The Zambian authorities have banned an energy drink after a Ugandan man complained it had caused him to have a prolonged erection.
Power Natural High Energy Drink SX, which is made in Zambia, is not marketed as a sexual aid.
But an investigation by Ugandan health authorities in December found that the beverage contained sildenafil citrate – the active ingredient in Viagra.
Since then, news of the drink’s side-effects has boosted its popularity.
Journalist Kennedy Gondwe in Lusaka says there has been increased demand for the soft drink, which is sold in supermarkets and by street vendors across the country.
He says that despite the ban, the drink is still on sale in shops in the capital, Lusaka. The packaging on the drink clearly states that it “increases libido” and is an “aphrodisiac”. It also claims to “revitalise the body and mind”.
Viagra is the brand name of sildenafil citrate, the medication used to treat erectile dysfunction. It is normally only available on prescription.
The drink’s manufacturer, Revin Zambia, has not commented on the ban.
