HSA updates on products found overseas that contain potent ingredients (November 2021)

The Health Sciences Authority (HSA) would like to update the public on products that have been found and reported by overseas regulators in November 2021 to contain potent ingredients which are not allowed in these products and may cause side effects. This information is provided to increase awareness on safety issues of such products found overseas, which may impact the local population. Please refer to Annex A and Annex B for the list of products and the possible side effects of the potent ingredients. Please refer to the pdf document for images of the products.

 

HSA’s Advisory

2          Members of the public are advised to:

• Consult a doctor if you have consumed any of the products and are feeling unwell.
• Avoid buying any of the products when abroad.
• Exercise caution when purchasing health products online or from sources (either local or overseas) which you may not be familiar with, even if well-meaning friends or relatives have recommended them. You cannot be certain where and how these products were made. They may be illegal, counterfeit or substandard, and may contain potent ingredients which can harm your health. If buying health products online, we encourage you to buy them from websites with an established retail presence in Singapore.
• Be wary of products that promise quick and miraculous results or carry exaggerated claims like “100% safe”, “no side effects” or “scientifically proven”. Consumers should also be cautious of products that produce unexpected quick recovery of medical conditions.
• Consult your doctor or pharmacist if you need help for the management of your acute and chronic medical symptoms and conditions (e.g. diabetes, hypertension, eczema).

3          Additionally, members of the public are encouraged to visit https://www.hsa.gov.sg/consumer-safety/ to learn more about the dangers of buying health products from dubious sources.

4          Members of the public who come across the sale and supply of these products in Singapore may contact HSA's Enforcement Branch at Tel: 6866 3485 during office hours (Monday to Friday) or email: hsa_is@hsa.gov.sg.

 

Annex A

List of Products

Note: There may be different versions or variants of the products listed below. You are advised to consult your doctor or pharmacist if you are unsure of any health product you intend to use, or if you need help for your acute and chronic medical symptoms and conditions

Name of product	Potent ingredient(s)	Source (Regulatory Agency)
Alien Power Platinum 11000	Tadalafil (PDE-5 inhibitor)	Health Canada
Hemohim	Methoxsalen	Hong Kong Department of Health
One Night Love tablets	Sildenafil (PDE-5 inhibitor)	Australia Therapeutic Goods Administration
Panther Power Platinum 11000	Sildenafil (PDE-5 inhibitor)	Australia Therapeutic Goods Administration
Rhino 7 Platinum 10000	Tadalafil (PDE-5 inhibitor)	Health Canada
S.W.A.G II Platinum 33K	Sildenafil (PDE-5 inhibitor)	Australia Therapeutic Goods Administration
Wicked Triple Platinum	Sildenafil (PDE-5 inhibitor)	Australia Therapeutic Goods Administration
Xcalibur XXX Gold 8000	Sildenafil (PDE-5 inhibitor)	Australia Therapeutic Goods Administration
777K	Sildenafil (PDE-5 inhibitor)	Australia Therapeutic Goods Administration

 

Annex B

The possible side effects of the potent ingredients

 

Methoxsalen

Methoxsalen is a medicine used to treat skin conditions such as psoriasis and vitiligo. It is also known as Meladinine. Common side effects include headache, dizziness, nausea, fatigue, depression and skin sensitivity to sunlight. Methoxsalen with UV radiation should be used under supervision of physician as there is a possibility of ocular damage, aging of skin and skin cancer.

 

Phosphodiesterase Type 5 (PDE-5) inhibitors

This class of medicine includes sildenafil and tadalafil. These medicines can cause serious side effects such as strokes, heart attacks, decreased or loss of vision and hearing and priapism (painful and exceedingly long erections). If priapism is not treated immediately, it may lead to permanent impotence. PDE-5 inhibitors are also not suitable for patients with medical conditions such as certain heart-related problems or who are on heart medications such as nitrates. Deaths of patients found to be using Sildenafil (PDE-5 inhibitor) while on nitrates have been reported overseas.

 

Download pdf document: HSA Foreign Alert_2021_November280 KB

Published: 3 Dec 2021

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