Prescription needed to buy Chinese drug Lian Hua Qing Weng, FDA reminds

A doctor’s prescription is required to purchase the Chinese traditional medicine Lian Hua Qing Weng from registered pharmacies, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) reminded the public on Thursday.

“Kaya natin siya ginawang prescription drug kasi kailangan talaga doktor ang titingin kung puwede siya sa’yo, at kung paano mo siya gagamitin,” FDA Director General Eric Domingo said in a “24 Oras” report by Sandra Aguinaldo.

“Of course, may mga doktor na hindi talaga magpe-prescribe ng hindi western medicine. Pero siguro kung feeling natin ito ay bagay sa atin, sa nararamdaman natin, pupunta tayo sa doktor na gumagamit ng traditional medicine,” he added.

The FDA approved Lian Hua Qing Weng for Philippine use last week. 

The Chinese Embassy said it is used on mild and moderate COVID-19 cases in China, but Domingo clarified that the drug has not yet been approved for the use of coronavirus patients in the Philippines.

The FDA also warned of the negative effects the drug may have on certain individuals.

“Hindi siya puwedeng gamitin sa mga tao na severe ang sakit. Halimbawa, pulmonya na kailangan ng oxygen, hindi ‘yan puwede. Bawal ito sa merong high blood, bawal siya sa mga umiinom ng ibang klaseng gamot. Puwedeng magkaroon ng interaction. So hindi talaga siya puwedeng i-take without the supervision of a doctor,” he said.

Meanwhile, the Philippine College of Physicians (PCP) said it would conduct further studies on the drug before prescribing it to patients.

“If there is no evidence that it will be effective and safe for people to use then we cannot actually recognize them,” PCP Vice President Dr. Maria Encarnita Limpin said. -Julia Mari Ornedo/MDM, GMA News