Chinese authorities have warned against the use of herbal sex drugs being sold in Shanghai as they were found to be highly dangerous copycat version of Viagra.
Far from containing traditional Chinese herbs,these are super-strength drugs,based on Viagra but with twice as much of its core ingredient,Chinese Food and Drug Administration officials said.
The fake drugs are not made from the Chinese herbs claimed on their packaging, an official surnamed Wang was quoted as saying by the official Shanghai Daily.
They contain silenafil,a blood vessel expanding substance and an important ingredient of Viagra,but here the quantity is double that found in Viagra. They can be very harmful, he warned.
An investigation by the Daily discovered that one of the citys most popular health products wholesale markets also provides the copycat drugs to dealers.
Sex boost drugs are on offer for as little as 0.30 yuan (about 5 US cents) per pill or capsule,the daily said.
A packet of fake Viagra pills,similar to those sold for 100 yuan by Fangbang Road dealers,is available for 2-10 yuan from many of the small shops.
Although many of the illegal drugs are given brand names such as Viagra No.1 or Power Viagra,they claim in their ingredients to be herbal products, the daily said.