SCAMS BULLETIN Host Jay White is a volunteer attorney who provides free legal assistance for low income seniors in San Mateo County, California.

September 25, 2019

ERICTILE DYSFUNCTION SCAM

Erectile dysfunction is a medical condition.

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Warns:

Men, beware! Products falsely marketed as “dietary supplements” or “foods” that promise to enhance your sexual performance or increase sexual stimulation might contain hidden drug ingredients or other undisclosed ingredients — and can endanger your health.

A doctor needs to evaluate your total medical condition to know whether a particular medication is safe for you to use.

FDA lab tests have found that nearly 300 of these products contain undisclosed drug ingredients. Consumers have no way of knowing which drugs or ingredients are actually in the product just by reading the ingredients on the label. They may be misled to believe these products are safe because their labeling often suggests they are “all-natural” or “herbal” alternatives to FDA-approved prescription drugs for the treatment of Erectile Dysfunction.

Risky Interactions

A big risk for unsuspecting men is that many of the unlabeled drug ingredients in these deceptive products can interact dangerously with other drugs they are taking, such as heart disease medicines.

For example, taking a product that contains sildenafil (the active ingredient in Viagra) in addition to certain drugs containing nitrates may lower blood pressure to an unsafe level.

Unknown Contaminants

Some of the ingredients in these products have chemicals that have never undergone any type of safety analysis in the United States. If you buy, you just don’t know what you’re getting.

Beware of products that:

*Promise quick results (within 30 to 40 minutes)

*Are advertised as alternatives to FDA-approved prescription drugs

*Are sold in single servings

*Are advertised via spam or unsolicited emails

*Have labels written primarily in a foreign language

*Have directions and warnings that mimic FDA-approved products

*A Drug Cocktail

If you suspect that a product marketed as a dietary supplement may be tainted, report it to FDA. You or your health care professional can also report an illness or injury you believe to be related to the use of a dietary supplement by calling 1-800-FDA-1088 or visiting FDA at www.fda.gov.