An immediate health warning has been issued in Punjab by the Directorate of Drugs Control (DDC) due to dangerous levels of chemicals found in an alternative medicine which is highly regarded by consumers. Lab tests done at Punjab Drug Testing Laboratory have revealed the presence of an unidentified drug in a popular herbal capsule called Capsule Cheston (Al-Sehat).
It is evident from the analysis report that there was either an intentional or Herbal medicine safety alert with the powerful and artificial corticosteroids known as the Dexamethasone. This is because the label on the product did not include the active chemical ingredient present in it.
Perils of the Medical Hazards in the Unsupervised Administration of Dexamethasone
Although licensed medical professionals often administer Dexamethasone in order to treat severe inflammation, allergies, and certain autoimmune disorders, its concealment within the ingredients of commercially available herbal supplements poses immense physiological risks. Consumers usually consume alternative medicines on a regular basis without any restrictions regarding time.
WARNING from Medical Professionals: According to experienced healthcare administrators, excessive use of Dexamethasone without professional supervision leads to dangerous physiological side effects. Such misuse of the drug leads to suppression of the human immune system, hormonal imbalance due to adrenocortical insufficiency, low bone mineral density and osteoporosis, increased risk of serious infections, and hormonal abnormalities.
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Compulsory Market Recall and Traceability in the Supply Chain
After Herbal medicine safety alert, the Provincial Quality Control Board took immediate measures. The governing authority issued an order for the producer and main distributor of Capsule Cheston (Al-Sehat) to immediately stop the production process and perform a complete recall of the product from all retail markets.
Operational measures to achieve complete compliance by DDC are as follows:
Traceability Audit: Comprehensive unaltered records should be provided by the manufacturer of the supply chain of the batch of the capsules to find out the places where the adulterated products have been sent.
Prohibition at Retail Outlets: All retail outlets, including pharmacies, drug stores, and holistic health stores, need to remove Capsule Cheston from their shelves immediately.
Monitoring by Inspectors: Inventory levels are to be reported by the distributors to the regional drug inspectors.
Health experts in the area recommend that people owning Capsule Cheston (Al-Sehat) refrain from using the medication. Those individuals who are consuming the capsules for some time should seek the help of a medical professional in order to check the condition of their adrenal gland since the abrupt discontinuation of secreted corticosteroids can also be detrimental to one’s health.
Nayab Fatima is a university graduate and an emerging media professional with a strong passion for journalism, research, and independent reporting. She specializes in developing well-researched, fact-based, and analytical news stories covering a wide range of sectors, with particular expertise in technology, telecommunications, aviation, and the automobile industry.
