SINGAPORE Three people were hospitalized due to serious adverse reactions after taking drugs used to treat narcolepsy to improve alertness, the Health Sciences Authority (HSA) said on Monday (Nov 6).
Those who suffer from narcolepsy have difficulty staying awake for long periods of time.
The drugs in question, modafinil and armodafinil, are potent drugs that are not registered in Singapore but are available in some countries as prescription drugs, the HSA said in a press release.
If there is a clinical need, doctors can ask the HSA to provide modafinil or armodafinil for their patients’ medical conditions, such as narcolepsy.
Patients must be under strict medical supervision, the authority added.
One of the victims, a man in his 30s, developed Stevens-Johnson syndrome, a life-threatening skin disease characterized by blistering and severe peeling of the skin after taking modafinil, and was hospitalized, authorities said.
He had obtained the product from his friend and took it only once to improve his alertness, HSA added.
Over the next few days, he developed a fever, multiple mouth ulcers and conjunctivitis (red eyes). He also had a severe rash that started on his neck and spread to other parts of his body.
The other victims were two men in their 30s who had taken armodafinil, HSA said.
One of them had obtained the drug from a friend to help him stay awake during the day. After taking the medication several times, he developed multiple mouth ulcers and his mouth became inflamed. He experienced pain when swallowing and was unable to eat or speak, and also developed conjunctivitis. He was then hospitalized.
The other man developed Stevens-Johnson syndrome and was hospitalized. He had obtained armodafinil from an illegal peddler in Geylang and took it for more than a month to stay alert while working.
He experienced a serious skin reaction that started with fever and rash. This progressed to blisters on the skin and multiple mouth ulcers. The severe and painful rashes then spread throughout the body, HSA said.
SERIOUS SIDE EFFECTS
There have been reports of people taking modafinil or armodafinil to improve alertness or as “cognitive enhancers” to improve concentration and memory, the HSA said.
“Self-medication with modafinil or armodafinil for these purposes is not appropriate and may be harmful.”
Both drugs can cause serious side effects such as heart problems, hypertension and psychiatric disorders including anxiety, hallucinations or mania, authorities added.
Serious skin reactions have also been reported, which may lead to hospitalization, serious complications, or even death.
Those who recover could suffer long-term complications, including skin scarring, hair loss and visual impairment such as increased sensitivity to light and blindness, HSA said.
Other vital organs, including the lungs, may also be permanently affected.
Modafinil and armodafinil also carry a potential risk of addiction due to their stimulating effects on the brain, the authority added.
The HSA advised consumers to be cautious when obtaining health products from unknown sources, even if recommended by friends or relatives, because one cannot be certain what these products contain or where and how they were made.
Unless authorized by the HSA for use in special circumstances by a doctor for patients in his or her care, it is an offense to supply and sell an unregistered health product such as modafinil or armodafinil. health products law, the authority said.
Those found guilty of these acts face a fine of up to S$50,000 or up to two years in prison, or both.
Members of the public who have information about the illegal sale and supply of modafinil or armodafinil can contact the HSA Enforcement Department on 6866 3485 or by email. hsa_is [at] hsa.gov.sg.
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