The Chinese drug Lianhua Qingwen is unregistered in the Philippines as COVID-19 medication and should only be taken with a doctor's prescription, local health authorities said on Monday.
The Department of Health and the Food and Drug Administration warned the public against self-medicating using Lianhua Qingwen after several testimonies that the drug supposedly helped the condition of COVID-19 positive Filipinos made rounds online.
"The DOH and the FDA would like to clarify that Lianhua Qingwen is a prescription medicine approved by FDA in the Philippines but is not registered as a COVID-19 medication," the agencies said in a statement.
"Additionally, the use of Lianhua Qingwen is only allowed with a doctor’s prescription," it added.
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The traditional Chinese drug is registered with the FDA but only as a herbal product that helps remove “heat-toxin invasion of the lungs, including symptoms such as fever, aversion to cold, muscle soreness, stuffy and runny nose," the agencies said.
Filipinos are reminded not to buy any food or medicine that is not registered with the FDA to ensure its quality and safety.
