Hazards posed by a banned drug--phenformin is still hanging around.
The Hospital Authority Toxicology Reference Laboratory confirmed six cases of phenformin use, with or without complications, from July 2005 to November 2006. Two of the patients presented with potentially fatal phenformin-induced lactic acidosis. Phenformin was found (or suspected to be) adulterating Chinese proprietary medicine in five of the six cases. We report these six cases to highlight the underrecognised hazards posed by phenformin, a banned drug in Hong Kong.
Ching
C K
CK
Hospital Authority Toxicology Reference Laboratory, Princess Margaret Hospital, Laichikok, Hong Kong.
Lai
C K
CK
Poon
W T
WT
Wong
Ernest N P
EN
Yan
W W
WW
Chan
Albert Y W
AY
Mak
Tony W L
TW
D000140:Acidosis, Lactic / Q000139:chemically induced*; D000368:Aged; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus / Q000188:drug therapy*; D004340:Drug Contamination; D004357:Drug Synergism; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005260:Female; D006723:Hong Kong; D006801:Humans; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010629:Phenformin / Q000009:adverse effects*; D014556:Urine / Q000737:chemistry
D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents; D010629:Phenformin