Malaysian consumers, please beware! The Ministry of Health has just announced that Tie Da Zhi Tong Gao (跌打止痛膏), a traditional Chinese medicine used to treat bruises, sprains and pains, is found to contain scheduled poison Diphenhydramine.
What is scheduled poison? They’re basically medicines and chemicals that are classified according to the level of control over their availability needed to protect public health and safety. In this case, Diphenhydramine, an antihistamine used to relieve symptoms of allergy, hay fever, and the common cold, is considered scheduled poison controlled under the Poison Act 1952 and can only be obtained from the doctors or over the pharmacy counters.
Source: NST
In a statement yesterday (Sept 4), Health director-general Datuk Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah said the government has ordered the distribution and sale of the medicine to be stopped immediately, as reported by Malay Mail and NST.
Source: NST
According to Datuk Dr Noor Hisham, the Drug Control Authority has cancelled the product registration on 28 August following the discovery of the scheduled poison.
“Sellers are reminded that the sale and distribution of this product are in violation of the Control of Drugs and Cosmetics Regulations 1984.”
“Individuals who commit offences under these rules are liable to a fine not exceeding RM25,000 or imprisonment not exceeding three years or both and a fine not exceeding RM50,000 or imprisonment not exceeding five years or both,” he added.
Source: NST
He also urged the public to stop using Tie Da Zhi Tong Gao. Those who have been using the medicine are advised to seek medical advice from doctors if they suffer from any side effects.
Consumers who want to seek more information about a particular product can visit the official site of the National Pharmaceutical Regulatory Agency.
Should you wish to lodge a complaint regarding a product, you can visit the Public Agencies Complaint Management System portal.
Also read: There is a Dangerous Link Between Chinese Herbal Medicine and Cancer, Study Shows
