Foreign Product Alert 2008-06
January 7, 2008
For immediate release Health Canada is advising consumers not to use the following product listed in the table below due to concerns about possible side-effects. More info Santi Bovine Penis Erecting Capsule Date of alert January 7, 2008 Source of Alert Health Sciences Authority of Singapore Product Name Santi Bovine Penis Erecting Capsule Manufacturer / Place of Origin Unknown manufacturer / Unknown place of origin Product Description Santi Bovine Penis Erecting Capsule is promoted for the treatment of erectile dysfunction. Reason for Warning The Health Sciences Authority of Singapore advised the public not to purchase or consume the product Santi Bovine Penis Erecting Capsule because it contains sildenafil. Sildenafil is a prescription drug used for the treatment of erectile dysfunction, and should only be taken under the guidance of a health professional. Possible Side-Effects Unsupervised use of sildenafil by patients with heart disease can result in serious cardiovascular side-effects such as sudden cardiac death, heart attack, stroke, hypertension, chest pain and abnormal heartbeat. Additionally, use of sildenafil may be associated with other side-effects including temporary vision loss, seizure, prolonged erection, headache, flushing, nasal congestion and abdominal pain. Sildenafil should not be used by individuals taking any type of nitrate drug (e.g., nitroglycerine) due to the risk of developing potentially life-threatening low blood pressure. -30- Media Inquiries:
Alastair Sinclair
Health Canada
(613) 957-1803 For more details on these Foreign Product Alerts, please visit the Health Canada Web site. This product is not authorized for sale in Canada and has not been found in the Canadian marketplace. However, it is possible this product could be purchased by Canadians travelling abroad or has been brought into Canada through personal importation by travellers or purchased over the Internet. Canadians who have this product are advised not to use it, and should consult with a health care professional if they have concerns about their health related to the use of this product. Drugs and natural health products that are authorized for sale in Canada will have either an eight-digit Drug Identification Number (DIN), a Natural Product Number (NPN) or a Homeopathic Medicine Number (DIN-HM) on the label. These numbers indicate that the products have been assessed by Health Canada for safety, effectiveness and quality. Health Canada advises Canadians to contact the Health Products and Food Branch Inspectorate at 1-800-267-9675 if they find the product listed in the table in the Canadian marketplace. For more information about the information contained in this advisory, please contact Health Canada's public inquiries line at (613) 957-2991 or toll-free at 1-866-225-0709. As of the date of this posting, no adverse reactions suspected to be associated with the use of this product have been reported in Canada.
Health Sciences Authority headquarters
New 'deadly' sexual enhancement products have been found in Singaporean markets and can cause serious side effects on users.

The Health Sciences Authority (HSA) announced the presence of the illegal drugs, known as Power 1 Walnut, Santi bovine penis erecting capsule, Zhong Hua Niu Bian and fake Cialis, which have been discovered over the past 3 months. Santi bovine penis erecting capsule has been found to contain high amounts of glibenclamide, a potent drug used to treat diabetes. The tablets also contain sildenafil and tadalafil - potent western medicines used to treat erectile dysfunction. Zhong Hua Niu Bian also contains sildenafil and glibenclamide.

High consumption of the tablets can be potentially deadly as the glibenclamide in the capsules can lead to drastically reduced blood sugar levels which can lead to seizures, stroke, coma or death. Consuming half of a Power 1 Walnut capsule has led to unconsciousness and frothing at the mouth.

Consumption of Power 1 Walnut has led to the death of a middle age man last week who fell into a coma. Currently, one death and two cases of coma have been reported from the total of 89 hospitalised cases linked with the consumption of the illegal drugs. It has been revealed that patients obtained the drugs by purchasing them from illegal peddlers located in various parts of Singapore.

The HSA has advised people to stop consuming the drugs and to report on any cases of consumption to them.