Beware of Desmethyl Carbodenafil in OTC Male Impotence Products

Highlights

• Men with erectile dysfunction (ED) may risk using natural or herbal supplements to treat their ED.
• Many of these remedies contain hidden ingredients, like desmethyl carbodenafil, that are not regulated by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and can be dangerous. 
• Desmethyl carbodenafil can have additive effects with other medications.
• Desmethyl carbodenafil has resulted in at least one known death.
• The safest course is to consult a trained medical professional for erectile dysfunction treatment.

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Men looking for a quick and easy fix to their symptoms of erectile dysfunction will find no shortage of seemingly appropriate products advertised online. In many cases, these herbal remedies or dietary supplements promise all-natural cures for ED.

However, what they actually deliver can be something quite different — and potentially dangerous.

Desmethyl carbodenafil is one example.

What is Desmethyl Carbodenafil?

Desmethyl carbodenafil is a chemical compound that’s structurally similar to sildenafil (Viagra). However, unlike sildenafil, desmethyl carbodenafil has not been approved by the FDA.

One example is Stiff Bull Herbal Coffee. On their website, they describe how the herbs they use are grown in Malaysian jungles and claim they’ve been used for centuries to improve sexual health, including libido. Sounds harmless, right?

Wrong. Read on to learn why.

Calling Bull on Stiff Bull Herbal Coffee

Back in 2016, Stiff Bull Herbal Coffee made the news when the FDA issued a public notification warning people not to buy the product because it contained hidden ingredients.

In addition to the stimulatory effects of caffeine, present in most forms of coffee, the product’s label indicated that it also contained herbal ingredients reputed to improve male sexual function.

These ingredients included:

• Guarana
• Maca root
• Tongkat ali

However, as with most herbal ingredients out of the FDA’s control, their safety and efficacy have never been subjected to rigorous clinical testing.

But that’s not the worst of it. Stiff Bull Herbal Coffee and dozens of products like it contain hidden ingredients, usually chemical compounds that aren’t listed on the product’s label.

In the case of this self-proclaimed ED-busting coffee, that ingredient is desmethyl carbodenafil, a chemical compound very similar to sildenafil, the active ingredient in Viagra, but one that has never been approved for use in the United States.

But that didn’t stop Stiff Bull from advertising its products as “the relationship saver” and “the coffee that makes you want to stay in bed.”

So What’s the Big Deal?

Those wondering what’s so bad about getting a Viagra-like jolt from a relatively inexpensive product should be reminded that sildenafil and compounds like it can cause very serious health consequences when used in conjunction with other medications, especially those containing nitrates.

This is why they require prescriptions; prescriptions allow for appropriate surveillance of patients under a doctor’s care.

Both nitrate-based drugs and sildenafil (as well as sildenafil analogues like desmethyl carbodenafil) lower blood pressure. Taken together, they could cause a dramatic drop in blood pressure. And if the potentially offending ingredient isn’t listed on the product’s label, the consumer isn’t alerted to this potentially life-threatening danger.

And, again, desmethyl carbodenafil has never been approved for use in drug products by the FDA.

Stiff Bull Is Just One Example

Stiff Bull isn’t the only product targeted by the FDA for use of undeclared ingredients. While desmethyl carbodenafil is commonly used in supplements, there are others. Some products containing hidden ingredients, like Stiff Bull, have only drawn advisories from the FDA. Many others have been recalled.

Supplements aren’t usually subject to FDA approval, so products containing drugs that are available only by prescription are considered unapproved drug products.

Although the FDA does not have the authority to approve OTC supplements, they do monitor them and add offenders to their Tainted Sexual Enhancement Products list of supplements they deem potentially unsafe.

A Story Ends in Tragedy

In a case study published in the Journal of Analytical Toxicology in 2017, researchers presented the case of a Hispanic male in his 30s who tragically died after taking a product containing desmethyl carbodenafil. A coroner determined his death was related to “acute desmethyl carbodenafil toxicity,” probably caused by a mislabeled herbal supplement.

Tests of the man’s blood indicated he had higher than normal levels of desmethyl carbodenafil in his system. As a result, it is believed that he experienced severe hypotension (low blood pressure) that caused inadequate oxygen flow to his organs and ultimately caused his death.

Buyer Beware

It’s hard to believe that something you could order from Amazon or find at your local gas station could be so dangerous, but that’s the reality for products containing compounds like desmethyl carbodenafil.

The best advice is to steer clear of these so-called herbal remedies and “miracle” products advertised online. There’s no way of knowing what hidden ingredients these products might contain.

What’s more, just because a label includes the word “natural” or “herbal” doesn’t mean it’s safe; it could still contain unlabeled compounds like desmethyl carbodenafil.

Counterfeiters are often behind products such as these, which means that they purposely commit fraud when they put these products on the market — nobody’s idea of a trustworthy source.

It’s always best to consult your doctor to determine the best course of treatment for your specific ED symptoms as well as any other health problems you might have.

Remember that ED is a disease of your cardiovascular system. This is why you should beware of products not formulated by medical doctors who are trained to manage disease.

Don’t Take Chances With Your Health

If you struggle with erectile dysfunction symptoms, don’t risk your health with unregulated over-the-counter products. Stick with prescription ED medications, like Viagra, Cialis, and Stendra, that the FDA has approved as safe and effective.

If cost is an issue, these medications are available in affordable generic versions — sildenafil, tadalafil, and avanafil, respectively, as well as vardenafil (formerly available as Levitra).

eDrugstore Has Your Back

Many men try male enhancement products of questionable quality because they don’t want to deal with the embarrassment of seeing a doctor to get a prescription for erectile dysfunction medication. When you shop with eDrugstore, there is no stigma.

You’ll get a free online medical consultation with a U.S.-licensed physician, who will write your prescription and send it to your door in discreet packaging at no charge to you. Learn about your FDA-approved ED treatment options by visiting our erectile dysfunction page.