The Department of Health (DH) today (March 5) urged members of the public not to buy or use a proprietary Chinese medicine called "Tian Sheng Yi Bao" which was found to have contained undeclared western drug ingredients that may cause serious side effects.
A DH spokesman said the department obtained samples of the product for investigation after the Hospital Authority reported a case in which a woman had consumed the product which was obtained from the Mainland. No symptom of adverse drug reaction was found on her.
The spokesman said the department has no record of the product having been imported in to Hong Kong for sale.
Laboratory test on the samples revealed the presence of undeclared western drug ingredients glibenclamide and phenformin. The two ingredients are for treating diabetes.
Glibenclamide could cause nausea and gastro-intestinal upset. Improper use may cause a significant fall in blood sugar level with serious health consequence.
Under the Pharmacy and Poisons Ordinance, products containing glibenclamide ingredients must be registered before sale and can only be sold on a doctor's prescription and under supervision of a pharmacist.
Phenformin was associated with high incidence of lactic acidosis (buildup of lactic acid in the blood) which could be fatal. The drug was banned in Hong Kong in 1985.
As a precautionary measure, members of the public who have been using the product should seek advice from healthcare professionals as soon as possible.
"Patients with diabetes should consult doctors for appropriate advice or medication," the spokesman added.
Anyone who is in possession of the product should dispose of it or submit it to the Pharmaceutical Service of DH at 3/F, Public Health Laboratory Centre, 382 Nam Cheong Street, Kowloon during office hours.
Reprinted from HKSAR Government web page:
http://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/200803/05/P200803050318.htm