Herbal viagra

Last updated
A local version of herbal viagra being sold at the roadside in Turkey. Herbal Viagra Roadside.jpg
A local version of herbal viagra being sold at the roadside in Turkey.

Herbal viagra is a herbal product advertised as treating erectile dysfunction. [1] Many different products are advertised as herbal viagra, but with varying ingredients. No clinical trials or scientific studies support the effectiveness of any of these ingredients for the treatment of erectile dysfunction and some products have been found to contain drugs and other adulterants, and have been the subject of FDA and FTC warnings and actions to remove them from the market. [2]

The name "herbal viagra" is taken from the brand name Viagra, under which drug company Pfizer sells sildenafil citrate, a drug used to treat erectile dysfunction. [3] Viagra has become a generic term for many people discussing drugs designed to treat erectile dysfunction, even those which do not contain sildenafil. [4]

Herbal viagras, contrary to what the name suggests, do not normally contain sildenafil citrate. However, sildenafil and chemicals similar to sildenafil have been found as adulterants in many supplements which are sold as herbal viagra or "natural" sexual enhancement products. [5] [6] [7] The United States Food and Drug Administration has warned consumers that any sexual enhancement product that claims to work as well as prescription products is likely to contain such a contaminant. [7] Scientists estimated that over 60% of the consumed sildenafil in the Netherlands is from illegal sources such as adulterated dietary supplements. [8]

Herbal viagras often carry a number of dangerous side effects. Primarily, they cause abnormally low blood pressure and can restrict blood flow to vital organs. Some preparations may be toxic if taken in larger doses. [1] Additional side effects and dangers of common herbal viagra adulterants, such as sulfoaildenafil, acetildenafil and other analogs, are unknown because these ingredients have not had thorough review in human clinical trials. [5] [9] [10]

Herbal viagra is predominantly sold through the internet, and in 2003 approximately 4% or 1 in 25 of all email spam offered herbal viagra, genuine pharmaceuticals, and other herbal remedies. [11]

Related Research Articles

Erectile dysfunction (ED), also referred to as impotence, is a form of sexual dysfunction in males characterized by the persistent or recurring inability to achieve or maintain a penile erection with sufficient rigidity and duration for satisfactory sexual activity. It is the most common sexual problem in males and can cause psychological distress due to its impact on self-image and sexual relationships.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sildenafil</span> Drug for erectile dysfunction and hypertension

Sildenafil, sold under the brand name Viagra, among others, is a medication used to treat erectile dysfunction and pulmonary arterial hypertension. It is also sometimes used off-label for the treatment of certain symptoms in secondary Raynaud's phenomenon. It is unclear if it is effective for treating sexual dysfunction in females. It can be taken orally, intravenously, or through the sublingual route. Onset when taken orally is typically within twenty minutes and lasts for about two hours.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dietary supplement</span> Product providing additional nutrients

A dietary supplement is a manufactured product intended to supplement a person's diet by taking a pill, capsule, tablet, powder, or liquid. A supplement can provide nutrients either extracted from food sources, or that are synthetic. The classes of nutrient compounds in supplements include vitamins, minerals, fiber, fatty acids, and amino acids. Dietary supplements can also contain substances that have not been confirmed as being essential to life, and so are not nutrients per se, but are marketed as having a beneficial biological effect, such as plant pigments or polyphenols. Animals can also be a source of supplement ingredients, such as collagen from chickens or fish for example. These are also sold individually and in combination, and may be combined with nutrient ingredients. The European Commission has also established harmonized rules to help insure that food supplements are safe and appropriately labeled.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tadalafil</span> Medication used to treat erectile dysfunction

Tadalafil, sold under the brand name Cialis among others, is a medication used to treat erectile dysfunction, benign prostatic hyperplasia, and pulmonary arterial hypertension. It is taken by mouth. Onset is typically within half an hour and the duration is up to 36 hours.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Herbal medicine</span> Study and use of supposed medicinal properties of plants

Herbal medicine is the study of pharmacognosy and the use of medicinal plants, which are a basis of traditional medicine. With worldwide research into pharmacology, some herbal medicines have been translated into modern remedies, such as the anti-malarial group of drugs called artemisinin isolated from Artemisia annua, a herb that was known in Chinese medicine to treat fever. There is limited scientific evidence for the safety and efficacy of many plants used in 21st-century herbalism, which generally does not provide standards for purity or dosage. The scope of herbal medicine sometimes includes fungal and bee products, as well as minerals, shells and certain animal parts.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Vardenafil</span> Chemical compound

Vardenafil, sold under the brand name Levitra among others, is a medication that is used for treating erectile dysfunction. It is a PDE5 inhibitor. It is taken by mouth.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Yohimbine</span> Chemical compound

Yohimbine, also known as quebrachine, is an indole alkaloid derived from the bark of the African tree Pausinystalia johimbe; also from the bark of the unrelated South American tree Aspidosperma quebracho-blanco. Yohimbine is an α2-adrenergic receptor antagonist, and has been used in a variety of research projects. It is a veterinary drug used to reverse sedation in dogs and deer.

An adverse effect is an undesired harmful effect resulting from a medication or other intervention, such as surgery. An adverse effect may be termed a "side effect", when judged to be secondary to a main or therapeutic effect. The term complication is similar to adverse effect, but the latter is typically used in pharmacological contexts, or when the negative effect is expected or common. If the negative effect results from an unsuitable or incorrect dosage or procedure, this is called a medical error and not an adverse effect. Adverse effects are sometimes referred to as "iatrogenic" because they are generated by a physician/treatment. Some adverse effects occur only when starting, increasing or discontinuing a treatment. Using a drug or other medical intervention which is contraindicated may increase the risk of adverse effects. Adverse effects may cause complications of a disease or procedure and negatively affect its prognosis. They may also lead to non-compliance with a treatment regimen. Adverse effects of medical treatment resulted in 142,000 deaths in 2013 up from 94,000 deaths in 1990 globally.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">PDE5 inhibitor</span> Vasodilating drug

A phosphodiesterase type 5 inhibitor is a vasodilating drug that works by blocking the degradative action of cGMP-specific phosphodiesterase type 5 (PDE5) on cyclic GMP in the smooth muscle cells lining the blood vessels supplying various tissues. These drugs dilate the corpora cavernosa of the penis, facilitating erection with sexual stimulation, and are used in the treatment of erectile dysfunction (ED). Sildenafil was the first effective oral treatment available for ED. Because PDE5 is also present in the smooth muscle of the walls of the arterioles within the lungs, two PDE5 inhibitors, sildenafil and tadalafil, are FDA-approved for the treatment of pulmonary hypertension. As of 2019, the wider cardiovascular benefits of PDE5 inhibitors are being appreciated.

cGMP-specific phosphodiesterase type 5 Mammalian protein found in Homo sapiens

Cyclic guanosine monophosphate-specific phosphodiesterase type 5 is an enzyme from the phosphodiesterase class. It is found in various tissues, most prominently the corpus cavernosum and the retina. It has also been recently discovered to play a vital role in the cardiovascular system.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Acetildenafil</span> Chemical compound

Acetildenafil (hongdenafil) is a synthetic drug which acts as a phosphodiesterase inhibitor. It is an analog of sildenafil (Viagra) which has been detected in numerous different brands of "herbal aphrodisiac" products sold in convenience stores that claim to boost libido and alleviate erectile dysfunction.

Trimix is a prescription combination drug containing alprostadil, papaverine, and phentolamine. It is used to treat erectile dysfunction.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">ExtenZe</span> Brand of male enhancement pills

ExtenZe is an herbal nutritional supplement claiming to promote "natural male enhancement", a euphemism for penis enlargement. ExtenZe paid $6 million to settle a class-action false advertising lawsuit in 2010.

Viagra is a brand name for sildenafil, used for treating erectile dysfunction.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sulfoaildenafil</span> Chemical compound

Sulfoaildenafil (thioaildenafil) is a synthetic drug that is a structural analog of sildenafil (Viagra). It was first reported in 2005, and it is not approved by any health regulation agency. Like sildenafil, sulfoaildenafil is a phosphodiesterase type 5 inhibitor.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Aildenafil</span> Chemical compound

Aildenafil (methisosildenafil) is a synthetic drug that is a structural analog of sildenafil (Viagra). It was first reported in 2003. Like sildenafil, aildenafil is a phosphodiesterase type 5 inhibitor.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nitrosoprodenafil</span> Chemical compound

Nitrosoprodenafil is a synthetic designer drug found in "herbal" aphrodisiac products, which is a novel nitrosated analogue of sildenafil (Viagra). It has an innovative structure which acts as a prodrug, breaking down in the body to release both the PDE5 inhibitor aildenafil as well as free nitric oxide, which have powerfully synergistic effects. This dual mechanism of action has never been exploited by conventional pharmaceutical companies because of the risks involved; usually combining PDE5 inhibitors with nitric oxide releasers like amyl nitrite is contraindicated as it can cause a precipitous drop in blood pressure that can potentially result in death. Nitrosamines are also generally avoided in drug development as they can often be hepatotoxic and carcinogenic, so while the combined mechanisms of action are likely to be effective, this drug also has severe risks of toxicity.

The online distribution of counterfeit medicines has been growing during the last decades. The role of Internet as an unregulated medicine market is the main reasons behind this phenomenon, especially the effectiveness of "spam" as a tool for advertising and promoting these products. Websites and social media are new powerful instruments that organized criminal groups could exploit to conduct their illicit businesses. The spread of this emerging threat worldwide poses a very high risk for the health and safety of unaware consumers.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Homosildenafil</span> Chemical compound

Homosildenafil is a synthetic drug which acts as a phosphodiesterase inhibitor. It is an analog of sildenafil and vardenafil. Homosildenafil was first identified as an adulterant in sex enhancement products in 2003 and was more recently detected in dietary supplements.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Desmethylsibutramine</span> Chemical compound

Desmethylsibutramine is an active metabolite of the anorectic drug sibutramine. It is a more potent monoamine reuptake inhibitor than sibutramine and has been sold as an ingredient in weight loss products sold as dietary supplements, along with related compounds such as the N-ethyl and 3,4-dichloro derivatives.

References

  1. 1 2 "'Herbal Viagra' : Is it safe ?". Mayoclinic.com. Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research. Retrieved 2007-08-22.
  2. Miller, Michael E.; Moyer, Justin Wm (15 October 2015). "'Herbal Viagra' pills linked to Lamar Odom collapse were subject of FDA warning". Washington Post.
  3. Rzepa, H.S. (1998-05-04). "Viagra (Sildenafil)". Imperial College, London. Retrieved 2007-08-22.
  4. Posner, Michael L. (2002). "Viagra: St. James Encyclopedia of Pop Culture". St. James Encyclopedia of Pop Culture. Gale Group. Retrieved 2007-08-22.
  5. 1 2 Venhuis, B; De Kaste, D (2012). "Towards a decade of detecting new analogues of sildenafil, tadalafil and vardenafil in food supplements: A history, analytical aspects and health risks". J Pharm Biomed Anal. 69: 196–208. doi:10.1016/j.jpba.2012.02.014. PMID   22464558.
  6. "Consumer Updates - 'All Natural' Alternatives for Erectile Dysfunction: A Risky Proposition". FDA. October 1, 2015.
  7. 1 2 Hidden Risks of Erectile Dysfunction "Treatments" Sold Online, United States Food and Drug Administration, February 21, 2009
  8. Venhuis BJ, de Voogt, P, Emke, E, Causanilles, A, Keizers, PHJ (2014). "Success of rogue online pharmacies: sewage study of sildenafil in the Netherlands" (PDF). BMJ. 349: g4317. doi:10.1136/bmj.g4317. PMID   24989165. S2CID   38052344.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  9. Venhuis, BJ; Blok-Tip, L; De Kaste, D (2008). "Designer drugs in herbal aphrodisiacs". Forensic Science International. 177 (2–3): e25–7. doi:10.1016/j.forsciint.2007.11.007. PMID   18178354.
  10. Oh, SS; Zou, P; Low, MY; Koh, HL (2006). "Detection of sildenafil analogues in herbal products for erectile dysfunction". Journal of Toxicology and Environmental Health. Part A. 69 (21): 1951–8. Bibcode:2006JTEHA..69.1951S. doi:10.1080/15287390600751355. PMID   16982533. S2CID   40831895.
  11. "Spam growth increases during March". ZDNet UK. Archived from the original on 2009-11-09. Retrieved 2007-08-22.