Severe hypoglycaemia associated with ingesting counterfeit medication.
Cross-border importation of traditional and prescription medications is common, and many of these drugs are not approved by the Australian Therapeutic Goods Administration. Furthermore, counterfeit versions of prescription medications are also available (eg, weight-loss medications, anabolic steroids, and medications to enhance sexual performance). We describe a 54-year-old man with the first Australian case of severe hypoglycaemia induced by imported, laboratory-confirmed counterfeit Cialis. This serves to remind medical practitioners that counterfeit medication may be the cause of severe hypoglycaemia (or other unexplained illness).
Chaubey
Santosh K
SK
Department of Diabetes and Endocrinology, The Townsville Hospital, Townsville, QLD, Australia. drchaubeysk@rediffmail.com
Sangla
Kunwarjit S
KS
Suthaharan
Emershia N
EN
Tan
Yong M
YM
D004340:Drug Contamination; D007172:Erectile Dysfunction / Q000188:drug therapy*; D005905:Glyburide / Q000009:adverse effects*; D006801:Humans; D007003:Hypoglycemia / Q000139:chemically induced*; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010879:Piperazines / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011687:Purines / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012651:Self Medication / Q000009:adverse effects*; D000068677:Sildenafil Citrate; D013450:Sulfones / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014665:Vasodilator Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use
D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents; D010879:Piperazines; D011687:Purines; D013450:Sulfones; D014665:Vasodilator Agents; D000068677:Sildenafil Citrate; D005905:Glyburide