Men have been warned against counterfeit drugs sold online for erectile dysfunction, as they contain dangerous chemicals and pose a serious risk to health.
|Last Updated: Sep 06, 2012, 09:49 AM IST|Source: Bureau
New Delhi: Men have been warned against counterfeit drugs sold online for erectile dysfunction, as they contain dangerous chemicals and pose a serious risk to health.
An analysis of pills from 22 different websites claiming to sell drugs such as Viagra and Cialis found 77 per cent of samples were fake and contained only 30 to 50 percent of the active ingredient advertised on the label, the Australian reported.
According to Urological Society of Australia and New Zealand president Dr Stephen Ruthven, many of the counterfeit drugs also contained undeclared substances such as gypsum, found in fertiliser, commercial paint and printer ink.
The study, by San Diego Sexual Medicine`s Dr Irwin Goldstein, suggested that the fakes could also contain other harmful ingredients including antihypertensive medications.
Dr Ruthven said self-medication of this kind carried very real health risks.
"Many people simply assume they are buying the real product, when in fact most online purchases from international sites are illegal counterfeits," he said.
The study comes after Australia`s drug regulator last week warned men not to buy or consume two products claiming to contain 100 percent herbal ingredients, Ultra Men for Men and Rock Hard for Men.
An investigation by the Therapeutic Goods Administration found the products contained two undeclared prescription substances, tadalafil and glibenclamide.
Tadalafil is the active ingredient in Cialis, a prescription-only erectile dysfunction product, and glibenclamide is used to control blood glucose levels.
The TGA said the tablets, which a number of Australians have bought online, had not been assessed for quality, safety and efficacy. The place of manufacture was also not approved by the regulator.
The commercial supply of the supplements in Australia is illegal.
The TGA warned consumers to be extremely cautious when buying medicines from unknown international internet sites.
Worldwide sales of fake drugs in 2010 was estimated to be about 73 million dollars.
ANI
By clicking “Accept All Cookies”, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device to enhance site navigation, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts.
Cookies Setting
By clicking “Accept All Cookies”, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device and the processing of information obtained via those cookies (including about your preferences, device and online activity) by us and our commercial partners to enhance site navigation, personalise ads, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts. More information can be found in our Cookies and Privacy Policy. You can amend your cookie settings to reject non-essential cookies by clicking Cookie Settings below.
Manage Consent Preferences
Strictly Necessary Cookies
These cookies are necessary for the website to function and cannot be switched off in our systems. They are usually only set in response to actions made by you which amount to a request for services, such as setting your privacy preferences, logging in or filling in forms. You can set your browser to block or alert you about these cookies, but some parts of the site will not then work or you may not be able to login.
Functional Cookies
These cookies enable the website to provide enhanced functionality and personalisation. They may be set by us or by third party providers whose services we have added to our pages. If you do not allow these cookies then some or all of these services may not function properly.
Targeting Cookies
These cookies may be set through our site by our advertising partners. They may be used by those companies to build a profile of your interests and show you relevant adverts on other sites. They are also used to limit the number of times you see an advert as well as help measure the effectiveness of an advertising campaign. They do not store directly personal information, but are based on uniquely identifying your browser and internet device. If you do not allow these cookies, you will experience less targeted advertising.
Performance Cookies
These cookies allow us to count visits and traffic sources so we can measure and improve the performance of our site. They help us to know which pages are the most and least popular and see how visitors move around the site. All information these cookies collect is aggregated and therefore anonymous. If you do not allow these cookies we may not know when you have visited our site, and may not be able to monitor its performance.