DDB removes Lianhua Qingwen from the List of Dangerous Drugs

Following months of deliberation by the Dangerous Drugs Board (DDB), Lianhua Qingwen capsules has been provisionally removed from the List of Dangerous Drugs. The timing could not be better as the nation faces a surge in COVID-19 cases reaching the 5,000 mark, highest daily tally in the last seven months and The Philippine College of Emergency Medicine reported an observation of family clustering of COVID cases. This prompt has localized lockdown and Metro Manila wide curfew from 10:00 pm to 5:00 am for a period of two weeks.

Prescription from S2 licensed doctor are no longer require to purchase Lianhua Qingwen Capsule. It is also now available in all Mercury Drug Store branches nationwide and other drug stores. Thank you for the support and swift action of our Executive Department, particularly the DDB and the Office of the President.

While awaiting the decision of the FDA on whether they will reclassify it as over-the-counter (OTC), Lianhua Qingwen capsules’ can now be dispensed with a doctor prescription at a retail price of P288.00/box (24 capsules/box).

The herbs in Lianhua Qingwen were traditionally used to clear wind-heat from and detoxify the lungs, thereby treating cases with fever, sore throat, cough, stuffy or runny nose, aversion to cold, muscle soreness, headache, wheezing—symptoms present in COVID-19.

As we await more vaccines to be delivered to our country, Phil. Archipelago Intl. Trading Corp. took a proactive approach and requested the Office of the President Rodrigo Roa Duterte for the reclassification of Lianhua Qingwen capsules to OTC to make them more accessible to our fellow Filipino

This was referred to the Committee on Reclassification of the Dangerous Drugs Board, and after the conduct of a public hearing, in-depth discussions, and a thorough evaluation, it was favorably recommended by the Committee and resolved by the DDB Board under Regulation No.1 Series of 2021 to remove Lianhua Qingwen capsules from the list of dangerous drugs for a period of one (1) year pursuant to section 93 of RA 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drug Act of 2002. The said DDB Regulation takes effect 15 days after publication, which in this case is March 12, 2021. The effectiveness of the DDB Regulation comes at a time wherein we need all the help we can get to curb the surge and bring it down to more manageable levels.

Lianhua Qingwen is currently available in all Mercury Drug stores nationwide and other drug stores.

For more information on Lianhua Qingwen, visit www.philarchipelago.com or call tel. no. (02) 8361-7491 to 98 loc. 844.