Three people were hospitalised in 2024 after experiencing serious adverse effects from using illegal products.
In one case, a man who had been taking Sausando Cellulite Pills for five months began to experience seizures, hyponatraemia – a low level of sodium in the blood – and vomiting. The product had been marketed as a “natural health food” for weight loss, promising results in seven days. However, it contained sibutramine, a laxative and a diuretic.
A woman was also hospitalised after using a product, 88 Total White Underarm Cream, touted to whiten and smoothen the skin.
After using it for a month, she developed a severe rash over her body and liver impairment with raised liver enzymes and jaundice.
Due to the exposure to a high level of mercury, she was diagnosed with allergic contact dermatitis and drug reaction with eosinophilia and systemic symptoms – also known as DRESS syndrome.
This is a severe hypersensitivity reaction characterised by skin rash, blood abnormalities and injury to the liver and/or kidney, which can be life-threatening.
Another woman who took a product called “ayukalp Mahayograj Guggulu” for back pain began experiencing fatigue, chest discomfort and shortness of breath during physical activity after one and a half months.
The product was found to contain lead at a level exceeding 6,000 times the permissible limit for traditional medicines.
Exposure to high levels of lead may cause abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, anaemia, liver inflammation and brain injury.
Over the long term, it may also cause toxic effects to the kidneys, digestive and nervous systems.
