Malaysia
Singapore
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The Health Sciences Authority (HSA) has warned against the purchase and consumption of the health supplement 骨節靈 Gu Jie Ling after it was found to contain “potent medicinal ingredients”.
HSA put out a press release on 1 Feb 2024 regarding the supplement, explaining that after analysing the product, they found that it contained dexamethasone, a potent steroid, and cetirizine, an antihistamine.
According to HSA, dexamethasone is typically prescribed for inflammatory conditions and should only be used under strict medical supervision— those who use it long-term unsupervised are at risk of developing health problems like high blood pressure, increased blood sugar levels, muscular and bone disorders, cataracts and a higher risk of getting infected with Cushing’s syndrome.
Cetirizine, on the other hand, helps to relieve allergic reactions, but should only be used under medical supervision. Serious effects of cetirizine include fatigue and drowsiness.
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HSA reported that a woman in her 60s had developed Cushing’s syndrome after consuming Gu Jie Ling over the span of a few months to alleviate her foot pain— her face became round and puffy, her blood cortisol levels were low and she had gained weight a month before she was hospitalised.
HSA advised consumers of Gu Jie Ling to see a doctor immediately and to not suddenly stop taking the product on their own, as sudden withdrawal from the product could cause current underlying medical conditions to worsen.
The authority also warned consumers to be wary of products that carry “exaggerated claims”, with “no side effects” being one of them. Consumers should also avoid taking products from “unknown or unverifiable sources”, especially when buying products overseas— some items even falsely claim to have been registered in a certain country. For the utmost safety, medicinal items should only be purchased from reputable pharmacies and retailers in Singapore.
