro-intestinal disturbances.
Members of the public who have been using "Fu Fang Xiao Xie Ling Yi" are advised to immediately stop taking it and to seek medical attention if they feel unwell.
Products containing griseofulvin are antibiotics under the Antibiotics Ordinance. They must be registered before sale and can only be sold on a doctor's prescription and under supervision by a pharmacist.
Reprinted from HKSAR Government web page:
http://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/200605/30/P200605300171.htm