Press Release

Public urged not to consume a product with undeclared drug ingredient

25 Feb 2009

The Department of Health (DH) today (February 25) urged members of the public not to consume a product claimed to treat diabetes, because it was found to contain undeclared drug ingredient which may cause serious side-effect.

A spokesman for the department said the appeal was made following Hospital Authority's notification of a case associated with such product. A 44-year-old patient developed dizziness, palpitation, breathing difficulty, chest tightness and sweating in mid February and was admitted to Tseung Kwan O Hospital for treatment. She has recovered and was discharged.

The patient claimed to have consumed "Yi Zhi Ren Jiao Nang" before onset of symptoms. The product was obtained by the patient in a drug company in Shandong for treating diabetes.

Glibenclamide was found in both the product remnants of "Yi Zhi Ren Jiao Nang" and the patient's blood specimen.

Glibenclamide is a sugar-lowering drug. Under the Pharmacy and Poisons Ordinance of Hong Kong, products containing glibenclamide must be registered with the Pharmacy and Poisons Board before sale and can only be sold on a doctor's prescription and under supervision of a pharmacist.

Improper use of glibenclamide may cause a significant fall in blood sugar level with serious health consequence and even death

Low blood sugar may be resulted in if one consumes the product according to its insert, the spokesman said

Further investigation into the case is on-going.

The DH appealed to the public not to consume "Yi Zhi Ren Jiao Nang", the spokesman said.

"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," he said.

"People who have health problems should consult medical professionals for appropriate advice or medication," he added.