The Irish Medicines Board (IMB) has warned that many so-called ‘herbal Viagra’ products may contain dangerous levels of prescription-only medications for erectile dysfunction (ED).
In a warning issued earlier this week (November 30), the IMB said such products promoted either overtly or covertly as ‘aphrodisiac’ or ‘herbal Viagra’ were often adulterated with known therapeutic agents such as sildenafil and tadalafil.
One such product — known as Jia Yi Jian, which was recently seized in the UK — was found to contain levels of the synthetic drugs such as tadalafil and sibutramine at levels up to four times those licensed in prescription-only medicines for the treatment of ED and obesity respectively.
The ‘herbal’ product has been sold on the Irish market and seized by the IMB.
Another product recently identified by IMB officers and being promoted covertly for the same purpose is marketed under the name ‘Blue Rhino’.
“All products for the treatment of erectile dysfunction should only be used under medical supervision and all are restricted to prescription-only supply for this reason,” the IMB stated.
The Board advised that prescription-only medicinal products, including ‘herbal Viagra’, should not be purchased over the internet.
The World Health Organization has found that 50 per cent of those internet pharmacies concealing their true identity are also selling counterfeit medicines.
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