The Health Ministry’s National Pharmacy Regulatory Agency (NPRA) has urged people to stop taking a traditional health supplement called ‘Nan Bao’ because it contains prescription drugs such as Tadalafil and Sildenafil.
NPRA also said in a statement that suppliers and distributers of this health product must stop its sale and supply immediately and recall it, as it is violating ‘The Sale of Drugs Act’, 1952 and ‘The Control of Drugs and Cosmetics Regulations’, 1984.
The agency mentioned, “The public are also urged to seek advice from health professionals in case of any discomfort or adverse effects”.
The agency explained to the media that Tadalafil and Sildenafil are not safe if taken without doctor’s prescription. They are unsafe for men who take nitrates or alpha-blockers.
NPRA said, “The use of Sildenafil and Tadalafil without doctor’s advice can cause serious adverse effects such as impairment of vision and hearing, serious low blood pressure, and effects to the cardiovascular systems such as stroke and heart attack.”
The pharma regulatory body also said, “Sildenafil, Tadalafil are not allowed in medicines classified as traditional. The use of this drug is very dangerous for the public especially among those with heart related problems such as angina and those who consume medicines which contain nitrate”. Sildenafil and Tadalafil belong to the class of drugs called PDE5 (phosphodiesterase-5) inhibitors. They should be used only under the supervision of a medical professional because there are a few limitation on its usage. For instance, men who already take nitrates or alpha-blockers are not recommended taking Sildenafil or Tadalafil. Also, they are unsafe for men with certain existing medical conditions.
