SUPPLEMENTS CONTAIN DRUGS

Products Recalled, Warning Issued

WASHINGTON - Consumers should immediately stop using two products
sold as herbal supplements that actually contain powerful prescription
drugs, the Food and Drug Administration said Friday.

The recalled products are named PC SPES and SPES. Manufacturer
BotanicLab, based in Brea, recalled the products after testing by the
California Health Department uncovered the contamination.

PC SPES, capsules containing a light brown powder marketed for
``prostate health,'' contains warfarin, a powerful blood thinner often
sold under the brand name Coumadin, California health officials said.
Warfarin can cause serious bleeding, especially if taken together with
aspirin or certain other drugs, and thus should be used under a
doctor's care with strict blood testing.

SPES, capsules containing a brown powder marketed as an immune
enhancer, contain alprazolam, an anti-anxiety drug often sold under
the brand name Xanax, the California testing found.

Alprazolam worsens the effects of alcohol and other sedating drugs and
may be habit-forming.

The capsules were sold by mail, phone and Internet order as well as by
stores and healthcare professionals. Consumers with unused capsules
may return them to BotanicLab, which can be reached at (800) 458-5854.

BotanicLab said the alprazolam may have come from contamination of raw
ingredients in China and that it was strengthening its product
testing. The company said it is still analyzing the warfarin issue.