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In its warning, the FDA said the counterfeit product contains sildenafil, which could potentially interact with nitrates found in some prescription drugs, putting men with high blood pressure, high cholesterol, or a history of heart disease at risk. Even the original ExtenZe has been purported to be potentially harmful as it contains Yohimbe bark extract, which has been associated with heart attacks and seizures.

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Every lab I spoke to refused, but I did discover one useful set of guidelines from the National Institutes of Health (NIH), which warned consumers to beware of ED/sexual enhancement products that "promise quick results (within 30 to 40 minutes),""advertise via spam or unsolicited emails," or "have labels written primarily in a foreign language." Unsurprisingly, every item in my little plastic bag satisfied each and every one of these criteria. Nonetheless, I decided to carry on with my experiment. Armed with my FDA warnings, my gas station dick pills, and a mild amount of nervousness twitching in my nether regions, I proceeded with five consecutive days of gas-station dick pill-chugging. Below are my home lab notes, in all their glory. In 2013, the FDA issued a consumer warning about a counterfeit version of ExtenZe supplements labeled “ExtenZe Maximum Strength” (also known as Extended Release). An hour after I popped this bright blue capsule, my dick felt sensitive, but not in a good way — rather, in an achy, something-doesn’t-quite-feel-right-down-there sort of way.

Risk Description Mitigation Strategy
Dependency Psychological reliance on pills Use as directed, psychological counseling
Tolerance Development Reduced effectiveness over time Consult doctor, rotate therapies
Side effect accumulation Increased chance of adverse effects Regular medical check-ups
Impact on health conditions Exacerbation of cardiovascular issues Medical supervision required

Perhaps the achiness was due to the massive amounts of blood surging into my crotch, but whatever it was, I didn't enjoy the feeling.

Product Dosage Quantity + Bonus Price
Viagra Generic150mg30 + 2 Pills72.32€ 68.88€
Apcalis SX Oral Jelly20mg17 + 4 Sachets95.52€ 90.97€
Levitra Generic10mg30 + 4 Pills62.39€ 59.42€
Levitra Original20mg22 + 2 Pills138.55€ 131.95€
Super Kamagra160 mg4 Pills41.99€ 39.99€
Kamagra 100 mg100 mg84 + 6 Pills264.44€ 251.85€
Cialis Generic40mg120 + 8 Pills206.98€ 197.12€
Viagra Generic150mg90 + 6 Pills147.18€ 140.17€
Kamagra Gold100 mg60 + 4 Pills201.34€ 191.75€
Cialis Professional40mg30 Pills148.94€ 141.85€
Cialis Original20mg34 + 2 Pills183.99€ 175.23€
Viagra Super Active100mg30 + 6 Pills64.09€ 61.04€
Cialis Original20mg76 + 4 Pills319.19€ 303.99€
Cialis Super Active20mg90 + 10 Pills314.14€ 299.18€
Cialis Professional40mg90 + 2 Pills348.59€ 331.99€
Kamagra Gold50 mg84 + 6 Pills224.77€ 214.07€
Levitra Original20mg14 + 2 Pills102.27€ 97.40€

Also, within an hour of taking it, I got disturbingly hyperactive, almost the way I would feel after 3 or 4 cups of coffee. Per instructions on the label, I took it in the morning, but that night my bedroom performance didn’t seem much different at all. Had I taken it right before having sex, it would have likely kept me up until 2:00 or 3:00 a.m., twitching like a horny hummingbird and annoying my wife.

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Additionally, the FDA has found that a number of sexual enhancement supplements that are marketed as “herbal” or “natural” actually contain sildenafil or other active ingredients from prescription erectile dysfunction medications. (If it works like Viagra, it’s probably actually Viagra.) While the dosage is likely far lower in these supplements than if someone was using prescription medications, it’s still possible that these active ingredients could impact male fertility in the same way Viagra, Cialis, and Levitra do. If you are considering taking a male enhancement pill to improve sexual desire or performance, pay attention to the ingredients to avoid potentially harmful effects on fertility, and choose a legitimate manufacturer (avoiding those on the FDA’s bad list). In addition to choosing herbal supplements supported by clinical data, following a healthy lifestyle is important. View our guide to sperm improvement for lifestyle tips to support sexual and fertility health.

What are the alternatives to male enhancement pills?

Explore at-home sperm testing & freezing options for every path to parenthood. Spoiler Alert: Ingredients for the supplements that may appear in this box are listed below for those with allergies and sensitivities. Don’t read further if you want your box to remain a mystery. Proprietary Blend - Male Formula (500mg); Maca Root Powder, Horny Goatweed Leaf Powder, Panax Ginseng Root Powder, Tribulus Terrestris, Ginkgo Biloba, Damiana Extract Leaf Powder, Tongkat Ali Powder, Caffeine, Guarana, Yohimbe Bark Extract, Citrulline Malate, Beta Alanine. Sugar, Tapioca Syrup, Corn Syrup, Water, Pectin, Citric Acid, Natural Flavors, Fruit and Vegetable Juice for Color, Proprietary Blend - Female Formula (500mg); Horny Goat Weed Leaf Powder, Panax Ginseng Root Powder, Tribulus Terrestris, Maca Root Powder, Ginkgo Biloba, Damiana Extract Leaf Powder, Dandelion Whole Plant Extract, Caffeine, Guarana, Yohimbe Bark Extract, Citrulline Malate, Beta Alanine. I couldn't find any FDA warnings about this specific product, so I assumed it was likely on the safer side.

  • Sildenafil helps treat erectile dysfunction by increasing blood flow to the penis.
  • L-arginine is a precursor to nitric oxide and aids vascular health in sexual function.
  • Horny goat weed improves libido and erectile function via icariin.
  • Tribulus terrestris is used to mildly increase testosterone and sexual desire.
  • Ginseng reduces stress and supports physical endurance during sexual activity.
  • Maca root enhances sexual desire and stamina naturally.
  • DHEA levels decline with age, supplementation might improve libido.
  • Zn supports testosterone synthesis and sperm quality.
  • Yohimbine may enhance erectile function but can increase blood pressure.
  • Vitamin D sufficiency correlates with better erectile and sexual function.
  • Fenugreek supports hormonal balance and sexual function.

But just fifteen minutes after taking it (again, in the morning, per the instructions on the package instructions), I felt a strange buzz that can best be described as a cerebral sensation, combined with the urge to projectile vomit.

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Since Jones's ban, I've been a bit curious about whether these male sexual enhancement drugs are really all they’re cracked up to be, or if their effects are merely the stuff of lore. As a journalist, I feel it is my duty to try every self-improvement, self-enhancement, and self-experimentation method out there: in the past, I've tried drugstore hangover treatments, used acoustic sound wave therapy on my junk, and even injected my penis to get stronger erections. Why would trying these supplements be any different? So, armed with a baseball cap, dark sunglasses, and a hoodie, I ventured out into my hometown of Spokane, Washington to purchase a few of these so-called “gas station dick pills” myself. I figured that, for the good of men everywhere, I would be willing to put my liver, kidneys, and crotch on the line.

Top Side Effects of Taking Male Enhancement Pills Related Articles

Note: Men's Health does not endorse taking any supplements or medication without approval from your physician.) 6 Things Every Man Should Know About His Penis: First, I started looking up whether these drugs were actually safe to use. For the most part, the answer appears to be "nope": in 2017, for instance, the FDA actually issued alerts for six different male sexual enhancement products, all of which contained potentially harmful ingredients, with zero mention of said ingredients appearing on the actual product labels. These alerts were added to the list of many other sexual enhancement products that contain hidden ingredients, including tadalafil, the active ingredient in Cialis, and sildenafil, the active ingredients in Viagra. This is in addition to all the other "natural" ingredients on the labels of these supplements, which also happen to be untested, unstudied, and certainly not FDA-approved. I reached out to various labs to ask if they'd do a chemical analysis of these pills, just to find out what, exactly, I'd be putting in my body. I was quite nauseous after breakfast, but it didn't last long.

Talk to your doctor first

Maca Root Powder, Horny Goatweed Leaf Powder, Panax Ginseng Root Powder, Tribulus Terrestris, Ginkgo Biloba, Damiana Extract Leaf Powder, Tongkat Ali Powder, Caffeine, Guarana, Yohimbe Bark Extract, Citrulline Malate, Beta Alanine. Pectin, Corn Syrup, Sugar, Citric Acid, MCT Oil, Soy Lecithin, Artificial Flavor, FD&C Red No.40, FD&C Yellow No.6, FD&C Blue No.1, Purified Water; Proprietary Libido Blend 500mg, DHEA, Panax ginseng, L-Arginine, Horny Goat Weed, Yohimbe, Tribulus, Ashwagandha, Maca, Tongkat Ali, Nettle, Proprietary Female Libido Blend, Niacin, Black Pepper. Supplement Facts Servings per container: 30, Serv. size: 2 Pieces (6.6g), Amount per serving: Calories 20, Sat. 4g Added Sugars, 7%* DV), Horny Goat Weed (Epimedium brevicornum) (leaf) (from 25mg of 4:1 extract) 100 mg †, Beets (from 30mg of 7:1 extract) 210 mg †, L-Arginine 50 mg †, Longjack Root (from 2.5mg of 10:1 extract) 25 mg †, Yohimbe (from 25mg of 8:1 extract) 200 mg †, Ashwagandha (from 25mg of 8:1 extract) 200mg † *Percent Daily Value (DV) are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.

7 possible side effects of male enhancement pills

Other Ingredients: Organic Cane Sugar, Organic Tapioca Syrup, Water, Pectin, Citric Acid, Natural Sodium Citrate, Organic Pineapple Flavor, Organic Sunflower Lecithin, Natural Flavor, Organic Flavor, Salt, Stevia, Natural L-Malic Acid. May cenforce 150mg tablets contain trace amounts of Organic Carnauba Wax. Last year, it was reported that professional MMA fighter Jon Jones failed his UFC 200 drug test, leading to him being banned from the event and missing out on a rumored eight-figure payday. A drug similar to the erection pill Cialis, a.k.a. a "generic boner booster," according to MMAMania. The strange effects seemed to wear off pretty quickly, much faster than they had with ExtenZe. That said, I experienced zero boner effect that night.

  • Beetroot extract helps relax blood vessels, improving penile blood flow.
  • Fenugreek may enhance libido and testosterone levels in men.
  • Ashwagandha reduces stress and improves overall sexual health.
  • L-citrulline converts to L-arginine, boosting nitric oxide and erections.
  • Tribulus enhances androgen receptor activity to increase libido.
  • Vitamin D deficiency is linked to erectile dysfunction; supplementation helps.
  • Horny goat weed can improve sexual performance via vasodilation.
  • Maca root may improve sperm count and sexual desire in men.
  • Ginkgo biloba increases blood flow, potentially helping erectile dysfunction.
  • Yohimbine blocks alpha-2 receptors, improving nerve impulses for erections.
  • Niacin (Vitamin B3) improves vascular health and erectile function.

Despite the package's promises of delivering "erotic pleasure", "stimulating arousal," (plus my favorite, "really works"), I had a soft and soggy penis. I suspect this is because Vigor-A took full effect in the morning, then wore off by the evening, leaving my nether regions exhausted from shuttling about all that blood. The FDA advises consumers not to purchase PowerZen Triple Gold because of it contains three hidden ingredients: sildenafil, tadalafil and dapoxetine.

  • Sildenafil enhances blood flow to the penis by relaxing vascular muscles.
  • L-arginine boosts nitric oxide for better circulation and erection quality.
  • Horny goat weed supports sexual health through its icariin compound.
  • Tribulus terrestris is used to improve libido and testosterone.
  • Ginseng reduces stress and promotes endurance enhancing sexual activity.
  • Maca root supports libido and reduces sexual fatigue.
  • DHEA levels decrease with age; supplements may improve sexual function.
  • Zinc plays a significant role in testosterone production and fertility.
  • Yohimbine can enhance erectile response by improving blood flow.
  • Fenugreek may increase testosterone and sexual desire.
  • Niacin aids erectile function by improving vascular health.

(The dapoxetine in this supplement is an active ingredient not approved by the FDA, so its safety and efficacy haven't yet been established.) For PowerZen, I decided to change my strategy of consuming my dick pill in the morning. Instead, I popped this one right before my big weekly evening date with my wife.

Be wary of 'herbal viagra'

There are a range of herbs used in male enhancement pills. Certain herbal supplements used to increase libido may actually have a positive impact on sperm health. Ashwagandha: A 2013 study showed that three months of ashwagandha supplementation increased sperm counts by 167%, motility by 57%, and semen volume by 53%. Ashwagandha has also been proven to increase seminal concentrations of testosterone, LH, and FSH. Fenugreek: Studies show that fenugreek also improves testosterone levels, with increases of up to 46% after three months of supplementation.

A Safer Solution

This is shown to benefit sperm parameters such as count and morphology, while also boosting libido. Maca root powder: Research from 2011 found that in addition to “significantly” improving libido, maca root also increased sperm count and sperm motility. View our guide to male fertility supplements. Making matters complex is the fact that supplements are not regulated or routinely tested in the United States. Periodic analyses have shown that some “natural” male enhancement supplements, such as ExtenZe, can contain testosterone-boosting hormones such as DHEA that are known to adversely affect sperm count and quality — potentially long term.

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