Some companies offer erectile dysfunction (ED) pills online without the need for a prescription. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) do not regulate these products, so they may not be safe. Some might contain harmful ingredients that the manufacturers do not list on the label.
According to the FDA, the number of ED products available online is increasing. However, people must be vigilant and avoid unregulated ED remedies, including those that manufacturers claim to be “natural supplements.”
This article will look at some drugs that help with ED, the risks associated with buying them online, and where to get ED pills safely. It will also discuss some other ways of treating ED.
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Phosphodiesterase-5 (PDE-5) inhibitors are medications that males can use to help treat ED. These drugs prolong erections by blocking the action of phosphodiesterase enzyme, which triggers the end of an erection.
The FDA have approved the use of four PDE-5 inhibitors for ED:
| Drug name | Dose |
| avanafil (Stendra) | 50 milligrams (mg), 100 mg, 200 mg |
| sildenafil (Viagra) | 25 mg, 50 mg, 100 mg |
| tadalafil (Cialis) | 2.5 mg, 5 mg, 10 mg, 20 mg |
| vardenafil (Levitra) | 5 mg, 10 mg, 20 mg |
Depending on the efficacy and side effects a male may experience while taking any of these drugs, doctors may recommend a different dosage.
PDE-5 inhibitors are also available on prescription in other formats. For example, alprostadil (Muse) is a suppository that males can insert into the urethra of the penis. The same medication is also available in an injectable form called Caverject.
People should not buy ED pills online unless they have a prescription from a doctor and are purchasing them from a reputable online pharmacy. The FDA do not regulate online ED products to check that they are safe.
According to an FDA report, around one-third of ED supplements they assessed contained other prescription drugs or other unlisted ingredients. Six out of 17 products contained sildenafil or another PDE-5 inhibitor.
This means that ED products available online could contain harmful substances or high amounts of drugs that consumers are not aware of. Taking high doses of PDE-5 inhibitors such as vardenafil can cause:
- back pain
- muscle pain
- abnormal vision
Since 2004, the FDA have identified the following products as unsafe:
- Actra-Rx
- Hero
- Libidus
- Naustra
- NaturalUp
- Neophase
- Vigor-25
- Xiadafil VIP
- 4EVERON
The FDA and Federal Bureau of Investigation are working together to help stop the supply of illegal ED pills in the United States.
In 2008, the FDA seized more than 14,000 doses of unsafe ED products from a single company.
Wednesday, 19 December 2018