The Department of Health (DH) today (February 6) received Hospital Authority (HA)'s notification of two more cases of non-diabetic men feeling unwell after taking impotence treatment capsules with sugar-lowering drug glibenclamide, bringing the accumulated number of patients affected by such category of products to 12.
A spokesman for DH said that the two men, aged 65 and 60 respectively, purchased the concerned capsules in January 2008. They took the capsules on February 1 and were admitted to hospitals on February 2 and February 5 respectively with symptoms of low blood sugar like dizziness, sweating and collapse. The 65-year-old man is still in hospital in stable condition. The other patient had recovered.
DH's investigation showed that they had consumed red/yellow capsules named "Nangen" and an unknown green/black capsule bought in Tsuen Wan and Shenzhen. HA's laboratory tests found presence of glibenclamide and sildenafil residues in their urine specimens.
Investigation by DH and Police is ongoing.
The spokesman seriously urged members of the public and the trade who possessed similar products to stop consuming or trading them immediately, adding that people with problems of sexual dysfunction are urged to consult healthcare professionals for appropriate advice.
He further urged all retailers not to buy drugs from unknown sources for sale, as the efficacy, safety and quality of such could not be assured.
He said the DH would continue to step up inspections throughout the territory.
Members of the public should dispose of the products or submit it to the Department's Pharmaceutical Service at 3/F, Public Health Laboratory Centre, 382 Nam Cheong Street, Kowloon during office hours. If they have any enquiry, there is a hotline no. 2572 2068 which operates during office hours.
Under the Pharmacy and Poisons Ordinance, products containing glibenclamide and sildenafil must be registered before sale and can only be sold on a doctor's prescription and under the supervision of a pharmacist.
Reprinted from HKSAR Government web page:
http://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/200802/06/P200802060267.htm