Products found to contain undeclared medicines
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| Singapore: HSA Alert: Four products found to contain potent medicinal ingredients including steroids and banned substance; four consumers had adverse effects after consuming three of the products |
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The Health Sciences Authority (HSA) is alerting members of the public not to purchase or consume the following four products. Four consumers experienced adverse effects after taking three of the products. HSA’s analysis of the products revealed that they contained potent medicinal ingredients, including steroids, sibutramine (a banned weight loss medicine) and tadalafil (an erectile dysfunction medicine). The affected products are:
- ENRU PLUS+ (contains sibutramine)
- HKT HERBA KURUS TRADISI (contains sibutramine)
- PILL HUA LUO CINTAN (李時珍活絡金丹) (contains dexamethasone, diclofenac and prednisolone)
- Spinach GINSENG HERB SUGAR (contains tadalafil)
A woman experienced breathlessness, heart palpitations (rapid heartbeat) and nausea while another experienced palpitations and dizziness after consuming ENRU PLUS+. A third woman experienced severe insomnia and heart palpitations after consuming HKT HERBA KURUS TRADISI. Both products were marketed online as slimming products and labelled to contain natural ingredients. HKT HERBA KURUS TRADISI also claimed to be “100% herbal” with “no banned substances”. Contrary to their claims, both ENRU PLUS+ and HKT HERBA KURUS TRADISI contained high levels of sibutramine when tested by HSA. Sibutramine was a prescription only weight loss medicine banned in Singapore since 2010 due to an increased risk of heart attack and stroke. Other serious health consequences reported with its use include heart problems and central nervous system disorders (e.g., psychosis and hallucinations).
A man in his 50s developed symptoms of Cushing’s syndrome (a serious steroid-induced condition characterised by a moon face appearance), including facial puffiness and abnormal blood cortisol levels and was hospitalised after consuming PILL HUA LUO CINTAN for about a month. He also experienced a relapse of hepatitis, with a sudden increase in liver inflammation. He had purchased the product for his wrist pain from a “traditional Chinese medicine shop” in Malaysia. Tests showed that the product contained potent steroids (dexamethasone and prednisolone) and a painkiller (diclofenac). Long-term unsupervised use of steroids can cause increased blood sugar levels leading to diabetes, Cushing’s syndrome, suppression of the immune system leading to an increased risk of infections and other serious adverse effects. Unsupervised use of diclofenac can lead to serious bleeding of the stomach.
Immigration & Checkpoints Authority officers had alerted HSA to a parcel found to contain Spinach GINSENG HERB SUGAR. The product was packaged as a candy and marketed for sexual enhancement in men. The product’s label carried exaggerated claims such as “strengthen heart tissues” and “repair endocrine system”. HSA tested Spinach GINSENG HERB SUGAR to contain tadalafil, a prescription medicine used to treat erectile dysfunction that should only be given under medical supervision. Use of tadalafil without proper medical supervision is dangerous and can increase the risk of serious adverse effects, including heart attack, stroke, headache, migraine, irregular heart rate and priapism (painful and exceedingly long erections). Spinach GINSENG HERB SUGAR was tested to contain up to 45 times higher than the usual prescribed daily dose of tadalafil.
Please refer to the following website in HSA for details:
http://www.hsa.gov.sg/announcements/press-release/hsa-alert-four-products-found-to-contain-potent-medicinal-ingredients-including-steroids-and-banned-substance
In Hong Kong, the above products are not registered pharmaceutical products.
Ends/Wednesday, Jul 12, 2023
Issued at HKT 15:00
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