Powerless: The Department of Health urged people not to buy or use a product named "Power Up" which contains an undeclared, potentially harmful, Western drug ingredient.

The Department of Health has found a product named "Power Up", which claims to treat sexual dysfunction, to contain an undeclared Western drug ingredient sildenafil that may cause serious side effects. People should not buy or use it.

The department obtained the product samples yesterday from a shop named Wanta.net at 2/F, 28 Russell Street in Causeway Bay. Today, samples of the same product from Good Harvests (Asia) Trading Co. Ltd were obtained from Room 2-3, 13/F, Block B, Texaco Road Industrial Centre, 14-22 Wang Lung Street in Tsuen Wan and Chung Tai Dispensary at 107 Heep Wo Street in Kwun Tong.

"Power Up" is not a registered pharmaceutical product in Hong Kong and no report of adverse effects from using the product has been received so far.

Sildenafil's side effects include low blood pressure, headache, vomiting, dizziness, and transient vision disturbances. They may interact with nitrates found in some prescription drugs and may lower patients' blood pressure to dangerous levels.

Products with sildenafil must be registered before sale and can only be sold on a doctor's prescription and under a pharmacist's supervision.

People should not take virility products of unknown or unclear sources, and those with sexual dysfunction should consult healthcare professionals for advice.