The Food and Drug Supervisory Agency (BPOM) revealed the findings of sachet coffee containing paracetamol and sildenafil. The findings were known after BPOM carried out crackdown operations on illegal traditional medicine and food products containing medicinal chemicals (BKO). As a result, sachets of coffee containing paracetamol and sildenafil circulating in the cities of Bandung and Bogor were found. The copy of the sachet found even included a BPOM permit. However, the Head of BPOM Penny K. Lukito has confirmed that this is a fake. It should be noted that the paracetamol found by BPOM in these sachets of coffee is an analgesic-antipyretic drug to relieve mild pain and fever.
This drug can indeed be purchased by the public without using a prescription because it is included in the group of over-the-counter drugs. "Basically, this drug is only used to reduce symptoms of mild pain and fever such as headaches, flu, and toothache in children," said pharmacologist at Sebelas Maret University (UNS) Surakarta, Heru Sasongko, M.Sc.,Apt to Kompas. com, Saturday (5/3/2022). While sildenafil is the generic name or active substance, and this drug is clinically used to treat impotence or erectile dysfunction in men. Heru Sasongko explained, sildenafil can also be used in patients with pulmonary hypertension or increased pulmonary artery pressure. "This medicine includes
Long term dangers of paracetamol and sildenafil
Heru Sasongko explained a number of dangers to health if people are "hooked" to consume coffee sachets containing paracetamol and sildenafil. He explained that paracetamol taken long-term or in large doses can have fatal consequences. "For example, liver disorders, severe headaches, nausea and vomiting, and others," added Heru Sasongko. "Under certain conditions paracetamol can interact with other drugs, such as concurrent use with warfarin (causing bleeding), izoniazid (increasing the risk of liver damage) and other effects," he added. "Therefore, if paracetamol is mixed with traditional medicines or food products, the risk is very dangerous." On the other hand, he added that the content of sildenafil or more familiarly known to the public as Viagra also has dangers if consumed in the long term. Heru Sasongko said that illegally sildenafil is also often mixed in traditional medicines and food products. "The motivation for mixing BKO in food products and traditional medicines is generally to want to give an effect that is fast or has a fast onset so that consumers have more confidence," he explained. However, he added that the side effect of using food products and traditional medicines containing BKO is the occurrence of health problems. Among them, arrhythmias or irregular heartbeat rhythm, chest pain, headaches, erections that last too long and cause pain, seizures, and even fainting.
Benefits of paracetamol with caffeine
Many people then worry about the paracetamol content in sachet coffee as found by BPOM. However, Heru Sasongko said this content when mixed with coffee can provide health benefits. Even so, the use of paracetamol must be based on the right dose in order to provide a beneficial effect when combined with caffeine. "There are already chemical drug products that combine paracetamol with caffeine which are used to treat mild headaches," he said. "However, the dose must be appropriate, while coffee contains very varied caffeine can be small or even higher so the potential for side effects is very high as well." So that people are more observant in choosing medicinal products and packaged food, he advises consumers to be more vigilant. He asked consumers not to be tempted by bombastic advertisements for medicinal and food products that promise health benefits. So that consumers do not become victims, they can check the authenticity of the distribution permit of a drug or food product through the BPOM website. "Check the label on the packaging, the name of the manufacturer, the expiration date to see if it looks suspicious," said Heru Sasongko. "BPOM RI has carried out its duties and responsibilities as an official institution that has the function of supervising the circulation of drugs and food throughout Indonesia very well," he concluded.
https://lifestyle.kompas.com/read/2022/03/05/112141420/kopi-saset-mengandung-parasetamol-dan-sildenafil-apa-bahayanya