Health warning against four traditional products

Star: KUALA LUMPUR: The Health Ministry today advised the public to avoid buying or using four traditional products that contain the chemical substance Sibutramine, Aminotadalafil, Diphenhydramine and Paracetamol.
The ministry's pharmacy services division director Eisah Abdul Rahman said the four products were "Bodybeaus", "Jinglida", "Eng Leong Cordyceps Chuanbei Plus Cough Pill 3.5gm", and "Loong Choo Brand Reh Bih Ho Herbal Tea".
"Their product registration has been cancelled by the Drug Control Authority because they were detected to contain ingredients not allowed to be formulated in a traditional product," she said in a statement here today.
Eisah said there were pharmaceutical products containing Sibutramine, Tadalafil, Diphenhydramine and Paracetamol that were registered with the DCA and had been evaluated for their safety, efficacy and quality.
"However these products except Paracetamol can only be prescribed by doctors and pharmacists.
"The use of these products without proper diagnosis and monitoring by a doctor can cause serious adverse effects. For instance, Sibutramine can cause high blood pressure and other cardiovascular effects and Tadalafil can cause low blood pressure and other cardiovascular effects.
"The use of Diphenhydramine without control may cause the user to experience adverse reactions such as low blood pressure, other cardiovascular effects, sedation, tiredness, disturbed coordination, confusion and blurred vision," she said.
Eisah said Paracetamol could be used for self-medication but a user who was alreadying taking Paracetamol might overdose on it if the traditional product did not declare it contain the drug.
"Since the quality and safety of these products that are available in the market are not guaranteed by DCA, the public is advised to avoid these products.
"Anyone who is possession of these products is advised to immediately cease selling, distributing and using it.
"Retailers are reminded that possession for sale of these products is an offence under the Control of Drugs and Cosmetics Regulations 1984," she said.
Eisah said anyone found guilty could be fined up to RM25,000 or a jail sentence not exceeding three years or both for the first offence and for subsequent offence, a fine up to a maximum of RM50,000 or a jail sentence not exceeding five years or both.
A company found guilty can be fined up to RM50,000 for the first offence and fined up to a maximum of RM100,000 for subsequent offence.