Guanmutong used to be widely used in the treatment of many diseases, but after verifying its nephrotoxicity, it is rarely used in the medical field now. Instead, Mutong is used. So what are the side effects of Guanmutong?
Guanmutong is a commonly used traditional Chinese medicine with the function of clearing heat and promoting diuresis. It used to be the main ingredient of the widely used Chinese patent medicine Longdan Xiegan Wan.
However, Guanmutong contains aristolochic acid, which has strong toxicity to the kidneys and can damage renal tubular function, leading to renal failure. Because of the close relationship between the three, although the names of the events may vary, they refer to almost the same thing.
The toxic ingredient aristolochic acid in Guanmutong, if taken in excessive amounts, can cause acute renal failure and even death.
Symptoms of poisoning include upper abdominal discomfort, followed by vomiting, headache, chest tightness, abdominal distension and pain, diarrhea, or facial swelling, frequent urination, urgency, gradually developing into generalized edema, and confusion, etc.
The main causes of poisoning are excessive and long-term use. Therefore, it must be strictly used according to the specified dosage and usage.
The treatment for poisoning includes gastric lavage and enema. According to reports, early administration of adrenal corticosteroids can slow down the progression of the disease. Timely hemodialysis can achieve favorable treatment opportunities and effects. For patients with significant renal impairment and end-stage renal disease, replacement therapy such as kidney transplantation should be considered.
According to research, the Mutong recorded in traditional Chinese medicine books throughout Chinese history refers to the Mutong in the Aristolochiaceae family, not the Guanmutong commonly used now. Considering the adverse reactions of Guanmutong, such as kidney damage, it is recommended to use Mutong or Chuanmutong instead of Guanmutong in general prescriptions.
However, it should be noted that Guanmutong should not be used excessively or for long periods of time, and it is not suitable for patients with renal insufficiency and pregnant women.
