Dubai: The Ministry of Health and Prevention (MOHAP) has issued warning against the use of 11 fake pharmaceutical products marketed as food supplements and sexual enhancement products for men.
The products contain undeclared ingredients and pose a high risk to patients with heart disease, diabetes, dyslipidemia, and those taking drugs containing nitrate.
The ministry is committed to monitoring the nutritional supplements that some companies abuse to gain quick profit by giving false promises, said Dr Ameen Hussain Al Amiri, assistant undersecretary for Public Health Policy and Licensing at MOHAP and chairman of the Supreme National Pharmacovigilance Committee. “The Ministry is making efforts to warn the public against the use of such medication, as they threaten lives,” he added.
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Dr Al Amiri also urged the authorities concerned to take necessary measures to withdraw these products from the market and prevent them from being imported and circulated in the UAE, as they are not registered with MOHAP’s drug department.
The MOHAP is also warning about the circulation of fake herbal products that are marketed via social media promising enhanced sexual ability in men.
Dr Al Amiri noted that these products can have severe implications on health, as most of them are not registered in the UAE. He urged members of the community to avoid purchasing medication through illicit online pharmacies, and encouraged those who have done such transactions to notify the ministry to take the required measures.
The ministry has received a warning from the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on the drugs ‘Man of Steel’ containing sildenafil, and ‘Super Panther 7k’ containing sildenafil as well as tadalafil.
The FDA also issued a warning on several supplements sold by SHH Trading as sexual performance enhancers for men: ‘Macho Man 3000’, ‘Love Zen 3000’ and ‘Monster 1350’ which contain tadalafil; ‘Xzone Gold’ and ‘Triple Miracle Zen Plus 1200’ which contain tadalafil and sildenafil; and ‘XXX Zone Platinum,’ ‘Triple Premium Zen Gold 1300mg,’ and ‘Triple X 2000,’ which include sildenafil, tadalafil and dapoxetine; and ‘Own the Knight 1750,’ which contains tadalafil and dapoxetine.
The authority noted that all these dietary supplements contain undeclared quantities of sildenafil, tadalafil and dapoxetine. Dapoxetine is administered only by prescription while tadalafil and sildenafil can cause a severe drop in an individual’s blood pressure and can be dangerous to those with heart disease or diabetes, dyslipidemia, and those taking drugs containing nitrate.
Report side effects
Should an individual experience any alarming side effects, they are encouraged to:
• Fill out the ADR side effect form available at www.cpd-pharma.ae
• Contact the following: Tel: 02-3201448 or Fax: 02-3201947
• email to pv@moh.gov.ae
• Or call toll-free 80011111
