Exercise Caution: Supplements to Treat ED
Let’s cut right to the truth about nutritional supplements that claim to treat ED (Erectile Dysfunction):
When any nutritional supplement claims to treat ED, Low T, obesity, or any medical illness for that matter, you need to exercise caution.
These supplements that claim to treat ED usually fail to perform as promised, and even if they do, they’re likely unsafe.
The Iffy Regulation of Supplements to Treat ED
The primary concern isn’t whether supplements work, but whether they’re safe. Let’s begin with the regulation of these supplements claiming to treat ED.
The FDA regulates nutritional supplements differently than other medications. In fact, they regulate these products as food, not as medications at all. Under this regulatory paradigm, manufacturers and distributors of dietary supplements claiming to treat ED are responsible for policing the safety and labeling of their own products—to ensure that they meet all the requirements of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act.
It’s a glitchy system of regulation that’s full of loopholes, which means dietary supplements could contain almost anything, including ingredients with strong biological effects that aren’t yet fully understood or those that could elevate the risk of a harmful reaction by exacerbating another existing medical condition. Ingredients could conflict with a medicine you are taking, but there might not be a warning label attached.
What if one of these dubious products on the shelf hasn’t landed on the FDA’s radar yet?
Supplements to Treat ED: The Situation Gets Worse
According to FDA.gov, researchers have identified roughly 300 supplements (claiming to treat ED or improve its symptoms) that contain undisclosed drug ingredients. Some include unscrupulous amounts of the active ingredients found in FDA-approved prescription-only drugs like Cialis, Viagra, and Levitra.
Some contain untested cocktails of various prescription medications.
Gary Coody, R.Ph., the FDA’s national health fraud coordinator, echoes:
“We’re finding an alarming number of these products sold online and in retail stores. They’re often sold in single-serving sizes in gas stations or vending machines. We’ve seen pills, coffees, chewing gum and dissolvable oral strips that contain hidden drug ingredients or untested chemicals. Consumers have no way of knowing which drugs or ingredients are actually in the product just by reading the ingredients on the label.”
The Same Goes:Organic or Natural Supplements for ED
Don’t be fooled just because the labels say the products are all natural or organic. The Mayo Clinic issued a similar warning about products labeled as herbal viagra on their website:
“A number of nonprescription products claim to be herbal forms of Viagra. Some of these products contain unknown amounts of ingredients similar to those in prescription medications, which can cause dangerous side effects. Some actually contain the real drug, which should be given by prescription only. Although the Food and Drug Administration has banned many of these products, some potentially dangerous erectile dysfunction remedies remain on the market.”
Be smart. Be safe. Talk with your medical professional.
Supplements to Treat: Consult Your Medical Provider Instead
Erectile dysfunction is a common problem, but reaching for an over-the-counter supplement to treat your ED isn’t your safest move.
We hope that we’ve convinced you of the potential danger.
You need a medically supervised treatment plan for erectile dysfunction. Low T is one possible contributing factor, often exacerbating other diseases or disorders that can compromise penile circulation (usually the primary problem), leading to ED:
- Obesity
- Diabetes
- Heart disease
- Atherosclerosis
- High blood pressure
- High cholesterol
Studies show that treating your Low T also can increase the effectiveness of prescription ED treatments. Therefore, Testosterone Replacement Therapy (TRT) combined with other ED treatments may be right for you. Again, evaluation by a medical professional is critical to make sure that all contributing factors are addressed.
Supplements to treat ED are risky at best, but your safety is the highest priority at Testosterone Centers of Texas (TCT). Your first confidential consultation is free.
