The U.S. FDA has posted several public notifications warning that certain products promoted for sexual enhancement and energy have been found to contain hidden ingredients and may pose a significant health risk.
The agency has produced a list that it claims to be “only a small fraction of the potentially dangerous products marketed to consumers online and in stores.”
FDA testing has found that the supplements — with names such as The Goat, Natural MiracleZEN and Lucky Guy — contain active drug ingredients not listed on the product labels, including some with ingredients found in FDA-approved prescription drugs Cialis and Viagra. Tadalafil and sildenafil, the active ingredients in Cialis and Viagra respectively, may interact with nitrates found in some prescription drugs, such as nitroglycerin, and may lower blood pressure to dangerous levels. People with diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, or heart disease often take nitrates.
In 2019, amid growing concerns about consumer exposure to unlisted drug ingredients and misleading claims about health benefits, the FDA unveiled new efforts to strengthen regulation of dietary supplements by modernizing and reforming the agency’s oversight. Part of this effort included communicating to the public as soon as possible when there is a concern about a dietary supplement on the market.