S’pore alerts M’sia on two medicinal products containing steroids

SINGAPORE – Singapore’s Health Sciences Authority (HSA) has warned the public not to purchase or consume two products as they contained steroids and other potent medicinal substances which could cause serious adverse effects on consumers.

The products are “D’sihat Herba Gout & Sendi” for pain relief and “Yanwo Chongcao Yanyin Qinfei Huatan Dan” for cough relief.

According to HSA, a woman in her 50s who had been taking “D’sihat Herba Gout & Sendi” for seven months for her knee pain developed Cushing’s syndrome (a serious steroid-induced condition marked by a round or ‘moon face’ appearance) and was hospitalised as a result.

“She also experienced weight gain, lower limb swelling, and elevated blood sugar level.

“Subsequently, she was diagnosed with adrenal insufficiency (a serious steroid withdrawal condition, where the body does not produce adequate amounts of steroid hormones) after stopping the product,” said HSA in a statement today.

Another woman in her 40s, meanwhile, developed abnormal blood cortisol levels after consuming “Yanwo Chongcao Yanyin Qinfei Huatan Dan” for two months for her chronic cough.

Her astute doctor suspected that the product was adulterated and reported the case to HSA, said the statement.

HSA noted that both consumers had obtained these products from Malaysia through their friends.

According to HSA, it has alerted its Malaysian counterpart about detection of the adulterated products.

It has also detected that the products were sold on local e-commerce and social media platforms, including Shopee and Facebook, and has worked with the platform administrators to remove the affected listings.

“Investigations are ongoing,” it said.

“D’sihat Herba Gout & Sendi” was marketed for the relief of pain and falsely labelled to be free of steroids, while “Yanwo Chongcao Yanyin Qinfei Huatan Dan” was marketed to relieve cough and touted as “100% Natural Pure Herbal”.

Contrary to the claims, HSA tested them to contain steroids and other potent medicinal ingredients.

Long-term unsupervised use of steroids such as dexamethasone can cause Cushing’s syndrome, increased blood sugar levels which may lead to diabetes, high blood pressure, and other serious adverse effects, it said.

It also advised all sellers and suppliers to stop selling “D’sihat Herba Gout & Sendi” and “Yanwo Chongcao Yanyin Qinfei Huatan Dan” immediately.

Sellers and suppliers of these products are liable to prosecution and if convicted, may be fined up to S$10,000 (RM33,210.51)​ and, or imprisoned for up to two years. – Bernama, April 14, 2023