The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) of Aurangabad division has found Viagra and a short-acting anaesthetic drug in two Ayurvedic medicines meant to increase sexual desire and potency. The medicines were being randomly tested for quality recently when the incident came to light.
The matter has raised serious health concerns about the consequences that may occur in people who might have consumed the Ayurvedic medicine. The office of Srishti Unani Medicine Agency in Aurangabad was raided by FDA recently where it found stocks worth Rs. 16,000. The stocks had arrived from Saharanpur district of Uttar Pradesh.
The FDA has now issued a statewide circular asking the officials to seize any stock of these drugs available. The officials found, 49.45mg of Viagra in each capsule of 'Power up' and a significant amount of lignocaine hydrochloride in 'Tiger king cream'. The report also said that the packing material had only herbal components mentioned on it.
"We will lodge an FIR against Naman India, the UP-based manufacturer, that has been selling these drugs in the name of herbal medicine to gullible consumers," said SS Kale, joint commissioner, FDA, Aurangabad to TOI.
Side effects
If a person is allergic to sildenafil, blood pressure can fall rapidly to an unsafe level. Other side-effects include dizziness, nausea and chest pain. Some users might incur a sudden loss in vision in one or both eyes and hearing loss or reduced hearing.
Viagra is used to treat erectile dysfunction. It is supposed to be consumed only after prescribed by a doctor.
If taken without a prescription, it can react with other ongoing medications and cause life-threatening complications.
In some cases, priapism or erection can occur that will not go away. One should immediately seek medical help if the erection lasts for more than a couple of hours, delaying which can permanently damage the male genital organ.
Dr Ranjan Bhonsle, head of sexual medicine at KEM Hospital, said that Ayurvedic practitioners are putting people's lives in danger. He said that patients have paid Rs. 4,000 for the ayurvedic pills, which otherwise costs Rs. 30-40 when sold as an allopathy drug.
"Adulteration is also bringing a bad name to the science of Ayurveda. Registration of fraudulent firms must be cancelled," said Dr Laxman Jadhav, president of state branch of National Integrated Medical Association.
