Monday, December 22,
2025 - The Government has moved to tighten control over the sale of blue
pills in the country following a recent exposé that raised an alarm over its
widespread abuse.
Public Health Principal Secretary, Mary Muthoni, announced
new regulatory measures on Sunday, December 21st, stressing that
sildenafil - commonly known as the “blue pill” - is strictly a
prescription-only medicine.
“The ‘blue pill’ commonly refers to sildenafil, which is
strictly a prescription-only medicine and not an over-the-counter product,”
Muthoni said.
She cautioned that unsupervised use of the drug can be
dangerous, particularly for individuals with underlying heart conditions or
those taking medications such as nitrates.
“When taken with other medicines, especially nitrates or
certain blood pressure and heart medicines, it can cause dangerous interactions
and increase the risk of life-threatening events such as heart attack and
stroke; patients should consult a doctor or pharmacist before use,” she added.
Muthoni outlined steps already taken by the Ministry of
Health, including monitoring systems requiring wholesalers to document
prescription drug sales, audits of pharmacies to review dispensing records, and
consumer education campaigns.
Her announcement comes days after the Pharmacy and Poisons
Board (PPB) issued a stern warning to manufacturers, importers, distributors,
retailers and supermarkets against selling unregistered or counterfeit health
products.
The regulator emphasized that supermarkets, cosmetic shops,
household goods stores, and online sellers are not authorized to stock
prescription-only medicines.
The Kenyan DAILY POST
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