The Hong Kong Department of Health (DH) urged members of the public not to buy or use four brands of health products and two brands of proprietary Chinese medicines after finding them to have contained potentially hazardous ingredients that may cause side effects.
A spokesman for the department said the concerned health products were called Power 58 Extra, Platinum Power 58 Extra, Enhanix New Extra Men’s Formula, and Valentino. The two proprietary Chinese medicines were known as King Power Oral Solution and Stretch Up Capsules.
These products were found to have contained undeclared ingredients which were analogues of sildenafil and vardenafil (western medicines used for treatment of erectile dysfunction).
He said the department had contacted the distributors of five of the products and instructed them to recall the products from the market and surrender them to the department. The department is still looking for the distributor of Valentino.
?The department has not received any report of adverse drug reactions linked to the consumption of the six products so far,? he added.
The department obtained samples of the products for analysis after receiving reports from the Hospital Authority concerning the possible presence of potentially hazardous ingredients in them.
The results of laboratory analysis showed that they contained piperidenafil which is an analogue of vardenafil as well as hydroxyacetildenafil, acetildenafil and hydroxyhomosildenafil which are analogues of sildenafil.
Sildenafil and vardenafil should only be used under medical supervision. Products containing either of the two drug ingredients are Third Schedule poisons under the Pharmacy and Poisons Ordinance, i.e. they can only be sold on a doctor’s prescription and under supervision by a pharmacist.
Side effects of sildenafil and vardenafil include low blood pressure, headache, vomiting, dizziness, and transient vision disturbances. Sildenafil and vardenafil may interact with nitrates found in some prescription drugs (such as nitroglycerin) and may lower blood pressure of patients to dangerous levels.
As a precautionary measure, people who have the products should stop using them immediately. They should seek medical attention if they feel unwell after using the product.
Members of the public who are in possession of the product should dispose of the product or return it to the distributors by calling their telephone hotlines 2342 2765 (for Power 58 Extra, Platinum Power 58 Extra and Enhanix New Extra Men’s Formula) or 27703770 (for King Power Oral Solution and Stretch Up Capsules).
They may also submit the products to the Pharmaceutical Service of DH at 3/F, Public Health Laboratory Centre, 382 Nam Cheong Street, Kowloon during office hours.
The spokesman said people who had a problem of sexual dysfunction should consult medical professionals for appropriate advice or medication if necessary.