Over-The-Counter Viagra for Erectile Dysfunction
As a urologist at Urology Associates, with over 10 years of expertise in erectile dysfunction and sexual medicine, I’m often asked about the legitimacy and safety of over-the-counter (OTC) herbal “Viagra” supplements that are made to assist with erections. This year, these inquiries skyrocketed following the tragic news of Lamar Odom’s overdose at a Las Vegas brothel, with herbal supplements playing a part in the event.
Overall, I believe that high-quality OTC supplements can be safe and cost-effective alternatives for individuals suffering from erectile dysfunction. The difficult part about this is that many products in the marketplace are not high quality. Their efficacy and makeup is unclear and people do not seek the counsel of a medical professional before taking them.
Safe or shady?
The biggest issue with purchasing OTC herbal supplements is that there is no way of really telling what the ingredients in the product are. Many of these are manufactured overseas in unregulated labs, meaning the labels should be considered with caution.
Another important point to make is that a lot of the natural supplements available are tainted with prescription medication, meaning they include active ingredients that are also in common erectile dysfunction pharmaceuticals including, Viagra, Cialis and Levitra. One study found that over 80 percent of the supplements tested contained an amount of prescription erectile dysfunction medication. Based on this, you can see why it can be challenging to make the distinction between high-quality supplements and drug-tainted products.
Many of my patients are happy to hear that many of the supplements contain recognizable prescription drug names. Their thought is that they are buying the real Viagra at a discounted price and are not having to bother with a prescription. The problem is that there is no hard data on the quality or the quantity of the medication in the supplement. In addition, it’s also very dangerous to take prescription medication without being monitored by a physician.
I often explain to my patients that pharmaceuticals, like Viagra, are utilized on an as-needed basis and often need at least an hour to be effective in the body. On the other hand, good nutritional supplements work over time to slowly improve problems and typically require daily dosing.
With that in mind, I typically suggest that patients avoid any supplement that promises fast action, any supplement that is sold in small quantities, and any supplement that makes outrageous claims of success.
As previously mentioned, patients who are taking medication for erectile dysfunction should be monitored by a physician. These medications, their dosage and the bodily changes that can occur can be an issue for those who may have pre-existing conditions.
In order to avoid the negative consequences that can occur from not being careful about OTC herbal Viagra supplements, here are a few tried and true tips that I always advise my patients on:
- Review the FDA’s list of tainted products. Although, the market changes quickly so the information may not always be accurate or up-to-date, it’s the best indication we have for identifying tainted products.
- Trust your intuition on products. If the success claims they make seem off, they probably are.
- Avoid products that promise fast-action. Rule of thumb: if the claims seems false, they probably are.
- Avoid products that are sold in small quantities. Good supplements typically require daily dosing so there should be enough of the medication to take regularly, not just enough for short-term use.
- Always consult with a physician before taking enhancement supplements to ensure safety and legitimacy.
When it comes to Lamar Odom, it seems that the cocktail of too much herbal Viagra and other drugs caused his coma. And the most recent reports are ominous; there appears to be significant and permanent brain injury. He has a long road ahead of him.
If Lamar Odom’s case has taught us anything, it’s that OTC supplements can be dangerous if you aren’t careful. There are people who have a belief that any medication, especially OTC is safe, but that’s not always true. Anything taken incorrectly can be harmful, especially when you don’t know what is in it.
