Indian-Made Alertness Pills Trigger Severe Skin Reactions in Singapore
At least nine individuals in Singapore have faced hospitalization between February 2024 and February 2025. They developed serious skin conditions after consuming Modafinil and Armodafinil tablets. These pills were manufactured in India and obtained without any doctor's prescription.
Unregistered Drugs Purchased Illegally
Singapore's Health Sciences Authority issued a warning on Monday. The authority stated that the medicine is not registered in the country. Users procured it in the Geylang neighborhood from street peddlers or friends. Their goal was to boost alertness and energy levels.
HSA acts as the public health regulatory body in Singapore. The regulator cautioned strongly against using these unregistered drugs. Modafinil is often prescribed for conditions like narcolepsy in some nations. Narcolepsy makes people feel excessively sleepy during daytime hours. However, this drug remains unregistered in Singapore.
Victims and Severe Medical Conditions
The affected individuals ranged in age from 18 to 57 years. This group included two women. Among the nine hospitalized patients, six developed Stevens-Johnson Syndrome. SJS is a life-threatening condition that causes severe blistering and peeling of the skin and mucous membranes.
Three of these six sufferers experienced toxic epidermal necrolysis. This condition represents an even more severe form of Stevens-Johnson Syndrome. All victims had used the medicines inappropriately to boost energy. They purchased the tablets from street peddlers without obtaining any doctor's prescription.
Indian Manufacturing Connection Revealed
HSA did not disclose the manufacturer's details initially. However, investigations revealed that the tablets were produced by a pharmaceutical company located in Dehradun, Uttarakhand. Pictures of the drug strips circulated in local media across Singapore and other Southeast Asian nations.
The strips clearly indicated manufacturing in 2023 with an expiry date set for 2025. This information confirmed the Indian origin of the problematic pills.
Official Response from Indian Authorities
Dehradun District Magistrate Savin Bansal addressed the situation directly. He stated that the administration would take necessary legal action after reviewing details through proper government channels.
"The district administration remains committed to ensuring public health safety," Bansal emphasized. "We have already issued directions to concerned officials to register cases and make necessary arrests in such matters."
This incident highlights the dangers of obtaining unregistered medications through unofficial channels. It underscores the importance of using only prescribed medicines from licensed sources.
