FDA Warns About TimeOut Capsules

TimeOut, a product marketed to men as a dietary supplement for sexual enhancement, contains an ingredient that could cause dangerously low blood pressure, warns the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

The agency said an analysis of the product showed that it contains
hydroxythiohomosildenafil, a chemical similar to sildenafil, the active ingredient in Viagra. Like sildenafil, hydroxythiohomosildenafil may interact with prescription drugs such as nitrates, including nitroglycerin, and cause dangerously low blood pressure.

TimeOut is distributed online as 2,500 mg capsules and labeled as “100% natural,” which may lead consumers to mistakenly believe that the product poses no health risk. Men who have TimeOut capsules should stop using them immediately, the FDA said.

So far, the agency hasn’t received any reports of adverse events associated with the use of TimeOut

Journalists association in new HIV/Aids campaign

The Association of Journalists Against AIDS in Tanzania (AJAAT), has set up a strategy that would enable marginalized people to have universal access to HIV services.

Addressing reporters in Dar es Salaam on Monday, the Chairman of the Association, Mr Simon Kivamwo, said that the plan will involve journalists from local media houses by writing and publishing stories based on universal access to HIV services for marginalized people.

“The three-month strategy is set to reduce new HIV infections among the communities and attain free HIV and strategic ambition,” he said adding that the plan would also show how poor access to universal agreed HIV services can increase HIV infections.

“Apart from that, another aim of the strategy is to identify problems facing the marginalized to access HIV services and how the government and other stakeholders are contributing to better services.

He said lack of universal access of HIV services was the main challenge that sets bottlenecks in scaling up access to HIV treatment, prevention, care and support.

According to the 2009 UNAIDS report, about 130,000 Tanzanians aged between 15 and 49 years are infected with HIV each year… and this is attributed by lack access to educational material on HIV presented in the media.

On the other hand, Mr Kivamwo said that the plan to be accomplished by the journalists will empower the desired to make informed decisions about their well-being.

Mr Kivamwo pointed out commercial sex workers, drug users, people with disabilities, beggars and prisoners as the marginalized people with poor universal access to HIV services.

By ANNE ROBI, Tanzania Daily News