February 19, 2013

Department of Health and Police officers arrested a 37-year-old man for the illegal sale of Part I poisons and unregistered pharmaceutical products during a raid today on a Tsuen Wan shop.
 
The shop was selling virility products which contain undeclared Part I poisons. The products are Maxman-II, which contains sildenafil and tadalafil; Jolex, which contains tadalafil; and, Shenghe Zunbao, which contains sildenafil.
 
Another unregistered pharmaceutical product Procomil Spray, labelled as containing a Part I poison called lignocaine, was also found.
 
Sildenafil and tadalafil are prescription drugs for the treatment of erectile dysfunction and should only be supplied at pharmacies under the supervision of a registered pharmacist and upon the production of a doctor's prescription. The side effects of sildenafil and tadalafil include low blood pressure and headache.
 
Improper use of sildenafil and tadalafil can pose serious health risks, especially for patients with heart problems.
 
Lignocaine is a local anaesthetic for the relief of pain or to desensitise skin before minor operations. Common side effects include a hypersensitive reaction. Products containing lignocaine can only be sold in a pharmacy under the supervision of a pharmacist.
 
The department urges the public not to buy or use unregistered pharmaceutical products ,as they have not been evaluated by the Pharmacy & Poisons Board and their safety, quality and efficacy may not be guaranteed.