This is six times higher than the recommended doses used to treat diabetic patients.

When consumed by healthy, non-diabetic patients in high doses, glibenclamide causes severe lowering of blood sugar.

This can lead to serious adverse effects such as seizures and coma.

Said Mr Wong: 'I felt very foolish at the hospital. I risked my life for a little bit of pleasure.

'I didn't want to talk about it to anyone at first, but later, I thought I better at least tell the friend who passed me the pills.'

He described his symptoms and his hospital stay to his friend.

'My friend got a shock. He threw away all his pills. He said he would not buy them any more.

'The problem is that they are easily available from China nationals along many streets in Geylang and elsewhere,' said Mr Wong.

Each packet of four pills costs only $4.

'They are very cheap and the temptation among us men is always there to take it so that we can have a better time,' said Mr Wong.

But he won't be taking them anymore.

'I value my life more,' he said.

THEY RISK LIVES, BASED ON MYTHS

SINCE the beginning of the year, when the first reports of adverse reactions associated with men taking Power 1 Walnut first appeared, HSA has conducted raids and operations with other local enforcement agencies.

Over 500,000 units of illegal aphrodisiac products at an estimated street value of more than $1 million were seized within the 10-month period.

Said Ms Chan Cheng Leng, Director of HSA's Pharmacovigilance Branch: 'If there is no demand for these illegal sexual enhancement products, the supply chain for these products will naturally dry up.

'Consumers have to take responsibility and not gamble with their health by buying or taking these harmful products. There is no guarantee at all that any of these products is safe.'

'I'M STILL OK'

MYTH

'It's safe to continue taking the pills I bought from the back lanes because I've been taking them for some time and I have not felt sick.'

FACT

Illegal health products are likely to be manufactured in clandestine setups without any quality checks. Individual pills sold in the same bottle or packet could contain wrong amounts of ingredients or wrong ingredients. They may be contaminated or adulterated with harmful and toxic substances.

'FRIEND STILL OK'

MYTH

'My friend recommended these pills to me. He seemed very healthy even after taking the pills, so I thought it was safe for me to take them too.'

FACT

What appears to be 'working' for someone may not necessarily work for another. There is no quality control in the manufacture of these illegal products. This means that the composition of each batch, bottle and even individual pill can be inconsistent.

'TOO HEALTHY TO BE HARMED'

MYTH

'I am generally a healthy person so taking these pills should not harm me.'

FACT

Consumers need to be mindful that illegal health products can contain potent medicinal drugs, which can cause harm. For example, high doses of glibenclamide - a drug used to treat diabetic patients - can cause seizures and coma in healthy individuals and can lead to death.

This story was first published in The New Paper on Nov 1, 2008.