Alert issued: Shortclean has Western drug ingredients that can cause side effects.

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

The import company has been ordered to recall the product and surrender it to the department. So far, no reports of adverse effects from taking this product have been received.

It was found to contain phenformin and glibenclamide. Phenformin has been banned in Hong Kong since 1985 and was previously used for diabetes management. It was associated with an unacceptably high incidence of lactic acidosis which could be fatal. Glibenclamide is also used for diabetes, but it should only be used under medical supervision.

For more information call 2319 2839.