The Department of Health (DH) today (February 27) urged the public not to buy or consume a product named Soloco as it was found to contain an undeclared controlled ingredient.
Acting upon intelligence, a sample of the above product was purchased from a retail shop in Mong Kok earlier for analysis. A test result from the Government Laboratory revealed that the product sample contained tadalafil, which is a Part 1 poison under the Pharmacy and Poisons Ordinance (Cap. 138). The product is also suspected to be an unregistered pharmaceutical product.
The DH and the Police today conducted an operation against the above premises. During the operation, a 35-year-old man and a 34-year-old woman were arrested by the Police for suspected illegal sale and possession of a Part 1 poison and an unregistered pharmaceutical product. The DH's investigation is continuing.
Tadalafil is used for treatment of erectile dysfunction and should only be used under the advice of a doctor. Side effects of tadalafil include low blood pressure, headache, vomiting, dizziness and transient vision disturbances. It may interact with some drugs (such as nitroglycerin for treatment of angina) and cause a decrease in blood pressure to dangerous levels. Improper use of tadalafil may pose serious health risks, especially for patients with heart problems.
According to the Ordinance, all pharmaceutical products must be registered with the Pharmacy and Poisons Board of Hong Kong before they can be legally sold in the market. Illegal sale or possession of unregistered pharmaceutical products or Part 1 poisons are criminal offences. The maximum penalty for each offence is a fine of $100,000 and two years' imprisonment.
The DH spokesman strongly urged members of the public not to buy or use products of doubtful composition or from unknown sources. All registered pharmaceutical products should carry a Hong Kong registration number on the package in the format of "HK-XXXXX". The safety, quality and efficacy of unregistered pharmaceutical products are not guaranteed.
People who have purchased the above product should stop taking it immediately and consult healthcare professionals for advice if in doubt or feeling unwell after consumption. They may submit the product to the DH's Drug Office at Room 1801, Wu Chung House, 213 Queen's Road East, Wan Chai, during office hours for disposal.
The public may visit the webpages of the Drug Officefor the health message on sexual dysfunction and virility products, and information on virility products found to contain undeclared Western medicines.
Reposted from HKSAR Government webpage:
https://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/202302/27/P2023022700580.htm