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The Department of Health (DH) today (February 2) urged members of the public not to buy or use a kind of health product sold by a retail shop in Sheung Shui as laboratory tests showed that the product contained western drug ingredients that may cause serious side-effects.
As a follow-up investigation into Hospital Authorityˇ¦s reports concerning people falling sick after taking such over-the-counter health products, DH staff visited some retail shops in North District yesterday evening.
A sample of the red/yellow capsules similar to the one taken by a patient (see attached picture) was taken from a retail shop named Lung Sang Group Ginseng Antler and Sea Product Company located at No. 111, San Fung Avenue, Sheung Shui.
Laboratory test on the samples revealed the presence of undeclared western drug ingredients glibenclamide and sildenafil. The two ingredients are for treating diabetes and treating sexual dysfunction respectively.
Glibenclamide could cause nausea and gastro-intestinal upset. Improper use may cause a significant fall in blood sugar level with serious health consequence.
The side effects of sildenafil include low blood pressure, headache, vomiting, dizziness, and transient vision disturbances. They may interact with nitrates found in some prescription drugs (such as nitroglycerin) and may lower blood pressure of patients to dangerous levels.
Under the Pharmacy and Poisons Ordinance, products containing any of the two ingredients must be registered before sale and can only be sold on a doctor's prescription and under supervision of a pharmacist.
Members of the public who have bought similar product from the above-mentioned shop are advised not to take them. They are urged to seek advice from their doctors if feeling unwell after consuming the product.
They should dispose of the product or submit it to the department's Pharmaceutical Service at 3/F, Public Health Laboratory Centre, 382 Nam Cheong Street, Kowloon during office hours.
The spokesman urged people who had a problem of sexual dysfunction to consult medical professionals for appropriate advice or medication if necessary.
Ends/Saturday, February 2, 2008
Issued at HKT 22:23
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