16 December 2002
BODY BUILDERS WARNED ABOUT COUNTERFEIT DRUGS
Following a recent joint operation involving Medicines Inspectors of the Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety together with officers of the Police Service of Northern Ireland, a large quantity of medicines commonly used by the body-building fraternity were seized. These included a wide range of anabolic steroids and a substantial quantity of an injectable preparation purporting to be Nubain Injection, an analgesic used to relieve moderate to severe pain.
Subsequent investigation and enquiries with the product licence-holder (Bristol-Myers Squibb) have now firmly established that the Nubain is a counterfeit product of unknown provenance. The product found is packed in 10ml vials bearing a Batch Number BA561 and an expiry date of December 2005. The Department is currently unable to establish the origin of this fake product. Investigations are continuing with a view to establishing whether or not the other products seized, which are mainly unlicensed products not available in the UK, are genuine or otherwise pose a health hazard.
The Department is concerned that any users of this particular product are warned of the potential serious health risks of using a product of such questionable safety and quality.
Anyone in possession of Nubain bearing the above batch number or any steroids obtained from unapproved sources must cease using these products immediately and seek medical advice. Persons with any information regarding these product should contact the Department’s Pharmaceutical Branch (Phone 028 9052 2952) or officers of the PSNI Drugs Squad (Phone 028 9065 0222).
Commenting upon this seizure, the Chief Pharmacist, Dr Norman Morrow, said "I welcome the fact that these products have been withdrawn from circulation as they pose a potentially serious health risk. Investigations are on-going and I would urge anyone with any information on this matter to contact the Pharmaceutical Branch or the Drug Squad. Those individuals with personal concerns as to the health risks associated with the use of these products should seek medical advice."
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