Right. Here's a question for you. Suppose you have some unnamed problems in bed and you have visited your doctor because of that. But then your doctor thinks your problem is not a medical problem but 'merely' a psychological problem. Yes, you do have Erectile Dysfunction (ED) but no he won't prescribe you ViagraŽ. What do you do now?
You've just read my two previous columns and now you know that these infamous internet pharmacies can't be trusted to supply you with the desired sildenafil (ViagraŽ). You now have a serious problem but you think you've got a solution. You decide to buy a 'dietary supplement' that has the same effects as the sildenafil (ViagraŽ) you want.
Dietary supplements aren't as closely watched and regulated as regular drugs. They're just vitamins, herbs, micro-nutrients, and more. But it is the 'and more' that is the real problem. Some of these 'dietary supplements' are in fact illegal drugs that contain potentially harmful undeclared ingredients.
The American Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has warned consumers not to purchase or consume Zimaxx, Libidus, Neophase, Nasutra, Vigor-25, Actra-Rx, or 4EVERON. These products are promoted and sold on web sites as 'dietary supplements' for treating erectile dysfunction (ED) and enhancing sexual performance, but these products have not been approved by FDA (nor will they ever be), and there is no guarantee of their safety and effectiveness or of the purity of their ingredients.
FDA advises consumers who have used any of these products to discontinue use and to consult their doctor.
Chemical analysis by the FDA revealed that Zimaxx contains sildenafil, which is the active pharmaceutical ingredient in ViagraŽ. The other products contain chemical ingredients that are analogues of either sildenafil or a related pharmaceutical ingredient called vardenafil, which is the active ingredient in LevitraŽ, a prescription drug that, like ViagraŽ, is approved in the United States to treat ED. There is no mention of any of these ingredients in any of these illegal products' labelling.
These products threaten the public health because they contain undeclared chemicals that are similar or identical to the active ingredients used in several FDA-approved prescription drug products. This risk is even more serious because consumers may not know that these ingredients can interact with medications and dangerously lower their blood pressure
, said Dr. Steven Galson, Director of FDA's Center for Drug Evaluation and Research.
This deception poses also a threat to consumers because the undeclared ingredients may interact with nitrates found in some prescription drugs (such as nitroglycerin) and lower blood pressure to dangerous levels. Consumers with diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol or heart disease often take nitrates. ED is a common problem in men with these conditions, and they may seek products like the ones noted above because these products claim that they are 'all natural' or that they do not contain the active ingredients used in FDA-approved ED drugs.
Furthermore because the manufacturing source of the active ingredients in these 'dietary supplements' is unknown, there is no assurance that the ingredients are safe, effective or pure.
The lesson that can be learned from this is: never try to circumvent your doctor because he can always be trusted to try to keep you alive...
I agree that consumers should be much more careful when considering ordering "dietary supplements" for treating ED from an online website because of the risk factor involved.
I found a site that offers quite a bit of infor. on ED:
http://www.erectiledysfunction.vg
# 11 May 2008, 23:19
George Alarcon writes