The Pharmaceutical Administration Bureau (ISAF) warned in a statement last night against using a Chinese gel adulterated with Western drug ingredients non-compliant with local regulations, resulting in certain side effects.
The local pharma bureau said that it took action after receiving a warning yesterday evening from the Hong Kong Department of Health (DH) concerning the problematic gel.
The statement said that the gel is a remedy for external use only named “Rong Shi Gao Fu Kang Medical Antipyretic Gel”* (榮氏高膚康醫用退熱凝膠), found to have been adulterated with the pharmaceutical ingredients clobetasol propionate and miconazole, the statement said.
The statement pointed out that clobetasol propionate is a corticosteroid medication used to treat inflammatory conditions and must be administered under medical prescription. Side effects of the drug may include moon face**, hypertension, hyperglycaemia, skin atrophy, adrenal insufficiency, and osteoporosis. “Miconazole” is an antifungal agent used to treat fungal infections, with potential side effects such as local skin irritation and allergic reactions.
According to official records, the statement said, the bureau has not approved the import or distribution of the product in the local market. In order to safeguard public health, the bureau will closely monitor the product’s circulation in Macau, the statement said.
The bureau urged the public not to purchase or use the gel, adding that those who have purchased it should discontinue using it immediately and submit the product to the bureau for proper disposal.
*Products marketed for fever that come in gel form are almost always based on the principle of cooling through evaporation. – DeepSeek
**A “moon face” refers to a round, full face that is often associated with the use of corticosteroid medications. – Poe
This handout photo provided by the Pharmaceutical Administration Bureau (ISAF) yesterday shows the Chinese antipyretic gel adulterated with Western drug ingredients.
