Govt warns use of ginkgo biloba<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Directorate General for Food and Drug Control
\n(POM) has reprimanded producers of medicines with ginkgo biloba
\nfor providing consumers with inadequate information on the
\nsubstance.<\/p>\n
The companies have been asked to withdraw all advertisements
\nof their products which are considered misleading.<\/p>\n
POM director general Sampurno said on Thursday that
\npharmaceutical firms did not attach clear contra indications on
\nthe label of their products, explaining possible side effects
\nresulting from improper use of the medicines.<\/p>\n
\"Healthy people should not consume ginkgo biloba since it is
\nlikely to cause side effects when mixed with other medication,\"
\nSampurno told The Jakarta Post.<\/p>\n
The side effects include etisthaxis (under skin bleeding) and
\nnose bleeds.<\/p>\n
There have been reports of 11 cases of side effects from
\nginkgo biloba in Germany and France, Sampurno said.<\/p>\n
\"Of the cases, seven were caused by taking ginkgo with other
\nmedication, such as anti-proavulan (commonly used as an
\nanticoagulant) or oral contraception. The rest were caused purely
\nby the use of ginkgo biloba,\" he said.<\/p>\n
In Indonesia, ginkgo biloba is commonly used in traditional
\nmedication but no single case of side effects such as nose
\nbleeding has been recorded here, Sampurno added.<\/p>\n
Ginkgo biloba is a substance which has been consumed for over
\n1,000 years in China and has also been used worldwide as a
\nmedicine that can enhance blood flow.<\/p>\n
Based on various research, the substance has more benefits
\nthan disadvantages, Sampurno said.<\/p>\n
The substance can cure people who have problems with blood
\nflow and exhibit symptoms of declining memory, concentration
\nproblems or vertigo.<\/p>\n
To date no country has withdrawn the substance from the
\nmarket.<\/p>\n
The Indonesian Consumer Foundation (YLKI), however, demanded
\nthat stern measures be imposed to irresponsible pharmaceutical
\ncompanies who mislead people for suggesting children consume
\nginkgo biloba.<\/p>\n
\"It's obvious that the ministry of health is ignorant for
\npermitting such advertisements on the use of ginkgo biloba,\"
\nZoemrotin K. Soesilo told the Post.<\/p>\n
\"It is difficult to control since drugs in Indonesia are
\ndistributed all the way down to cigarette kiosks. So what's the
\nguarantee that people will have safe medicine with adequate
\nlabeling of contra indications?\" she remarked.<\/p>\n
Sampurno said that misleading advertising such as the use of
\nginkgo biloba in the brand medicine of Cerebrovit was pulled out
\na month ago.<\/p>\n
\"We do not tolerate misleading advertising. Pharmaceutical
\nbusiness is one of the most regulated industries in the world
\nbecause it directly concerns people and therefore it's obliged to
\ntell the truth,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Unlike the case of phenylpropanolamine (PPA), ginkgo biloba is
\na traditional substance that has been used for a long time.<\/p>\n
Zoemrotin also remarked that medicines which contain PPA must
\nbe withdrawn from public distribution.<\/p>\n
\"I'm not sure that such PPA medication or drugs can be
\nprocessed to meet standard procedures in such a short time, which
\nis only three to four months,\" she said.<\/p>\n
The ministry of health has given a four month period of
\ntransition for producers of medicines which contain PPA to change
\ntheir contra indication labels and warnings.<\/p>\n
\"It has also instructed that PPA content in each tablet be
\nreduced from 25 milligrams to 15 milligrams, with the maximum use
\nof 60 milligrams per day,\" Sampurno said, adding that based on
\nresearch 15 milligrams of PPA has shown therapeutic effects.<\/p>\n
There are 189 brands of flu and cough medicines containing PPA
\nproduced by 79 pharmaceutical firms in the country.<\/p>\n
Prolonged use or an overdose of PPA can cause hemorrhagic
\nstroke.<\/p>\n
Actually the use of PPA is considered safe if it does not
\nexceed 75 milligrams per day for adults and 37.5 milligrams per
\nday for children between six and 12 years of age, Sampurno said.<\/p>\n
\"Medicines containing PPA are not recommended for children
\nunder six or for pregnant women, except by doctor's advise,\"
\nSampurno asserted.<\/p>\n
\"Therefore, we have to be objective and not create unnecessary
\npublic concern. Unlike in the United States which has revoked PPA
\nwhere it was misused to suppress appetite, Indonesia as well as
\nEngland and Australia only use PPA as a decongestant.<\/p>\n
\"PPA is even used in dosages of 100 milligrams in England.\"<\/p>\n
An overdose of PPA can cause elevated blood pressure and
\ninteract adversely with other medication. The substance can
\nworsen patients with diabetes, glaucoma or those with kidney or
\nliver problems. (edt)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/govt-warns-use-of-ginkgo-biloba-1447893297",
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