Telangana DCA seizes 66 vials of cardiac stimulant sold illegally to gym-goers

Officials from the Telangana Drugs Control Administration (DCA), in coordination with Karkhana Police, conducted a raid on an unlicensed premises in Namalagundu, Secunderabad, on Friday (October 17, 2025) following inputs about the illegal sale of prescription drugs. The premises was being run by one M. Naresh.

During the operation, authorities seized 66 vials of ‘Termiva’ and ‘Termin’ injections, both containing Mephentermine Sulphate (30 mg/ml), a cardiac stimulant. According to a release from the DCA, the injections were being stocked and sold illegally to gym-goers for bodybuilding and performance enhancement.

Mephentermine Sulphate Injection is a prescription-only medicine used in hospitals to treat hypotension (low blood pressure) that may arise during spinal anaesthesia in surgical procedures. The drug functions by stimulating the release of noradrenaline, thereby increasing cardiac output and constricting blood vessels to raise blood pressure. Officials cautioned that the medication should only be administered under medical supervision, as misuse can cause severe cardiovascular complications and, in extreme cases, prove fatal.

DCA officials said that Mephentermine’s stimulant properties are being increasingly misused by certain gyms and individuals to enhance endurance and physical performance.