Zambia Bans Energy Drink Containing Viagra

LUSAKA – Zambia banned an energy drink, which is also sold in South Africa, on Wednesday after it was shown to have been adulterated with the male sex booster Viagra, according to authorities in Ndola, the city of manufacture.

The prohibition followed a complaint from Zambia’s medicine regulator in December suggesting that the drink – Power Natural High Energy Drink SX – had been spiked with Viagra.

Apparently complaints about erections that lasted hours had been received!

Zambia ordered the manufacturer to withdraw the drink after tests showed it contained Sildenafil Citrata – known by its brand name as Viagra.

A statement from Ndola local authority said that Sildenafil is an active ingredient in oral therapy in erectile dysfunction in men and should only be available on prescription.

The statement also said that: “Results from both Zimbabwe and South Africa correlated with those obtained from the Foods and Drugs Laboratory that indicated a positive presence of Sildenafil Citrate.”

The Uganda National Drug Authority said in a letter dated Dec. 28, 2018 that it made similar findings after a customer complained of constant sweating and a nearly six-hour erection.

The drink is exported to several African countries including Uganda, Malawi and Zimbabwe.

Zambia has suspended the production of the drink until remedial measures are put in place.

In January, Malawi banned the drink following tests conducted at its drug quality control laboratory after safety concerns were raised in Zambia and Uganda.

Natural Power Energy Drink SX is very popular among Zambian men and is sold in 500 ml plastic cans, mostly in supermarkets and bars.

The manufacturer, Revin Zambia Ltd, could not immediately be reached for comment on the ban.

(Reporting by Chris Mfula, Editing by William Maclean)

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