Archived – Heng Tong Jiangtangning Jiaonang

Starting date:

September 13, 2007

Posting date:

September 13, 2007

Type of communication:

Foreign Product Alert (FPA)

Subcategory:

Drugs, Natural health products

Source of recall:

Health Canada

Issue:

Undeclared Substance, Unauthorized products, Product Safety

Audience:

General Public

Identification number:

RA-12000165

These products are not authorized for sale in Canada and have not been found in the Canadian marketplace, but it is possible they may have been brought into the country by travellers or purchased over the Internet.

Source of alert

Hong Kong Department of Health

Product name

Heng Tong Jiangtangning Jiaonang

Manufacturer / Place of origin

Unknown / China

Product description

N/A

Reason for warning

The Hong Kong Department of Health advised the public not to use the health product Heng Tong Jiangtangning Jiaonang because it was found to contain the prohibited drug phenformin, and the prescription drug glibenclamide (glyburide). Samples of the product were analyzed by the Hong Kong Department of Health following an investigation into an adverse reaction in Hong Kong with use of the product.

Prescription drugs should only be taken under the supervision of a health care professional.

Possible side effects

Glibenclamide (glyburide) is authorized in Canada as a prescription medication for the management of blood sugar levels in certain diabetes patients. These patients should be closely supervised by a physician to avoid potential health complications.

Phenformin was removed from the market in Canada in 1977 because of the high incidence of lactic acidosis (accumulated lactic acid in the body) in patients with kidney problems, blood complications, and cardiac disease.

The unsupervised use of the adulterated product Heng Tong Jiangtangning Jiaonang may cause life-threatening adverse events, such as hypoglycemia (extremely low blood sugar levels). Use of Heng Tong Jiangtangning Jiaonang may also cause complications with vision, kidneys, blood, liver, and/or the cardiovascular system.

What you should do

Canadians who have this product are advised not to use it, and should consult with a health care professional if they have concerns about their health related to the use of this product.

Health Canada advises Canadians to contact the Health Products and Food Branch Inspectorate at 1-800-267-9675 if they find the product listed above in the Canadian marketplace.

Background

Drugs and natural health products that are authorized for sale in Canada will have either an eight-digit Drug Identification Number (DIN), a Natural Product Number (NPN) or a Homeopathic Medicine Number (DIN-HM) on the label. These numbers indicate that the products have been assessed by Health Canada for safety, effectiveness and quality.

As of the date of this posting, no adverse reactions suspected to be associated with the use of this product have been reported in Canada.

Report a health or safety concern

• Call toll-free at 1-866-234-2345.
• Visit Health Canada's Web page on Adverse Reaction Reporting for information on how to report online, by mail or by fax.

Media enquiries

Health Canada

613-957-2983

Public enquiries

613-957-2991

1-866-225-0709