Are Sexual Enhancement Drugs Safe? Unknown Ingredients in Some Supplements Could be Dangerous

The Food and Drug Administration has recalled several sexual enhancement supplements as their products contain undeclared materials.

Products containing the drugs Vicerex and Blank Ant, both of which are manufactured by American Lifestyle, can be used for enhancing sexual desire and performance.

However, Vicerex was found to contain the drug Tadalafil, which is sold under the brand name Cialis, and Black Ant was found to contain the drug Sildenafil, more commonly known as Viagra. Both are FDA-approved to treat erectile dysfunction.

These supplements are not allowed to contain any prescription drugs. Prescriptions for Tadalafil and Sidenafil can cause adverse side-effects, which typically include dangerously low blood pressure. And, if taken along with other prescription drugs that contain nitrates, health issues can become even more serious.

As the recall for these prescriptions is only voluntary at this time, according to Live Science, and no adverse events have been reported so far, many health officials are still stressing the importance of checking prescriptions and other medications individuals are taking while they may be on sexual enhancement products.  It's especially concerning as the FDA has previously warned consumers that a number of sexual enhancement supplements contain undeclared medications and are not approved by the FDA.

Consumers should return the product to the place of purchase or to American Lifestyle. The UPC codes for the recalled products can be found on the FDA release.

The FDA regulates supplements only after they enter the market. Because of this, consumers should be careful about purchasing supplements, particularly sexual enhancement, weight loss and bodybuilding supplements, because the agency is not able to test all of them.

Some supplements are certified by the U.S. Pharmacopeial Convention or NSF International - these certifications can provide reassurance that the products contain the proper dosage of ingredients, and don't contain prohibited ingredients, according to experts.