UAE officials move to ban health risk 'fake herbal supplements'
The Ministry of Health and Prevention (MOHAP) say the products contain undeclared ingredients and pose a substantial risk to people with heart disease, diabetes, dyslipidemia, and those taking drugs containing nitrate.
Dr Ameen Hussain Al Amiri, assistant undersecretary for public health policy and licensing at MOHAP and chairman of the Supreme National Pharmacovigilance Committee, said: “The ministry is making efforts to warn the public against the use of such medication, as they threaten lives."
Blood pressure drop
Most of the products claim to be herbal products that can improve male sexual performance. But officials say they contain undeclared quantities of sildenafil, tadalafil and dapoxetine. Dapoxetine is administered only by prescription, while tadalafil and sildenafil can cause a severe drop in an individual’s blood pressure.
The ministry acted after receiveing a warning from the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) about the products Man of Steel, which contains sildenafil, and Super Panther 7k, which has sildenafil and tadalafil.
The FDA also issued a warning about Macho Man 3000, Love Zen 3000 and Monster 1350, which contain tadalafil; Xzone Gold and Triple Miracle Zen Plus 1200, which contain tadalafil and sildenafil; XXX Zone Platinum, Triple Premium Zen Gold 1300mg, and Triple X 2000, whose contents include sildenafil, tadalafil and dapoxetine; and Own the Knight 1750, which contains tadalafil and dapoxetine.
Dr Al Amiri said the authorities would take the necessary measures to withdraw these products from the market and prevent them from being imported to, and circulated in, the UAE.