8 Jul 2009
The Department of Health (DH) today (July 8) appealed to members of the public not to consume products in forms of various capsules or tablets claimed to treat male impotence in view of the detection of cases in which six elderly males had developed profound and prolonged hypoglycaemia after taking un-registered drugs for treating erectile dysfunction recently.
A DH spokesman said the six men, aged between 66 and 79, had admitted to public hospitals with symptoms of low blood sugar like dizziness, sweating, confusion and collapse in the past one month.
The six patients were found to have residues of sugar-lowering drug glibenclamide and sildenafil, drug for treating erectile dysfunction in their clinical specimens including urine.
Four of them have recovered and the other two are still under treatment in hospitals.
This brings the number of patients affected by such category of products to a total of 79 since February 2008. Three of them died during the period.
Among the recent six cases, four have claimed that they had history of taking products for treating erectile dysfunction prior to onset of symptoms. The products involved included三鞭丸,男根增長素and unnamed red/yellow capsules.
DH's investigation showed some of the drugs were obtained from the Mainland while the sources of the others have to be established.
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.
The spokesman said DH had informed the Shenzhen Food and Drug Administration about the cases.
The spokesman reiterated that members of the public and the trade who have in their possession similar products are urged to stop consuming or trading them immediately.
They 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.
"Staff of DH will step up inspections at local drug stores and continue to distribute leaflets at all boundary control points to alert travelers," the spokesman said.
The spokesman urged people who had problems of sexual dysfunction to consult healthcare professionals for appropriate advice.
He further urged all retailers not to buy drugs from unknown sources, as the efficacy, safety and quality of such could not be assured.