Health director general Datuk Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah said the product contained dexamethasone, a controlled corticosteroid under the Poisons Act, 1952.
“It is only supplied to doctors or obtainable through the pharmacy with a doctor’s prescription. Dexamethasone cannot be used as an ingredient in traditional medicine,” he said in a statement here today.
He said long term use of dexamethasone without health professional guidance could lead to serious side effects such as muscle weakness, brittle bones, increase in blood sugar level, high blood pressure and glaucoma.
The risk is heightened for individuals with chronic diseases such as diabetes, as it could trigger their blood sugar level and lead to complications, he said.
He advised consumers who had been using the product to seek treatment from a health professional.
The public are also encouraged to channel their enquiries to the Pharmacy Services division at 03-78413200 or email: pharmacy1@moh.gov.my.
They can also verify the registration status of any health product by contacting the National Pharmaceutical Control Bureau at 03-78835400 or www.bpfk.gov.my.
— BERNAMA
