Consumers warn of ‘viagra’ laced instant coffee

The Department of Health on Wednesday night urged the public not to buy or consume a product, namely Firstwell Tongkat Ali Premix Coffee, as it was found to contain an undeclared controlled drug ingredient sildenafil - which is used to treat men who have erectile dysfunction.

It is understood that the instant coffee was available for sale on e-commerce platforms HKTVmall and Hong Kong Mall.

The department said sildenafil is a prescription drug and should only be used under a doctor's advice and be supplied in a pharmacy under the supervision of a registered pharmacist upon a doctor's prescription.

Side effects of sildenafil include low blood pressure, headaches, vomiting, dizziness and transient vision disturbances. It may also interact with some drugs - such as nitroglycerin for the treatment of angina - and cause a decrease in blood pressure to dangerous levels, it said, adding that improper use of sildenafil may pose serious health risks, especially for patients with heart problems.

“Members of the public who have purchased the above products should stop consuming them immediately. They should consult healthcare professionals for advice if feeling unwell after consumption,” the Department of Health said.