Products found to contain undeclared medicines
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| The United States: FDA warns consumers not to use “Ginseng Kianpi Pil” due to potentially dangerous hidden drug ingredients |
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The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is advising consumers not to purchase or use “Ginseng Kianpi Pil,” a product promoted to stimulate appetite, promote weight gain and relieve fatigue, because it contains an undeclared corticosteroid and an antihistamine. “Ginseng Kianpi Pil” is manufactured by Kweilin Drug Manufactory, and sold in retail stores and on various websites, including www.ginsengkianpipil.com. FDA laboratory analysis found that “Ginseng Kianpi Pil” contains dexamethasone, a corticosteroid commonly used to treat inflammatory conditions, and cyproheptadine, a prescription antihistamine used for seasonal allergy treatment.
Consumers are advised that corticosteroid use can impair a person’s ability to fight infections, cause high blood sugar levels, muscle injuries and psychiatric problems. When corticosteroids are taken for a prolonged period, or at high doses, they can suppress the adrenal gland and cause withdrawal symptoms with abrupt discontinuation. Antihistamines may cause drowsiness and affect mental alertness. In addition, these undeclared drug ingredients in “Ginseng Kianpi Pil” may cause serious side effects when combined with other medications.
Consumers taking “Ginseng Kianpi Pil” are urged to immediately consult with their health care professional to safely discontinue use of this product. The risk of withdrawal from corticosteroids should be assessed by a health care professional. Only licensed health care professionals can evaluate patients for the risk, or confirm the existence, of adrenal suppression. To date, FDA is not aware of any reports of adverse events related to this product.
Please refer to the following website in FDA for details:
http://www.fda.gov/Drugs/DrugSafety/ucm421211.htm
In Hong Kong, the above product is not a registered pharmaceutical product.
Ends/ Friday, October 31, 2014
Issued at HKT 13:00
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