BFAD recalls herbal supplement for men

The Bureau of Food and Drugs (BFAD) on Monday said it has ordered the recall of a herbal supplement for men, after discovering that it contains an ingredient found in medicines that are used to treat erectile dysfunction. In an advisory dated January 16 but was released only on Monday, BFAD ordered Penrex Herbal Supplement for Men be taken out of the market, after the supposed supplement was found to be containing Slidenafil Citrate, an active ingredient in anti-erectile dysfunction drugs. The BFAD said Penrex’s importer and distributor of the supplement violated government rules by declaring the product as a food supplement when it has an active drug component. BFAD Director III Joshua Ramos said drugs containing such ingredient are not to be issued without prescription. But since Penrex promoted itself as a herbal supplement, it could be bought over the counter. “The said product is marketed as a food supplement, as such, should not contain any active ingredient for drug products. However, examination conducted by the BFAD on the samples of the product collected directly from the importer/distributor revealed the presence of Slidenafil Citrate, a known active ingredient of prescription drugs for erectile dysfunction," BFAD’s advisory read. BFAD warned consumers with diabetes, high blood pressure, and heart disease that they may be at “considerable risk" in taking the product since it may interact with some active ingredients found in other prescription drugs. “Products containing the active ingredient can only be bought upon a doctor’s advice and sold and dispensed only through a prescription issued by a licensed physician," the BFAD advisory stated. Last week, the BFAD recalled the osteo-arthritis drug Lumiracoxib or the brand Prexige by pharmaceutical company Novartis for having serious effects on the liver. - GMANews.TV