The Department of Health today (August 11) urged members of the public not to buy or take five brands of proprietary Chinese medicines that were found to contain two Western drug ingredients that might have side effects.
These five proprietary Chinese medicines are "Jin Feng Brand Gallinaci Bak Foong Pills", "Baozhitang Gallinaci Pai Feng Pills", "Pujitang Gallinaci Pai Feng Pills", "Jinbei Brand Gallinaci Pai Feng Pills" and "Tongjitang Gallinaci Pai Feng Pills", but are all bearing the same batch number 40010.
The manufacturer has been ordered to recall all the products from the market and to surrender them to the Department of Health.
A spokesman for the department said samples of "Jin Feng Brand Gallinaci Bak Foong Pills" were purchased for analysis during a recent routine surveillance operation.
Upon laboratory analysis, it was found to contain two Western drug ingredients -- diclofenac and paracetamol. Investigation revealed that the other four brands of proprietary Chinese medicines also contained the same Western drug ingredients.
Diclofenac is a pain killer. Its side-effects are gastro-intestinal disturbances including gastric pain, nausea, diarrhoea, vomiting, peptic ulcer and bleeding. Under the Pharmacy and Poisons Ordinance, products containing this drug ingredient can only be sold on a doctor's prescription and under supervision by a pharmacist.
Paracetamol is also a pain killer, but when taken in high doses can cause liver damage. Products containing paracetamol can be sold over the counter.
Members of the public who have purchased the products should immediately stop using them and seek medical advice if they feel unwell.
They are advised to dispose of the products or return them to the distributors. The enquiry telephone hotline of the distributors is 2793 0123.
They can also submit the products to the Pharmaceutical Service of the Department of Health at 3/F, Public Health Laboratory Centre, 382 Nam Cheong Street, Kowloon during office hours.
The department has also set up a hotline, 2319 2839, for enquiries during office hours.
Reprinted from HKSAR Government web page:
http://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/200608/11/P200608110283.htm