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BY OUR PHARMA CORRESPONDENT
2 July, 2005: Liqiang 4 Dietary Supplement Capsules has been branded by the United States Food and Drug Administration (US FDA) for its potential health risk. The drug manufactured by A Chinese company is sold in the US in herbal stores as well as mail order by Bugle International of Northridge.
The FDA has warned patients not to take Liqiang 4 Dietary Supplement Capsules and immediately destroy any samples they may have. The dangerous ingredient in the Liqiang 4 Dietary Supplement Capsules is glyburide , which can have serious, fatal consequences in some patients.
Glyburide is used to reduce blood glucose level. Glyburide is safe and useful
when used as labeled in FDA-approved medications. Those who have low blood
sugar or those with diabetes can receive dangerously high amounts of
glyburide by consuming Liqiang 4. FDA has warned diabetes patients against using this capsule. Those with symptoms of fatigue, excessive hunger, profuse sweating, or numbness of the extremities, should beware.
The Liqiang Capsule is sold as part of a shrink-wrapped double-bottle set. One of the 90 capsule bottles is named Liqiang 4 Dietary Supplement Capsules, while the other is promoted as a "bonus pack" of Liqiang 1. FDA is studying Liquang 1 and other versions of this line of products to determine their composition and safety.
Marketed throughout the United States, this product is manufactured by Liqiang Research Institute, China, an FDA press statement said. FDA came to know of the problem through an anonymous consumer petition, which was followed up. Testing revealed the presence of glyburide in the capsules.
The product has been named "Liqiang Xiao Ke Ling" (Liqiang Thirst
Quenching Efficacious) in advertisements in Chinese language publications, which publicise it as useful for controlling diabetes and being derived from only
natural ingredients.
FDA has also requested consumers, health care providers, and caregivers to report
any negative events related to Liqiang Capsule to MedWatch, the FDA's voluntary
reporting program at 1-800-FDA-1088; by FAX at 1-800-FDA-0178; by mail to
MedWatch, Food and Drug Administration, 5600 Fishers Lane, Rockville, MD,
20857-9787; or online at http://www.fda.gov/medwatch/report.htm
http://www.fda.gov/medwatch/report.htm
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