Highlights
- While ExtenZe has 26 ingredients, the overall medical evidence points to limited, if any, effect on ED.
- ExtenZe has in the past settled two false advertising claims and currently makes no explicit medical claims on its website.
- Carefully tested prescription ED medication has been on the market longer than ExtenZe, is FDA approved as safe and effective, and can be obtained conveniently and quickly.
ExtenZe has been on the market since 2002, one of the notorious crowd of gas station sex pills. But what’s in it, and is it any more effective than other supplements making similar claims? Read about Extenze’s ingredients, whether they work, and what the medical evidence says.
What are ExtenZe Male Enhancement Pills?
ExtenZe claims to provide “male enhancement” and that it’s a “remarkable blood flow stimulator that makes the most of your natural potential.” However, it makes no explicit medical claims to treat erectile dysfunction or any other health effects. This may be because the manufacturers were forced to settle a lawsuit alleging it made false claims in 2010, and a state lawsuit over similar claims brought in California was settled for $1.75 million.
What are ExtenZe’s Ingredients, and Do They Have Any Impact on ED?
The primary ingredients of ExtenZe are folate, better known as vitamin B9, and zinc in high amounts — 100% and 167% of the recommended daily allowance, respectively. Both are common macronutrients.
ExtenZe also lists the following ingredients on the label:
- Dehidroepindrosterone (DHEA). A steroid hormone key to creating sex hormones, DHEA is a banned substance. A 2018 systemic review of studies of DHEA found general benefits for men, but it’s not clear how much is in ExtenZe and what benefits it might have.
- Pregnenolone. Another steroid hormone involved in producing other hormones, this may help with hormone-based ED, but also like DHEA, both dosage and benefits are unclear.
- Black pepper and white pepper. Rat studies have found a possible effect on testosterone levels, but this would only be effective for hormone-related ED — and results of animal experiments don’t necessarily translate to humans.
- Ginger. Ginger has well-documented anti-inflammatory properties, but so far, studies of ginger as a possible ED treatment seem to be limited to animals.
- Yohimbe. From an African evergreen, while yohimbe has a long history in herbal medicine, modern studies haven’t found much effect on ED.
- Tribulus. This herb is claimed to increase libido. While a systematic review found possible benefits for ED, it also noted how it might help is unclear and that more substantial research is needed.
- Maca root. While at least one study concludes that maca root can improve sexual desire, it’s not clear what the mechanism of action is, and it may be simply a placebo effect.
- Cnidium. This plant used in traditional Chinese herbal medicine has long been used to enhance male sexual function. Rodent studies have been conducted that have shown positive results, but so far there are few meaningful human studies. What’s more, because the FDA does not oversee supplements, there are no official dosage guidelines, and there is little reliable information about potential side effects.
- Gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA). Similar to L-arginine, GABA may help in combination with ED medication, but more studies are needed.
- L-arginine. An essential amino acid, L-arginine is popularly considered to be a stimulant to release growth hormone. A study comparing it with PDE5 inhibitors, the most popular class of ED drugs, found it may help in combination but was less effective on its own. Men with high blood pressure need to take this supplement with caution, as it can cause potentially dangerous drops in blood pressure, particularly when taken together with ED medications.
- Epimedium sagittatum. Known as horny goat weed, this herb contains a substance called icariin that may be a possible treatment for heart disease. But its effects are still under study, and it’s not clear that its cardiovascular benefits will translate to ED.
- Muira puama. Muira puama was found to have little impact on erectile function as part of a systematic review of herbal supplement studies conducted in 2020.
- Pumpkin seed. Animal studies have found that there may be some benefit to pumpkin seeds. However, the seeds were made part of the animal’s diet, so you may be better off snacking on them.
- Stinging nettle. While stinging nettle extracts may have anti-inflammatory effects, it doesn’t seem to have been the subject of ED research.
- Astragalus. Popular in Chinese herbal medicine, astragalus is still in the rodent study stage of research.
- Fo-ti. Native to China, we couldn’t find any scientific study of fo-ti on its own for treating erectile dysfunction.
- Hops. Oddly, the urban legends around hops claim hops overconsumption gives you “man boobs” due to phytoestrogens in the plant. Hops do, in fact, contain phytoestrogens, but they’re more likely to be beneficial for relieving menopause symptoms than for treating ED. In fact, because hops mimic the actions of estrogen in the body, this ingredient could potentially cause erectile function problems.
- Boron. While claims that boron, a vital nutrient you need trace amounts of, supports testosterone production are common, small-scale studies comparing boron supplements to other approaches, like weightlifting, have found minimal effects.
Is ExtenZe Safe?
While most of the ingredients seem at least to not cause any harm, and side effects seem relatively rare, there are still risks. In 2018, the FDA issued a pair of public notifications on two ExtenZe products that were found to contain sildenafil. This can be risky for people taking nitrates to treat heart disease or other drugs that open up the blood vessels, causing a potentially dangerous drop in blood pressure.
Counterfeit products are also a serious concern. A search of the FDA database finds two press releases announcing indictments for selling counterfeit products including ExtenZe, and a 2019 indictment for smuggling pirate products. Gas station sex pills like ExtenZe are at a much higher risk of being tainted with pharmaceuticals.
What Do The ExtenZe Reviews Say?
It’s difficult to find objective reviews online, to the point where ExtenZe has no testimonials or other material concerning its effects on its site. What few reviews we did find tended to be mixed. On CVS’s website, for example, there were three one-star reviews of an ExtenZe product out of six total.
Is ExtenZe Worth the Cost?
A supply of ExtenZe from the website runs approximately a dollar a day. However, if you’re interested in trying these herbs, they tend to be widely available in supplement form at many health and wellness stores, from brands with transparent sourcing and dosage volumes. You may also be able to secure a similar blend from a trained herbalist, who can work with your doctor to limit any interactions or risks.
Alternatives to ExtenZe Male Enhancement Pills
While it’s difficult to find evidence that ExtenZe works, there are several prescription ED drugs that have been on the market longer than ExtenZe and have been thoroughly tested in the lab and in the field to work. At eDrugstore, we carry only FDA-approved medications like Viagra, Cialis, and Levitra, and their affordable generic versions, sildenafil, tadalafil, and vardenafil, respectively.
Buy Your ED Medications Online
When you order your ED meds from eDrugstore, you will not need to sacrifice convenience. Most men can obtain a prescription for ED medication with a free telehealth consultation, and they can be shipped directly to your door, quickly and at no charge. To get started with ED treatments that work, visit our erectile dysfunction page.
Dan is a long-time freelance writer focusing on technology, science, health, and medicine, with a lifelong interest in physics, biology, and medicine. His work has taken a particular focus on scientific studies “beyond the headlines,” reading the study to more closely examine the results.