By the A.M. Costa Rica staff

The Ministry of Health alerted on the sale of sexual enhancer products for men of the brands Mero Macho, Sex-Max and Toro-Sexx, which do not have the proper authorization and registration process for sale in the country.

According to the ministry's report, officials from that institution found the products during an inspection in the community of Upala* in the province of Alajuela.

In that operation, thousands of products were mostly seized due to the lack of a sanitary registration. Those products were being sold in a macrobiotic store, where they were advertised as sexual energizers with natural ingredients.

"Products that do not have a sanitary record imply a risk to public health because they have not been evaluated to determine whether they are suitable for use or consumption," said the ministry in its statement. "There is no certainty of its true origin or of the conditions under which they have been produced, stored and transported."

The lab analyzes carried out by the Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Analysis of the Ministry, confirmed that these products contained the substance known as sildenafil.

Sildenafil, sold as the brand name Viagra among others, is a medication used to treat erectile dysfunction and pulmonary arterial hypertension.

According to the ministry, the information that the product has on its packaging does not show this ingredient.

However, laboratory results confirmed the substance in the product that can put in risk the health of the consumer.

Although sildenafil was not found in Toro-Sexx tablets, it cannot be ruled out that the product contains other ingredients that may be harmful to health.

Sildenafil is an active substance that is used in medications for the treatment of erectile dysfunction, which usually can only be purchased at a pharmacy with a prescription.

This substance may be harmful to patients with uncontrolled hypertension or hypotension, acute myocardial infarction, uncontrolled arrhythmias, history of stroke or other medical conditions.

Sildenafil can react with other medications and cause various adverse reactions. For these reasons, the use of those illegal products is especially dangerous for people, said the ministry.

General Health Law No.5395 prohibits the production, trade and use of unregistered, adulterated and counterfeit products. People found guilty of selling illegal products will be sanctioned by the authorities.

The ministry called on the population to report any suspected sale of contraband products to the telephone number (506) 2223-0333


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