The Pharmaceutical Society of Kenya (PSK) has issued a warning after a series of alarming deaths linked to the use of performance-enhancing drugs among Kenyan men.
In a statement released on Friday, January 22, PSK cautioned the public against the unprescribed use of the tablets.
The performance-enhancing drugs are commonly known as the "Blue Pill”.
“Use of these medicines without prior medical evaluation makes one more prone to their harmful effects,” the statement warned.
The society said that users may experience mild to moderate side effects which include; headache, nose bleeding, discomfort and pain in the upper abdomen, trouble falling and/or staying asleep, redness of skin, diarrhoea dizziness, and skin rash.
Severe side effects include a mild and short-lived decrease in blood pressure, vision loss, priapism (unwanted persistent erection), the potential for cardiac risk with sexual activity in patients with preexisting cardiovascular disease.
Patients with underlying conditions and those who are on other medications may be more at risk of the above-mentioned side effects.
“Whilst we acknowledge that these medicines have been used to effectively manage erectile dysfunction, we caution the public to refrain from accessing the medicines without a full evaluation, diagnosis and prescription by a qualified medical practitioner,” the statement read.
“We urge those with valid prescriptions to obtain their medicines from only legally registered pharmacies,” PSK added.
In the recent past, Kenyan men have been put on the spot over the consumption of the blue pill.
