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| This instant coffee pack contains the drug found in Viagra |
Buyers of a coffee product offered in local online stores may have unwittingly been using a cheaper alternative to Viagra, which is used to treat erectile disfunction among men.
What they may not have realized was that the product, Firstwell
Tongkat Ali Premix Coffee, contains an undeclared ingredient -- sildenafil, the
same active ingredient as Viagra and a Part 1 poison under Hong Kong law.
Apart from the obvious effect of the drug, people who ingest it could also experience a drop in their blood pressure, headache, dizziness, and a blurring of vision.
The Department of Health has warned against consuming the
coffee product after test results from the Government Laboratory have confirmed
it contained sildenafil.
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| I-CLICK DITO |
What the advisory did not mention was that mere possession of the substance is an
offense under the Pharmacy and Poisons Ordinance, which sets the maximum
penalty of a $100,000 fine and two years' imprisonment.
“Sildenafil is a prescription drug used for treatment of
erectile dysfunction, and should only be used under a doctor's advice and be
supplied in a pharmacy under the supervision of a registered pharmacist upon a
doctor's prescription,” DH said.
It added: “Side effects of sildenafil include low blood
pressure, headaches, vomiting, dizziness and transient vision disturbances. It
may interact with some drugs (such as nitroglycerin for the treatment of
angina) and cause a decrease in blood pressure to dangerous levels. Improper
use of sildenafil may pose serious health risks, especially for patients with
heart problems.”
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| PINDUTIN DITO |
Under the ordinance, a Part 1 poison and products that contain
it must be registered as a pharmaceutical product with the Pharmacy and Poisons
Board of Hong Kong before they can be legally sold in the market.
Firstwell Tongkat Ali Premix Coffee is not registered in
Hong Kong, the DH said, and investigation is continuing.
DH advised buyers of pharmaceutical products to check that their packaging
includes their Hong Kong registration number in the format of
"HK-XXXXX". “The safety, quality and efficacy of unregistered
pharmaceutical products are not guaranteed,” DH added.
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| Basahin ang detalye! |
The DH also urged people who have purchased these products
to stop consuming them immediately.
“They should consult healthcare professionals for advice if
feeling unwell after consumption,” it added.
The public may submit the products to the DH Drug Office at
Room 1804-1806, 18/F, Wing On Kowloon Centre, 345 Nathan Road, Kowloon, during
office hours for disposal.
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