It is also not known whether they had bought them, and if so, from whom, and through what channels, or whether the drugs were given to them by their friends, State Coroner Victor Yeo said. -- ST PHOTO: SHAHRIYA YAHAYA
ALL five men who died had low blood sugar levels and might have taken illegal sex enhancement drugs.
A coroner's court on Tuesday held separate inquiries into the deaths of the men whose occupations ranged from security guards to sales.
10 deaths from illegal sex pills
TEN men aged between 35 and 84 have lost their lives since March after popping illegal sex enhancement pills.
They died from complications such as pneumonia, brain injury due to low blood glucose and multi-organ failure.
THE levels of the diabetes drug glibenclamide in four types of sexual enhancement pills found here are up to five times higher than the maximum dosage diabetics take.
This lowers blood sugar levels excessively, causing symptoms such as cold sweat, tremors, dizziness, drowsiness, weakness and confusion.
Aged between 36 and 67, the five were storeman Mohamed Hadri Abdullah alias Teo Eng Sng, 54, who died on March 30; carpenter Koh Seng Hee, 49, on April 15; security guard Achmad Yunus Basri, 51, on May 8; security officer S.K. Chris, 67; on June 14; and car rental salesman Tang Eng Hiong, 36, on Aug 16.
In his findings, State Coroner Victor Yeo said in the absence of any unequivocal evidence, one should not assume that all five had knowingly consumed those illicit drugs with a view to enhance their sexual performance.
He added that what was disturbing was that the source of these drugs remained unknown.
The circumstances of how the five victims came to be in possession of the drugs were also unclear.
It is also not known whether they had bought them, and if so, from whom, and through what channels, or whether the drugs were given to them by their friends, he said.
All five had glibenclamide in their blood and urine. Some also had sidenafil, an active ingredient for Viagra used to treat erectile dysfunction.
Glibenclamide, a drug medically used to treat diabetes mellitus, lowers the blood glucose level.
When used outside of medical supervision or incorrectly, it can cause severe low blood glucose.
None of the five had any history of diabetes mellitus.
Coroner Yeo said there was a strong suspicion that the deceased could have taken the products.
'Given the circumstances surrounding the consumption and the source of the drugs are not known to this court, it is appropriate to record an open verdict in respect of each of these five deceased persons,'' he said.
He hoped that the inquiry would serve as a start point and timely reminder to all those consumers who may be tempted to take them.
Over the past few months, Health Sciences Authority had stepped up efforts to warn the public of the danger of taking these drugs.
Coroner Yeo said there could be no doubt that the drugs were dubious, hazardous and potentially lethal once ingested.
'This court cannot emphasise enough that consumers will have to act sensibly and it will be plain foolish for anyone to gamble with their health and wellbeing to taking these harmful and dubious products,'' he added.
