The Pharmaceutical Journal Vol 267 No 7179 p873-877
22-29 December 2001

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News summary

Consider removing Kava-kava products

Pharmacists may wish to consider temporarily withdrawing products containing Kava-kava, the Royal Pharmaceutical Society says, following reported links between the herbal product and cases of hepatotoxicity.

Regulatory authorities in Germany and Switzerland have linked Kava-kava products with 30 cases of severe hepatoxicity over the past two years. The Medicines Control Agency held a meeting for interested parties on 19 December. As a result manufacturers in the United Kingdom have agreed to stop supplying the product temporarily.

Boots The Chemists and Lloydspharmacy have removed products from shelves in their stores.

Further information is available on the Royal Pharmaceutical Society's website (Society members only).

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