Foreign Product Alert

2007-46
April 13, 2007
For immediate release

Health Canada is advising consumers not to use the following product listed in the table below due to concerns about possible side-effects. More info

Lanmei Keili Ji

Date of alert	April 13, 2007
Source of Alert	Hong Kong Department of Health
Product Names	Lanmei Keili Ji
Manufacturer / Place of Origin	Guangzhou Children's Hospital
Products Description	Lanmei Keili Ji is marketed as cold, flu and cough medicine. The product is sold in a green-and-white package with black lettering.
Reason for Warning	The Hong Kong Department of Health found Lanmei Keili Ji to be adulterated with gliclazide, a hypoglycaemic agent (lowers blood sugar). Gliclazide is a prescription drug used for the treatment of diabetes. It should only be taken under the guidance of a health professional. The drug is not recommended for use in children, since the safety and effectiveness of gliclazide has not been established in this population.
Possible Side Effects	Canadians may be at risk of serious adverse health effects associated with the use of the product Lanmei Keili Ji, including serious hypoglycaemic reactions, dizziness, drowsiness, headache, shakiness and abnormal sensation, such as tingling, numbness, or burning. Children are at the greatest risk of potential serious health effects, given that Lanmei Keili Ji is labelled for use in this population. Additional subpopulations, including those on certain prescription medications and those with certain health conditions/diseases, may also be at risk.

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Media Inquiries:
Health Canada
(613) 957-2983

This product is not authorized for sale in Canada and has not been found in the Canadian marketplace. However, it is possible this product could be purchased by Canadians travelling abroad or has been brought into Canada through personal importation by travellers or purchased over the Internet.

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.

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.

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

For more information about the information contained in this advisory, please contact Health Canada's public inquiries line at (613) 957-2991 or toll-free at 1-866-225-0709.

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.