HSA Alerts Public to Adverse Reactions Related to the Consumption of Adulterated Health Products, Including a Fatal Case

The Health Sciences Authority (HSA) alerts members of the public to two cases of patients suffering adverse reactions and one case of death after taking adulterated products sold as pharmaceutical and traditional herbal medicines. These products have not been approved by HSA and contain undeclared western medicines not stated in their labels. Two of these products were obtained from overseas and one locally from a friend.

These adulterated products are labelled as follows:

i. ‘FLUTULANG'
ii. ‘KAPSUL GAUT' (Asam Urat)
iii. ‘TRUE PROLIFE VEGROW'

2      Three patients in their 50s and 70s have suffered adverse reactions from taking these products and were reported to HSA by the medical practitioners. The adverse reactions reported are as follow:

i.   One of the patients died from complications of a life-threatening skin reaction following the consumption of ‘Flutulang';
ii.  Cushing's syndrome associated with ‘Kapsul Gaut'; and
iii. Giddiness, headache, shortness of breath and backache associated with ‘True ProLifeVegrow'.

3      Upon investigations by HSA's Pharmaceutical Laboratory, the undeclared western drug ingredients are:

i.   'Flutulang' contained phenylbutazone and chlorpheniramine;
ii.  'Kapsul Gaut' contained dexamethasone; and
iii. 'True ProLife Vegrow' contained propoxyphenyl-thiohydroxyhomosildenafil, a chemical similar to sildenafil.

(Refer to Annex B for more information on the cases and the adulterants)

HSA's Actions Taken

4      HSA's Enforcement Branch had recently conducted a field surveillance at 35 local shops selling Traditional herbal medicines and have ascertained that ‘Flutulang', ‘Kapsul Guat' and 'True ProLife Vegrow' were not sold in these shops. The HSA officers had also taken the opportunity during their surveillance rounds, to educate the dealers of these three products and that they have been found to be adulterated with potent western medicines.

Public Advisory

5      Consumers who have purchased ‘Flutulang' and ‘True ProLife Vegrow' are advised not to consume them as they are adulterated with potent western medicines. If consumers have taken them, they should seek medical attention if they feel unwell or are concerned about their medical condition.

6      Those who have consumed ‘Kapsul Gaut' (Asam Urat) are advised not to stop taking the product abruptly but to consult a registered medical practitioner as soon as possible as it contains a potent steroid. Stopping a potent steroid abruptly can lead to withdrawal symptoms such as weakness, fatigue, weight loss, nausea, diarrhoea, low blood pressure, joint pain and bowel obstruction due to the slowing down of intestinal contractions. Therefore, medical supervision is required to prevent steroid withdrawal when stopping steroid therapy in patients who have consumed high doses of steroids over a prolonged period of time.

7      Dr Raymond Chua, Group Director, Health Products Regulation Group in HSA says, “The consumption of such illegal and adulterated health products can lead to serious and life-threatening adverse events. Consumers are strongly advised to consult their doctors before consuming such health products even though they might appear to be safe and are obtained from familiar sources. Although these products could provide temporary relief from medical conditions such as aches and pains, they can also cause serious adverse effects which may be permanent and irreversible.”

8      Consumers are advised not to purchase these three illegal health products if they should come across them. Members of the public and retailers who have encountered these illegal products or any other suspicious products, are encouraged to report them to the Enforcement Branch of HSA at Tel: 6866 3485 or Email: http://hsa_is@hsa.gov.sg.

HEALTH SCIENCES AUTHORITY
SINGAPORE
03 OCTOBER 2012

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