If you have been buying herbal medication, thinking you are treating erectile dysfunction naturally, think again.
You can’t judge a book by it cover, or sadly, a medication by its label. A recent study found that most “natural” herbal version of Viagra, actually contain Viagra.
There are a number of herbal “all-natural” products out there to choose from, which compare themselves to Pfizer’s number one prescription ED medication, Viagra. But an ongoing investigation conducted by the US Food and Drug Administration found that literally hundreds of these “all natural” ED supplements actually contain the FDA-approved pharmaceutical compounds, like sildenafil (Viagra) and tadalafil (Cialis, a competitor’s ED drug).
The FDA Investigation
So far, FDA lab tests have uncovered that close to 300 different “herbal” products contain undisclosed drug ingredients. These can include the same active ingredients found in prescription drugs that are FDA-approved for the treatment of erectile dysfunction (ED), such as Viagra, Cialis and Levitra.
And there are other risks beyond failing to be all “natural”. The FDA website states:
“Not only do these products contain undisclosed drug ingredients, but they also sometimes may include combinations of undisclosed ingredients or excessively high doses, both potentially dangerous situations.”
Essentially, a patient can be exposed to some very real dangers when taking unregulated counterfeit Viagra, ranging from unknown ingredients that do nothing for their condition to drug cocktails of unknown, unregulated, and unproven ingredients and herbal concoctions that have unknown reactions when taken with other medications.
With a genuine prescription of Viagra, high-quality standards and the quantities of ingredients used are strictly regulated. But, since the so-called herbal supplements are often manufactured in foreign countries, experts say they typically lack any oversight in production. The buyer therefore cannot be certain exactly what ingredient, and how much of that ingredient, there is in these products.
This can make for a dangerous concoction, particularly because the chemicals found in these supplements can lead to serious complications for men taking drugs for diabetes, heart disease or high blood pressure.
Consumer Warning – Buyer Beware
The FDA has been issuing warnings that actually date back as far back as two years ago, but fake Viagra pills and so-called “generic” forms (which do not really exist) are still being sold everywhere, from websites, to gas stations. Products with names like Ninja Mojo, Love4Long, and STUD Capsules, have become common-place, part of a growing trend of fake supplements that promise a quick fix for consumers.
Essentially, online websites that sell them come and go, vanishing as soon as complaints or too many questions come in. They shut down operation only to rename/rebrand themselves and set up shop again selling the same product.
The FDA states that these fake supplements are not limited to just erectile dysfunction. The FDA has a list of nearly 800 “natural” products that actually contain undisclosed pharmaceuticals. They include supplements for sexual enhancement, weight loss and bodybuilding.
“There is no magic supplement that you can take that will help you to lose weight. There are pharmaceutical drugs that will help you to lose weight,” FDA spokesperson Lyndsay Meyer stated. “Same with bodybuilding. There’s no magic pill that will help you bulk up your muscles, but steroids will certainly do that.”
Avoiding Fake “Natural” Alternatives
So how do you insure you are avoiding counterfeit Viagra (or any other counterfeit drug) and getting the real-deal?
“Even a cautious consumer can’t tell that these products are, in fact, tainted with undisclosed drug ingredients, because their labels do not list the potentially hazardous ingredients,” stated M. Daniel Dos Santos, Pharm.D., Ph.D., of FDA’s Division of Dietary Supplement Programs.
You can guarantee your medication is real by only purchasing your prescriptions from providers with safeguards and protections in place to ensure that what you receive is the genuine product.
So, once you have a prescription, look out for illegitimate pharmacies that sell fake “natural” Viagra for extremely low prices. Often, these pharmacies will call counterfeit pills “generic” Viagra. It’s important to know that the FDA has not yet approved a generic version of Viagra. Counterfeit pills are manufactured in foreign countries where the manufacturing and quality standards are lax. The pills can be ineffective or even dangerous to your health.
And don’t allow your need for privacy to make you vulnerable to counterfeit medication. One of the reasons some people end up buying “natural” Viagra is that they can purchase it discretely, online, and avoid the pharmacy counter, but there are other solutions that insure genuine product and privacy.
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You can either order Viagra through your local pharmacy or you can order online through a reputable online store, where your privacy is protected and the order is delivered discretely.
Authentic FDA-approved Viagra, manufactured by Pfizer, can be purchased through trusted online pharmacies like eDrugstore.com, offering the benefits of convenience and avoiding that special trip to your pharmacy to pick it up.
Safe Ways to Order Online
You should always be careful to make certain that the company you are ordering from is reputable:
- Does the website show a physical address?
- Is there a contact phone number for questions and for physicians to use for communication?
- They should ask for much more information than just the name of the medication and how you will choose to pay for it. Did they ask you to fill out a personal history?
- They should ask you to fill out a medical history questionnaire
- They should require that your provide information about your physician and treatment plans.
- Your online pharmacy should always be available during business hours to answer your questions and communicate as needed.
Is Real Viagra Safe?
Taking FDA-approved Viagra is a safe and effective way that many men treat erectile dysfunction. It fact it has proven to help about 80 percent of those patients prescribed. Trusted, it has been around since 1998 and it was the first medication of its kind.
Viagra’s safety and effectiveness are well documented and since it is a proven treatment for male impotence, most health insurance plans will cover Viagra, which makes the medication more affordable. Not everyone can take Viagra, only your doctor and you can decide if it is right for you.
The side effects of Viagra are generally mild and in many cases may disappear completely as you continue to use the drug. The most common side effects of the drug are back and muscle pain, dizziness, flushing, headache, indigestion, nausea, rash, and runny or stuffy nose.
Best advice is to always purchase your medications from a licensed, FDA approved pharmacy, whether in person on online. Seek the advice of your physician and choose a reputable online pharmacy, and be cautions of anything that states it is an “all natural” alternative to a pharmaceutical drug for Male impotence.
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