Warning issued over illegal stimulants
A public health warning has been issued against the use of unlicensed sexual stimulants, saying they could cause heart failure.
Tablets that claim to enhance performance, including Macho Man and Super Panther, were named yesterday in a circular by the Ministry of Health and Prevention.
While the herbal dietary supplements claim to be natural, these contain undeclared quantities of sildenafil and tadalafil, active ingredients in erectile dysfunction pills such as Viagra.
This can be dangerous to men with heart diseases, diabetes and those taking drugs containing nitrate for chest pain.
The ministry was keen to warn the public against using such drugs, said Dr Amin Al Amiri, the assistant undersecretary for Public Health Policy and Licensing at the Ministry.
He asked authorities to get the products off the market and stop their importation and circulation because they are not registered with the ministry’s drug department.
Dr Al Amiri also warned against fake herbal products marketed on social media that claim to improve sexual performance in men, as these could damage health.
People should not buy unlicensed medication through illicit online pharmacies, he said.
Doctors said any medication was typically prescribed for specific ailments in low doses for a period of time but when taken unsupervised could result in complications.
“Drugs with these ingredients were introduced for certain medical conditions when a person had problems with sexual activities and testosterone levels were fluctuating a lot, this was given in a very low dose to support them. But people start increasing use,” said Dr Hira Khan Lashari, a general practitioner with Zia Medical Centre in Dubai.
“Supplements give people a kick for a particular time, but it does not stop there. People keep using it and when you increase that content in your body that is not required at all, there will be side effects.”
The problem is worse in people with health conditions.
“For anyone who has chronic diseases … that is adding fire to it and their symptoms are more severe. So if a person has had a heart attack or a simple angina it will convert to a full blown heart attack.”
The alert came after a warning from the US Food and Drug Administration on drugs such as Man of Steel and supplements sold by SHH Trading including Love Zen, Monster 1350, Triple Miracle Zen Plus, XXX Zone Platinum and Own the Knight.