By Politico Staff Writer
After conducting further laboratory analysis at the Food and Drug Authority (FDA) of Ghana on the “herbal product” Coco Samba, the Pharmacy Board of Sierra Leone has encouraged the public to stop the consumption of these harmful products and report any individual or institution found marketing them.
A press release issued on the 20th of February, 2024 confirmed that each bottle of Coco Samba contains a heavy dose (193mg) of Sildenafil Citrate as an adulterant as compared to the usual prescribed dose of 50-100 mg. It described Sildenafil as a prescription drug, mainly used for the treatment of erectile dysfunction and pulmonary arterial hypertension.
It stated that Laboratory analyses were also conducted on other herbal products; Olekoko Akson Bitters, Oga Abeg, and Good Time Natural Herbal Formula which were found to contain Sildenafil Citrate of varying strengths.
The release urged the public to be aware that an overdose of Sildenafil Citrate tends to cause side effects like a significant drop in blood pressure which may be life-threatening, visual disturbances, headache, dizziness, chest pain, painful and prolonged erection which may cause permanent damage to the male reproductive organ.
The Pharmacy Board recalled a recent press release concerning the “herbal product” Coco Samba, stating that it cannot guarantee the safety and quality of the product in question. It however indicated that the cautionary statement was based on preliminary tests conducted in their laboratory in the country.
The release further advised the public to keep away from the product whilst further confirmatory tests would be conducted in conjunction with other sister regulatory authorities in the sub-region. It was the outcome of the confirmatory tests that prompted the Board to issue this final release of stopping the consumption of the product.
It called on the public to report any side effect relating to the aforementioned products or any other product to the Pharmacy Board of Sierra Leone.
However, there have been some mixed reactions on social media regarding the aforementioned products, most especially Coco Samba. Some of the reactors indicated that they suspected a minor disagreement between the manufacturers of the products and the Pharmacy Board of Sierra Leone which to them warranted the banning of them.
Another argument indicated that if Sildenafil is an adulterant in Coco Samba, what other ingredients constitute the potency of the potion that the Board failed to highlight. He called on the Board to come out with an outright ban if they think the product Coco Samba is life-threatening.
Copyright © 2024 Politico (21/02/24)
