Foreign Product Alert

2007-57
May 16, 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

Xiaokeshuping Jiangtangning Jiaonang

Date of alert	May 16, 2007
Source of Alert	Hong Kong Department of Health
Product Names	Xiaokeshuping Jiangtangning Jiaonang
Manufacturer / Place of Origin	China
Products Description	Xiaokeshuping Jiangtangning Jiaonang capsules are red-and-white in colour. The capsules are contained in a foil package within in a white-and-green box bearing Chinese lettering.
Reason for Warning	The Hong Kong Department of Health (HKDH) found Xiaokeshuping Jiangtangning Jiaonang capsules to contain the undeclared pharmaceutical drugs phenformin, rosiglitazone, and glibenclamide, which may be used in diabetes to lower blood sugar. The HKDH conducted the analysis following receipt of a report that one woman in China had been hospitalized due to a serious hypoglycaemic attack (very low blood sugar) after using Xiaokeshuping Jiangtangning Jiaonang. Phenformin was previously used for the treatment of diabetes, but was removed from the Canadian market in 1977 and banned in several countries, including Hong Kong, Singapore, Germany, France and the U.S. Rosiglitazone and glibenclamide are used to lower blood glucose in the treatment of diabetes. These prescription drugs should only be used under the supervision of a healthcare professional Phenformin, rosiglitazone, and glibenclamide may cause hypoglycemia (low blood sugar), particularly when combined with other blood glucose-lowering substances.
Possible Side Effects	Diabetic patients using other oral anti-diabetic medications in addition to Xiaokeshuping Jiangtangning Jiaonang could suffer serious side effects, including serious, life-threatening hypoglycemia. Symptoms of hypoglycemia may include sweating, nausea, and trembling, which may lead to headaches and blurred vision. In severe cases, hypoglycemia may cause seizures and coma.

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Media Inquiries:
Alastair Sinclair
Health Canada
(613) 946-4250

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.