Drug alert: The Department of Health warns consumers to avoid proprietary Chinese medicine Yi Su Kang Jiao Nang.

The Department of Health warns consumers to avoid proprietary Chinese medicine Yi Su Kang Jiao Nang which contains Western drug ingredients that can cause side effects. Anyone using the product should immediately stop and seek medical advice.

A 55-year-old man was recently admitted to Pamela Youde Nethersole Eastern Hospital with nausea, vomiting and diarrhoea, after taking the product, obtained on the Mainland, for diabetes. He has recovered.

A sample of the product contained phenformin and glibenclamide. Phenformin has been banned in Hong Kong since 1985 and was previously used for management of diabetes. It is associated with an unacceptably high incidence of lactic acidosis which can be fatal. Glibenclamide is also for diabetes, and should only be used under medical supervision, as it can only be sold on a doctor's prescription and under a pharmacist's supervision.

The department has no record of this product being imported into Hong Kong for sale, and has informed authorities on the Mainland and in Macau.

People with diabetes should consult medical professionals for advice and medication. Call 2319 2839 for more information.