Do You Know What Medication is Really in the Pill?

Some medication claims to be the miracle cure you need, but what's really in it?

Are you sure those pills are safe or are they really harmful products?

We’ve all seen health products and may have been attracted to the promises of “instant results”, “100% safe” or “natural ingredients”. These health products come in all forms – they could be pills, capsules, powders or even beverages. As safe as they may appear to be, these health products could be harmful.

Dubious health products can contain potent ingredients which are not declared on the label. Some don’t even have an ingredient list! The black pills below are an example of a harmful health product discovered by the Health Sciences Authority in December 2015.

Harmful products often contain harmful ingredients

Harmful Products Sold As Medicine

These black pills were sold by a treatment centre for general well-being and relief of body aches. They claimed to be “herbal”, but it was impossible to determine from the label where they were from and how they were manufactured. Laboratory tests later confirmed that the pills contained dexamethasone and chlorpheniramine – both potent western medicines which should only be prescribed by the doctor and used under strict medical supervision. If used inappropriately, they could lead to serious side effects and even worsen existing medical conditions. These two ingredients were not declared on the label and poor consumers had been exposed to the risks unknowingly!

Unfortunately, this was the case for a diabetic patient in his 50s. He was hospitalised for uncontrolled hypertension and Cushing’s syndrome (round face or ’moon face’ and upper body obesity with thin limbs), after taking these black pills for a prolonged period. When he tried to stop taking the pills earlier, he experienced discomfort, joint swelling and aches. Hence, he continued taking them and his condition worsened. He was eventually referred to a specialist and has since stopped taking the pills, which also led to an improvement of his medical conditions.

These health products may sound beneficial at first, but there’s no knowing what effect they may have on your body. As a consumer, it is important to exercise caution and make informed choices.

Here are some things we should take note of when buying and using health products:

Stay Clear if it’s Too Good to be True

Some so-called medicine are extremely harmful to your health

Be wary of health products or medication promising miraculous results with exaggerated claims such as “no side effects” and “100% safe”. You cannot be certain where and how these products were made. Such products may contain undeclared ingredients that are harmful to your health.

Related: Know Your Medication

Get Professional Medical Advice

Ensure that you purchase medicine after consulting your doctor or pharmacist

Consult your doctor or pharmacist before starting on any health product or medication for your medical conditions or symptoms. Get medical advice if you need help to manage your acute and chronic medical symptoms and conditions.

Sound the Alert on Suspicious Products

Alert the authorities if you come across a suspicious medication

If you come across any dubious health product which you suspect could be illegal, please contact HSA’s Enforcement Branch at 6866-3485 during office hours (Monday to Friday), or send an email to hsa_is@hsa.gov.sg.

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This article was last reviewed on 22 Nov 2023