Popping a gastric pill or two to ease stomach pain may be common for many people, but a man in Taiwan who took the medicine continuously for two months found himself growing breasts.
Alarmed by the discovery, he sought help at a hospital.
There, he was diagnosed with gynaecomastia, a condition in which a hormonal imbalance causes the swelling of breast tissue in males.
Taiwanese media reported that the middle-aged man had consumed medicine containing cimetidine, which is used to treat stomach and intestine ulcers, or to reduce the amount of stomach acid.
Some side effects of taking cimetidine include headache, diarrhoea, and dizziness.
Taking these pills for prolonged periods may also reduce the amount of testosterone in the body, and cause a man's breasts to grow.
Fortunately, the man who 'gained two cup sizes' would be able to recover after he stopped taking the medicine, his doctor said.
Ladies should not use these pills to increase their bust size, the doctor cautioned, as they may lead to hormonal problems.
minlee@sph.com.sg