TGA issues voluntary recall of kava medicines
23 August 2002
Australia's medicines safety regulator, the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA), has issued a voluntary recall of all complementary medicines that contain kava.
Trish Worth, Parliamentary Secretary to the Commonwealth Minister for Health and Ageing, said the TGA had taken the action following the death of a woman recently in Australia who used a medicine containing kava. Further overseas reports have confirmed concerns about kava in concentrated tablet and capsule forms.
"However, to date, traditionally prepared forms of kava used as a social and ceremonial drink by some Pacific Islander and Aboriginal communities have apparently not been associated with the serious form of liver damage described in the reports of concentrated kava used in medicines.
"We understand that the woman had been taking several complementary medicines. One product she was taking contained kava in combination with 2 other herbs. She had been taking this product for only 4 months before she presented with liver failure and the product is suspected to be the most likely cause of her illness.
"There have also been deaths overseas associated with liver failure after the use of medications containing kava. Therefore, the TGA, in consultation with the complementary medicines industry has, as a precaution, initiated a voluntary recall of products containing kava commencing today," she said.
According to Ms Worth, the voluntary recall means that sponsors and retailers have been asked to remove all products containing kava from the market-place immediately. Consumers are urged to check the complementary medicines they have at home to see if they contain kava. If they do, people should not take the product and they should dispose of it safely.
Last Reviewed: 23 August 2002
