Are you about to take a Enzyplex tablet, like, right now? Stop. Right. There.
The Department of Health has issued a complete recall for the Indonesian-made medication, an over-the-counter digestive aid/anti-flatulence medication, after samples were found to contain mold.
It’s supplier in Hong Kong, drug wholesaler Unam Corporation, will now have to call back some 128,000 100-tablet bottles and 46,000 30-tablet bottles of Enzyplex, supplied to public and private hospitals, clinics, pharmacies and medicine stores.
Some batches have also been re-exported to Macau.
“People who have purchased the product should stop taking it,” the department wrote in a statement.
“They should also seek advice from healthcare professionals if in doubt or feeling unwell after consumption.”
The recall came after a review of the recent death of a cancer patient at Queen Mary hospital which found mold on the Enzyplex tablets she was taking, reported the SCMP.
Though the monascus mold was found “incidental” to the woman’s death, tests of other batches found mold levels “exceeded the in-house specifications set by the Indonesia manufacturer of the product.”
The levels would unlikely harm a healthy person, though could be a risk to people with compromised immune systems, it was reported.
So far, the DH has not received any adverse drug reaction reports in connection with the product.
Further tests are still in progress, according to the Health Department, which instructed Unam to ask the manufacturer in Indonesia to conduct an investigation and submit an investigation report as soon as possible. The manufacturer, Medifarma, has been contacted for comment.
Unam has set up a hotline (3665 2000) to answer public enquiries.
