The Department of Health has ordered Li Chung Shing Tong (Holdings) Ltd HK to recall Po Chai pills in capsule and bottle form after Singapore authorities found the capsule form contained phenolphthalein and sibutramine, which can cause serious side effects.

In Hong Kong, the bottle-form Po Chai pills are registered as proprietary Chinese medicine and sold locally, while the capsule form is applying for registration as a proprietary Chinese medicine.

The department said the recall is a precautionary measure because the products are commonly used by a whole spectrum of our population, including vulnerable groups like children and the elderly.

Phenolphthalein was once used for treating constipation but had been banned in 2001 for its cancer-causing effect. Sibutramine is a Western medicine used as an appetite suppressant. Its side effects include increased blood pressure and heart rate, psychosis and possibly convulsion. People with heart problems should not take it.

Products containing sibutramine must be registered as such before it can be sold in Hong Kong. It can only be sold on a doctor's prescription and dispensed under the supervision of a pharmacist.

People should stop using Po Chai pills in capsule or bottle form immediately. They should consult their healthcare providers if they feel unwell after taking the pills.