A DH spokesman said Hospital Authority reported to DH today that a 72-year-old man was admitted to Pamela Youde Nethersole Eastern Hospital on July 12 for fever. Laboratory tests on an incidental product by the above name showed the presence of aminotadalafil, an analogue of tadalafil. The latter is a drug used for treating male sexual dysfunction.
The spokesman explained that the test result on the product was an incidental finding and that the patient's symptoms were not believed to be related to the product. In fact, he had been discharged.
The side effects of tadalafil include low blood pressure, headache, vomiting, dizziness, and transient vision disturbances. They may interact with nitrates found in some prescription drugs (such as nitroglycerin for treatment of angina) and may also lower blood pressure of patients to dangerous levels.
Under the Pharmacy and Poisons Ordinance, products containing tadalafil must be registered before sale and can only be sold on a doctor's prescription and under the supervision of a pharmacist.
The spokesman said the chemical structure of aminotadalafil is similar to tadalafil. As reported by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, tadalafil analogues may have the same side effects as tadalafil and pose similar threats to consumers.
Members of the public who have bought the product are advised not to take it. Moreover, they are urged to seek advice from their doctors if feeling unwell after consuming the product.
Distributors of the product have embarked to recall the 30 bottles of 3 000 tablets sold. They have set up a hotline for public enquiries (Tel: 2770 1208).
Members of the public may also destroy and dispose of the products or submit them to the Department's Pharmaceutical Service 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/200807/25/P200807250247.htm