7 May 2008
The Department of Health (DH) today (May 6) urged members of the public not to buy or use a product called “Oyster Extract Caps (漢寶堂蠔精再生補丸) because it was found to contain an undeclared ingredient that may cause serious side effect.
A DH spokesman noted that the department had ordered the distributor to recall the product. The retailers were also instructed to remove the product from shelves.
He said sample of the product was obtained by the department during market surveillance for laboratory testing. Test results available today showed the presence of hydroxyacetildenafil, an analogue of sildenafil, in the product.
As reported by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, analogues of sildenafil may pose a threat to consumers because the analogues may interact with nitrates found in some prescription drugs (such as nitroglycerin) and may lower blood pressure to dangerous levels.
Members of the public who have the product should stop using it immediately. They should seek advice from health professionals if they feel unwell after using it.
They should submit it to the department’s Pharmaceutical Service at 3/F, Public Health Laboratory Centre, 382 Nam Cheong Street, Kowloon during office hours, destroy them before disposal or return it to the distributor,
A telephone hotline 2415 5552 has been set up by the distributor to answer public enquiries.
The spokesman urged people who had a problem of sexual dysfunction to consult healthcare professionals for appropriate advice if necessary.