LAHORE, Punjab: Punjab authorities warned that four hidden sildenafil products sold as herbal medicines contained the undeclared pharmaceutical ingredient and ordered their immediate removal from sale.
The Directorate of Drugs Control, Punjab, said the Drug Testing Laboratory, Punjab, detected Sildenafil Citrate in Tofani Majoon, Majoon Khora, Capsule Sanda Timing and Capsule Kasturi Plus. None listed the ingredient on its label.
The alert said that all four products lacked batch numbers and manufacturer names. Their origin, manufacturing conditions, quality and distribution chain could therefore not be verified.
Investigators found that sellers were marketing the unregistered products through online platforms, according to the provincial notice.
Punjab directed pharmacies, medical stores, retailers, wholesalers and distributors to stop selling the products immediately. Businesses must quarantine existing stock and provide inventory and distribution records to their relevant drug inspector.
Sildenafil is a prescription medicine used for erectile dysfunction and certain forms of pulmonary hypertension. It can lower blood pressure and may interact dangerously with nitrate medicines used for chest pain.
Official prescribing information also warns about cardiovascular risks, prolonged erections, sudden hearing loss and sudden vision loss. The undeclared ingredient exposes buyers to those risks without dosage information or medical supervision.
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The Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan has previously warned that unregistered sildenafil products sold outside authorised supply chains may be unsafe and has instructed pharmacies and provincial regulators to increase surveillance.
