Bigger Isn’t Always Better, Especially When It Comes to Male Enhancement Drugs

Male enhancement drugs might seem tempting to those with low testosterone and other erectile dysfunction issues, but the Food and Drug Administration is warning consumers that popping such pills is dangerous and possibly deadly.

Between January and August of 2014, the federal agency issued 20 alerts, each targeting a different brand of the drugs that enlarges the size of men’s genitals. The alerts were issued based on findings the products are “tainted” and contain “hidden drug ingredients” that could cause drops in blood pressure and heart attacks.

“FDA has identified an emerging trend where over-the-counter products, frequently represented as dietary supplements, contain hidden active ingredients that could be harmful,” reads a public notification titled “Tainted Sexual Enhancement Products” posted on the agency’s Web site. “Consumers may unknowingly take products laced with varying quantities of approved prescription drug ingredients, controlled substances, and untested and unstudied pharmaceutically active ingredients. These deceptive products can harm you!”

The notification goes on to say hidden drug ingredients are an increasing problem in sexual-enhancement supplements marketed and promoted on the Internet, and it urges those taking them to “stop using this product immediately and throw it away.”

The main culprit is sildenafil, which is found in Viagra, as well as male-enhancement drugs with names like Arize, Herbal Vigor, SexRx and Weekend Warrior.

Dr. Drogo Montague, a urologist at the Cleveland Clinic’s Center for Genital Urinary Reconstruction, said in a story on NBCNews.com men who ingest sildenafil while taking nitrates to control diabetes, high cholesterol and other maladies are at risk.

“The combination, in some cases, could cause a myocardial infarction (heart attack) – or death,” Montague said. “The problem is, the FDA doesn’t have the degree of regulation over natural, herbal supplements that they really should have.”

The creatively named and colorfully packaged drugs are used by men who might not have erectile dysfunction but “want to have larger penises,” Montague added.

Here is a list of the other products targeted by the FDA:

• 3 Hard Knights
• Bali Mojo
• Dick’s Hard Up
• Eyeful
• Full Throttle On Demand
• Gold Vigra
• GoldReallas
• JINQIANGBUDOR Red Dragon
• Liu Bian Li
• Miraculous Evil Root
• MV5 Days
• O.M.G.
• S.W.A.G Contains Hidden Drug Ingredient
• Tiger King
• Vimax
• Zhen Gong Fu

“Health care professionals and patients are encouraged to report adverse events or side effects related to the use of these products to the FDA’s MedWatch Safety Information and Adverse Event Reporting Program,” according to the agency’s Web site.

To submit a report, click here.