Federal experts and physicians say that many male enhancement products may be deadly and the marketing used to tout these products is deceptive.
In fact, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued 20 public notifications in 2014 over tainted Internet products such as “Weekend Warrior” and “O.M.G.” that are sold with promises of male sexual enhancement. The FDA described the matter as “an emerging trend,” according to NBC News.
Meanwhile, months after the agency’s warnings, some of the supplements mentioned continue to be sold through some popular retail websites, wrote NBC News. The FDA warns consumers that agency labs found a so-called “hidden drug,” namely sildenafil, the active ingredient in Viagra, in these products.
Men diagnosed with diabetes, heart disease, high blood pressure, or high cholesterol who take pharmaceutical nitrates may experience “dangerous” drops in blood pressure if they unknowingly take sildenafil, according to the FDA, NBC News reported.
Leading urologist, Dr. Drogo K. Montague, director of the Center for Genital Urinary Reconstruction at the Cleveland Clinic, said that “The combination, in some cases, could cause a myocardial infarction (heart attack)—or death,” according to NBC News. “We’re not talking about men with ED who are seeking to have better erections. For the most part, it’s men who want to have larger penises,” Montague added.
Other products that contain the hidden Viagra ingredient, according to the FDA, include “Full Throttle On Demand,” “3 Hard Knights,” and “SexRx.” The FDA describes the products as “deceptive” and issued another 33 notifications in 2013, 15 more alerts in 2012, and another two in 2011, wrote NBC News.
“But these really aren’t going to help a man who has normal (sexual) function. They’re not going to see any benefit,” Montague said. “No patient has ever admitted to me that he’s tried it, but people ask me about it and I discourage it. The problem is, the FDA doesn’t have the degree of regulation over natural, herbal supplements that they really should have,” Montague noted.
Other products the FDA targeted include “S.W.A.G.,” “Tiger King,” and “Miraculous Evil Root.” Of the 20 named in this year’s FDA letters, 18 were available at domestic and international websites as recently as this week, NBC News pointed out.
“Arize” and “Herbal Vigor Quick Fix” are two other named, tainted, male enhancement products.
Meanwhile, an agency advisory panel concluded on September 17, 2014 that testosterone replacement treatments should only be prescribed for men with specific medical conditions that adversely impact testicular function. The products are often advertised to help older men slow down the aging process, wrote NBC News.
