Some herbal sexual supplements sold for men have been found to also contain the drug aildenafil, a chemical compound similar to the anti-impotence drug Viagra but it is not approved and could pose a health risk, the Department of Medical Sciences (DMS) has warned.
The department recently examined herbal medicines on sale that claimed to enhance sexual desire and it found they mostly contained three ingredients - sildenafil (sold as Viagra), tadanafil and vardenafil – which require a doctor's prescription.
However, some herbal sexual medicines contain aildenafil, a synthetic chemical compound that is a structural analog of sildenafil, DMS director-general Apichai Mongkhol said.
He warned this chemical could be dangerous because it not only enlarges penis arteries but also other arteries and could cause headache, dizziness, facial redness, digestion problems, breathing difficulties, hearing problems and vision problems, and dangerously low blood pressure which may lead to death.
Dr Apichai said if herbal sexual products also contain this substance and other artery-enlarging ingredients, it increases the risk of side effects.
Patients with heart disease, diabetes or cerebrovacular risk factors, and the elderly, were taking a risk by consuming herbal sexual drugs containing aildenafil, he said.
After taking these sexual supplements, men could get erections that last longer than normal, lose energy and become exhausted, and that may lead to sudden heart failure, he said.
A doctor’s prescription is required for use of herbal sexual supplement products.
Food and Drug Administraton (FDA) deputy secretary-geneal Prapon Angtrakul on Thursday said aildenafil is not yet registered. Those found to produce herbal medicines containing this unregistered substance without permission were liable to a prison term of up to three years and/or a fine of up to 5,000 baht.
The FDA will seek information about aildenafil from the Department of Medical Sciences for use in legal procedures, he said.