These Supplements Sold Online May Be Dangerous

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued a warning about several male enhancement and weight loss products found online.

The agency said it has found about 50 products that have hidden ingredients, which means they can be harmful.

These products were found on Amazon, eBay and other websites. The FDA bought some products on Amazon and eBay and tested them. The FDA found these products to have ingredients not listed on their labels, which included some found in prescription-only drugs.

All 26 of the products the FDA bought on Amazon contained hidden pharmaceutical ingredients. And 20 of the 25 products the agency purchased on eBay had hidden ingredients.

The problem? These hidden ingredients can cause serious side effects and interact with other medications you are taking. In addition, some of these hidden drug ingredients may not be safe for people with certain health conditions.

Some of the hidden pharmaceutical ingredients the FDA found include the following:

• Sildenafil, tadalafil and vardenafil
• Sibutramine and desmethylsibutramine
• Phenolphthalein
• Fluoxetine

The FDA found undeclared ingredients that were the same as or very similar to the active ingredients found in FDA-approved erectile dysfunction prescription drugs.

For example, the agency identified products containing sildenafil, the active ingredient in Viagra. The FDA has approved sildenafil for use in patients with erectile dysfunction — but only with a prescription.

Other tested products contained hidden ingredients that were the same as or very similar to the active ingredients found in FDA-approved weight loss and antidepressant prescription drugs.

Doctors and pharmacists can navigate these potentially dangerous drug interactions and side effects for patients. But patients unknowingly taking any of these hidden ingredients, such as sildenafil, in a dietary supplement could face health risks.

For a list of potentially harmful products, refer to the FDA’s tainted products database. However, even if the product is not included in the list, the FDA strongly recommends that consumers be cautious about using certain products, especially those promoted for sexual enhancement, weight loss, sleep, bodybuilding or pain relief.

Other resources published by the FDA include the following:

• Tainted Sexual Enhancement Products
• Tainted Weight Loss Products

The FDA stated that several of the products they found to have hidden ingredients have similar names to products that have been at the center of the agency's previous warnings.

Many of these products are tagged with "Amazon Choice” or “#1 Best Seller,” the FDA noted.

Consumers should not take any of the above supplements. Always speak to a doctor or pharmacist before starting any new supplement.

A good rule of thumb is to be cautious with products that promise quick results and sound too good to be true.

The FDA was asking patients to report any adverse reactions or side effects involving these kinds of supplements.