Pleasure. Pain. Death: How the Blue Pill has devoured Kenyan men seeking sexual boost

The prescription-only pills, intended for men suffering from erectile dysfunction, are increasingly being used by healthy men seeking to prolong sexual performance and pleasure. Though not officially reported, several men have lost their lives in the process. 

Citizen TV establishes how a broken regulatory system has allowed rogue pharmacies and chemists to literally pop the blue pill. 

Source: “Naeza pata blue pill”

Seller: “Yes”

Source: “Ni how much moja”

Seller: ”Kuna ya 50 au 100”

Source: “Nipee ya 50”

This was the conversation when we visited a pharmacy in Nairobi’s Pipeline Estate. Just like that, we obtained our first 50-milligram blue pill. No prescription, no questions asked. We walked into the next chemist, same script.

Here, we purchased a 100-milligram blue pill. The pattern is the same across most pharmacies in the area. No prior medical history is taken. No prescription is requested. No questions are asked. It all comes down to money and the customer’s asking.

“These pills are clearly labelled, from the packet cover right down to the drug itself,” our source tells us. 

Different brands are available in varying strengths of 25 mgs, 50 milligrams, and 100 milligrams. The blue pill is a silent addiction, steadily taking hold in towns and cities across the country.

“Saa singine ukienda unasema nataka blue fever, saa zingine unasema nataka aviator imechorwa ndege,” says a source. 

Anthony, not his real name, knows this reality all too well. For the past year, he has been using the drugs. Every week, he makes trips to the pharmacy to restock. With just Ksh.250 he walks away with four pills. That supply lasts him two weeks, he says, considering a single pill remains active in the bloodstream for up to three days.

Anthony says the blue pill has given him a new sense of confidence. He is now able to ‘rise to the occasion’, something he admits was a challenge when he first settled down.

 “Nilioa nilikuja nikapata bibi kwa nyumba naye alikuwa ni kama ako na nguvu sana kuniliko sasa ikabidi nitafute njia, nilienda nikatafuta hii dawa ya maji lakini nikapata hainisaidi, nikaenda nikapata mkombero nayo haikunisaidia,” says Anthony. 

He later confided in a friend, only to discover that he, too, was searching for a quick fix. The idea of seeking help beyond traditional remedies soon took shape. Together, they walked into a chemist looking for answers. 

Without a doctor’s prescription, they were offered a solution, blue pills or a syrup, said to enhance sexual performance. They chose the pills.

 “Nilienda nikatumia hiyo siku kwa nyumba at least bibi yangu alifurahia na mimi nikaona iko vizuri, nikakuwa hivyo sasa ni kama nimekuwa addicted kitu kama mwaka mmoja ju nimeoa juzi,” Anthony shares. 

The only advice he received from the sellers was when to take the pills, the dosage, and how long the drug stays in the bloodstream. No one warned him about the dangers of using the drug without a doctor’s recommendation. 

“Na ukimeza ujue huyu mgeni wako kama ni mgeni ulikuwa naye akue karibu usimezee kama hamjaelewana anakuja, na ukimeza unameza 20 minutes before muanze hiyo kazi yenu na unameza moja na hiyo moja inachukua kama siku tatu kwa mwili,” Anthony explains. 

He attributes his dependence to a deep fear of inadequacy and embarrassment. He also claims there is growing sexual pressure and expectation from women.

“Siku hizi unajua wanakula sana hao wasichana nini na nini so inabidi msichana ako na nguvu na wewe hauna nguvu so inabidi sasa uendee uongezee nguvu ingine kutoka kwa kukunywa hiyo dawa, aendee akiwa anasema enyewe umefanya coz tunaogopa kuharibiwa jina,” he says. 

With continued use comes the temptation to increase the dosage. For Anthony, that temptation nearly cost him his life.

“Roho inakugonga sana inakugonga unaskia ni kama unapasuka saa zingine kichwa inaanza kukuuma unaskia unaumwa na kichwa serious alafu hiyo kitu wakati unakunywa na huyu mtu anakunywa bangi mko pamoja mtu akikuangalia anadhani umetumia bangi.” 

It is this behaviour that has put lives at risk. 

Reports indicate that, over the past year, at least five people have died from sudden cardiac arrest or heart attacks. 

Toxicological tests confirmed traces of sexual enhancement drugs in the victims’ bloodstream. These, however, represent only a fraction of the cases.

Dr. Yubrine Moraa Gachemba, a Consultant cardiologist at The Nairobi Hospital, says, “This is a prescription only drug the doctor must have seen you, evaluated you, seen whether you’re fit or not, whether this is right drug for you or not, before they write the prescription, for the people who are selling this without prescription shame on you.” 

Dr. Johansen Oduor, the Chief Government pathologist, in an article published in August in The Pitch Magazine titled; The Blue Pill: From Enhancement to Dependency, highlighted the widespread use of sexual enhancement drugs, which has resulted in severe side effects, including deaths. In his article, Dr. Oduor documents two fatal cases within Kilimani estate:

Case one was a 70-year-old businessman with a history of systemic hypertension and type 2 diabetes, who collapsed outside a rental apartment just minutes before meeting his date. A condom and blue pills were found in his pocket.

Case two was of a prominent club and hotel owner in Kilimani who was found dead in a hotel room where he had booked and invited two women. During the encounter, he suddenly complained of a severe headache, convulsed, and died minutes later. Toxicology analysis confirmed the presence of blue pills in his system.

Dr, Oduor says the use of these drugs for performance enhancement is alarming, and there is need for more awareness.

“It was made as a side effect. We have a specific type of heart condition, which is called pulmonary hypertension, and medication is helpful; we give it to the patients, and they get better. These are patients who have very high pressure in the lungs, failing functions of the right side of the heart, swelling, and their tummy is big because they’re retaining a lot of fluid that is not being pumped from the right side. That medication is useful in that condition,” says Dr. Moraa.

The Pharmaceutical Society of Kenya acknowledges that there are gaps in the dispensation of these drugs. The society, which is tasked with ensuring adherence to pharmacy regulations and the law, had issued warnings in 2021 over the use of blue pills.

 “The first question is who is giving it over the counter. So, for the profession of pharmacy, we have two cadres: we have the pharmacists who are the doctor then we have the diploma holders who are the technologists. Most of our pharmacies have the technologists, but it is not fair to put the blame on them. Ideally, you should not just buy it just because you asked for it; there should be a questionnaire, you should be asked a few questions for the person to understand why you need it,” says Dr. Wairimu Mbogo, President, Pharmaceutical Society of Kenya. 

Dr. Wairimu adds that the information should be shared with the Pharmacy and Poisons Body for necessary steps to be taken to protect members of the public.

“Once you’re able to share the information, the PSK works closely with PPB, where we can look at the problem holistically and say, by the way, this is where the problem is, and this is how we resolve the problem. Because number one, we want to check, are you buying them from a registered pharmacy? If you’re buying from a registered pharmacy, who is selling haphazardly without asking the question, are they people who have licenses? Ideally, you shouldn’t just buy it,” Dr. Wairimu remarks. 

Dr. Moraa warns that “If you use it and you have chest pain, and you’re profusely sweating… You should call your doctor and find a hospital immediately and get an ECG done because it means the heart is complaining.”

Mild side effects of these drugs include headaches, nosebleeds, discomfort, upper abdominal pain, skin redness, diarrhoea, and dizziness. 

Severe side effects such as low blood pressure, vision loss, priapism, and cardiac arrest can be life-threatening, leading to death. 

With such dangers looming, health experts are calling for stricter action against those who dispense these drugs over the counter without following the rules.