Coimbatore, August 26, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
Police and Drug Administration officials have intensified surveillance of gyms and fitness centres across Coimbatore district following reports of Mephentermine, a prescription cardiac stimulant, being misused by young fitness enthusiasts to enhance endurance during strenuous workouts.
Health officials have warned that misuse of the injectable drug can cause serious cardiovascular complications and, in extreme cases, may prove fatal. The concern surfaced after Coimbatore District Rural Police recently seized Mephentermine from a gym near Mettupalayam, where investigators found that some fitness enthusiasts were allegedly using it as a performance-enhancing substance.
Following the seizure, the District Collector directed the police and Drug Administration Department to take measures to curb the misuse and trace the drug’s supply channels.
Mephentermine Sulphate is primarily used to treat low blood pressure, particularly during surgical procedures. It stimulates the release of noradrenaline, increases cardiac output and raises blood pressure. Officials said the medicine should be administered only under medical supervision, with the dosage and duration determined by a qualified doctor.
S. Marimuthu, Assistant Director of Drugs Control, Coimbatore Zone, said drug inspectors had been instructed to check Mephentermine stocks and supply records at pharmacies across the district. While the possibility of over-the-counter sales at local pharmacies was considered low, officials were examining purchase and distribution records.
Hospitals generally maintain stocks because the drug is used as an emergency medicine. Officials also suspect that those seeking it for illegal purposes could obtain it through online platforms or suppliers operating from other states.
The surveillance forms part of a wider crackdown on the illegal sale and misuse of habit-forming medicines, including sedatives and prescription painkillers. During August, cases were registered against six pharmacies in Pollachi, Sulur, Madukkarai, Saravanampatti and Periyanaickenpalayam for alleged violations.
Officials said medicines including Tapentadol, Tramadol, Alprazolam, Pregabalin and Zolpidem have frequently figured in drug misuse cases. Drug distributors have also been advised to avoid supplying habit-forming sedatives to standalone rural pharmacies and instead prioritise hospital-attached pharmacies, where their distribution and use can be monitored more closely.
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