TWO new illegal sexual enhancement products have been found to cause adverse side effects on patients.
They are Santi bovine penis erecting capsule and Zhong Hua Niu Bian, said the Health Sciences Authority (HSA).

The samples of Santi bovine penis erecting capsule were given on April 9 by a patient who was warded for symptoms of low blood sugar. The other product was found in the course of testing seized products.

HSA laboratory analysis confirmed on Thursday that the Santi bovine penis erecting capsule contains high amounts of glibenclamide - a potent western medicine used to treat diabetes.

Consuming too much of it will cause serious harm as it reduces the person's blood sugar to a dangerously low level, resulting in seizures, stroke, coma or death.

The capsule also contains sildenafil and tadalafil - potent western medicines used to treat erectile dysfunction.

The other product, Zhong Hua Niu Bian also contains sildenafil and glibenclamide - prescription only medicines to be taken under strict medical supervision.

A middle-aged local Chinese man died last week after being in a coma state. He had taken the illegal sexual enhancement drug Power 1 Walnut.

The same potent substances, sildenafil and glibenclamide were also found in the drug.

To date there is a total of 30 confirmed cases of serious adverse reactions to such illegal products, with another 59 suspected cases.

All patients are men aged between 21 and 97 years old, made up of all races and population.

Almost seven in ten of them are residents while some three in ten of them are foreign workers.

Interviews with the patients revealed that they bought the drugs from illegal peddlers located at various parts of Singapore.

To minimise exposure and casualty, HSA has stepped up its enforcement efforts including alerts to healthcare professionals and enhanced collaboration with overseas counterparts like the regulatory and enforcement agencies.

Since Feb 2008 there has been one death and two cases of coma from the total of 89 hospitalised cases linked with the consumption of illegal products claiming to enhance sexual performance.

Members of the public are encouraged to report any suspicious sales of illegal products by calling the hotline number 6866 3485.