Punjab drug regulators recalled Capsule Cheston after laboratory tests found undeclared Dexamethasone, a prescription corticosteroid, in the alternative medicine product, officials said.
The Directorate of Drugs Control, Punjab, issued the alert after the Punjab Drug Testing Laboratory reported that Capsule Cheston, marketed by Al-Sehat, contained the undeclared pharmaceutical ingredient.
Officials said the product was adulterated because it lacked a declaration for Dexamethasone. The directorate warned that unsupervised use of the steroid could pose serious health risks.
The alert said prolonged Dexamethasone use without medical supervision could suppress immunity, weaken adrenal function and increase susceptibility to infections. It also cited risks of osteoporosis and other endocrine complications.
The Provincial Quality Control Board directed the manufacturer and distributor to immediately recall Capsule Cheston from the market. It also ordered complete records of the supply chain to trace the product’s distribution.
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Retailers, pharmacies and distributors were instructed to stop selling and distributing the capsules. They must also report stock and distribution details to local drug inspectors.
