The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has warned members of the public against using the Coco Samba Herbal Mixture.
The agency warned that 100ml of the mixture contains more than the approved dose of sildenafil, a medication used to enhance sexual stimulation.
According to NAFDAC, Coco Samba herbal mixture has been found to contain excessive amounts of sildenafil.
Sildenafil, sold under the brand name Viagra, among others, is a medication used to treat erectile dysfunction and pulmonary arterial hypertension. It is also sometimes used off-label for the treatment of certain symptoms in secondary Raynaud’s phenomenon.
“The product was seized by German customs and analysed by the German Official Medicines Control Laboratory (OMCL). The analysis report showed the product contained undeclared amounts of sildenafil (150mg), which is above the maximum daily dose for sildenafil.
“Laboratory analysis conducted by the agency also confirmed the presence of undeclared sildenafil content.
“Sildenafil is a medicine prescribed for the treatment of erectile dysfunction and pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH). It may interact with nitrates found in some prescription drugs (such as nitroglycerin) and may cause a significant drop in blood pressure that may be life-threatening.
“People with diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, or heart disease often take nitrates. The adult male population who are most likely to use this product with nitrates (in prescription drugs for cardiac conditions) is most at risk,” NAFDAC said in a statement.