Kenyan pharmacists warn against viral craze of using allergy drug for vaginal tightening

What the report says

Kenyan pharmacists have warned women not to insert cetirizine tablets into the vagina after social media posts claimed the common allergy medicine could create a tightening effect during sex. The Pharmaceutical Society of Kenya said the drug is meant to be swallowed and has not been tested or approved for vaginal use.

The warning, reported by Nile Post and echoed in BBC Africa coverage, comes amid online debate sparked earlier this week on TikTok and other platforms. Health professionals said any dryness linked to antihistamines should not be confused with vaginal tightening, and may instead cause discomfort, friction or tissue injury. The society advised anyone who has already tried the practice to stop and seek medical help if they experience pain, bleeding, burning, itching, unusual discharge or fever.

The society also said it had heard reports of increased demand, higher prices and shortages of cetirizine at some pharmacies, including in Nairobi. It urged retailers not to take advantage of the trend and asked pharmacists to avoid dispensing medicines they believe may be misused. The group also called on influencers to be more careful about sharing unverified health claims online.

According to the reporting, Kenya’s health ministry had already raised concern about the trend. A senior health official suggested authorities might consider tracking medicine distribution to help identify misuse, although no formal decision on such a system has been announced.