Adulteration of Chinese medicine sometimes bringing 'fatal consequences'

Experts who carried out a study published in the British Journal of Clinical Pharmacology have found widespread instances of the adulteration of proprietary Chinese medicines (pCMs), in some cases causing ‘serious dangers’ to patients.

In response to reports documenting the adulteration of pCMs - which are composed solely of Chinese medicines and formulated in a finished dose form - a group at the only tertiary referral clinical toxicology laboratory in Hong Kong examined the problem.

Their  study included a retrospective review of cases involving the use of pCMs or health products adulterated with undeclared drugs referred to the center from 2005 to 2015.