Sex 'Boosters' For Men: More products expected to be banned

Malay Mail :Men’s health products are being monitored by the Health Ministry to ensure only those safe for consumption are sold in the market.
The authorities have their system of identifying whether these products contain drugs like tadalafil, sildenafil and steroids.
With this stringent monitoring, “more” products are expected to be banned.
Traditional or herbal products are not allowed to have a combination of western medication, said Pharmacy Services Department director Datuk Che Mohd Zin Che Awang.
“When they start adding other ingredients, they (manufacturer) ‘spoil’ the traditional products and will be charged with selling poison items. So there will be more (being banned),” said Che Mohd Zin yesterday.He said traditional products are natural supplements and can only contain minerals but no chemicals.
It was reported last Thursday that when Orgacare Unik Plus-1 was introduced, it only contained Tongkat Ali to help treat impotence, and it was registered under the Drug Control Authority in 2000. However, over the years, some other ingredients were added, making it an unregistered product.
"Using Tongkat Ali was okay. But after it was registered, different ingredients, listed as scheduled poisons, were added, making it harmful," Che Mohd Zin was quoted as saying then.
He also said such products will come under the scrutiny of the Drug Control Authority (DCA) if they were found to be costly and popular among the public.
“Based on these two factors, we pick a product at random. Now we are taking samples of several products to see if they test positive for such chemicals,” said Che Mohd Zin.

‘Oyster Plus’ sold at exorbitant price
‘Oyster Plus’, another traditional medicine used for treating erectile dysfunction (ED) but banned by the Health Ministry, was sold at an exorbitant price in the market.
Pharmacy Services Department director Datuk Che Mohd Zin Che Awang said the product was distributed by direct sales, and priced at RM156 a box.
Upon consumption, its effect was said to be immediate.
“So when a member of the public alerted us after he was suspicious of its effectiveness, a test was done. It was found to contain the drug tadalafil.
“Usually natural supplements take time, at least a week longer to see its effectiveness and they are not expensive either.”
Those suffering from ED are advised to consume two Oyster Plus capsules at a time either once or twice a week.
In comparison with Tongkat Ali, a natural supplement used for the same purpose, Che Mohd Zin said it was “quite reasonably” priced between RM20 and RM50 for either (powder or extract form).
“So be careful with products that are expensive and claim to give immediate effect,” he advised.
He said the department officers are checking with the locally registered product owner based in Cheras and his stockists in various parts of the country to have the products recalled.
“We will also remove the product from the owners’ import list,” said Che Mohd Zin yesterday.
It was reported yesterday that Oyster Plus, another traditional medicine, had been banned because it contains the drug tadalafil, which is used for treating erectile dysfunction.
Hence, the government wants the item (Oyster Plus) to be taken off the shelves immediately. Just last week the Government banned “Orgacare Unik Plus 1” after it was found to contain tadalafil.
Tadalafil, better known as 'Cialis', should not be used as an ingredient in traditional medicines, as uncontrolled consumption could be hazardous to health.
'Cialis' is an anti-erectile dysfunction drug that is available by prescription. “Sildenafil' and 'tadalafil' are medicines which can only be prescribed by doctors for men diagnosed with 'erectile dysfunction'.
The drugs could interact with other medicines and result in the lowering of blood pressure, particularly if used together with anti-hypertensive medicines.