Guide
Hidden Drugs in Male Enhancement Supplements: What FDA Found and How to Lower Your Risk
Some male enhancement supplements have been found to contain hidden prescription drugs such as sildenafil and tadalafil. FDA says these products can cause serious harm, especially for men who take nitrates, because blood pressure can fall too far. We have no lab report for Maxforce, so we cannot say it is free of them.
Written by the Maxforce label deskUpdated
The problem01
What are tainted sexual enhancement products?
They are products sold as dietary supplements that FDA found to contain hidden drug ingredients, often the same drugs sold by prescription for erectile dysfunction.
FDA keeps a public list of them. It says these products pose a serious health risk, can lead to severe health issues and hospitalization, and are sometimes falsely advertised as dietary supplements or "all-natural" treatments (FDA, Tainted sexual enhancement products).
The list is not complete. FDA says a product missing from it is not proof of safety, because the list covers only a small fraction of contaminated products on the market (FDA, Tainted sexual enhancement products). Sellers in this category know that, and buyers should too.
One example02
What did FDA find in one such product?
In a public notification about a product called Tiger 5000, FDA's laboratory found sildenafil and tadalafil that the label did not declare (FDA, Tiger 5000 public notification).
FDA said such undeclared drugs may interact with nitrates found in some prescription drugs, such as nitroglycerin, and may lower blood pressure to dangerous levels. People with diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol or heart disease are often prescribed nitrates, so they face the greatest concern (FDA, Tiger 5000 public notification).
We cite this as an example of the pattern, because FDA published the result. It is not a statement about Maxforce, whose label lists none of these drugs.
Why it matters03
Why are hidden drugs so risky with nitrates?
Because sildenafil and nitrates both widen blood vessels, and together they can drop blood pressure too low. MedlinePlus names nitrates for chest pain among the drugs that must not be taken with sildenafil (MedlinePlus, Sildenafil).
A man who buys a "natural" product may not know it holds a prescription drug. If he also takes nitroglycerin for angina, the mix can be dangerous, and he would have no label to warn him.
sudden vision or hearing loss, an erection lasting more than four hours, or chest pain, dizziness or nausea during sex (MedlinePlus, Sildenafil).
Lower your risk04
How can you lower the risk of hidden drugs?
Ask for a lab report, buy from sellers with named makers, tell your doctor and be wary of fast, strong, all-natural promises.
| Step | Why it helps | Maxforce today |
|---|---|---|
| Ask for an independent lab report that screens for drugs | It is the only direct test | None published |
| Check that a manufacturer is named | Traceability | Not named on the label |
| Distrust instant or very strong effects | A strong effect can mean a hidden drug | No effect is promised on the label |
| Tell your doctor what you take | They can check interactions (NIH ODS, Dietary Supplements: What You Need to Know) | Label asks you to |
| Report a reaction to FDA | It helps FDA find bad products (FDA, How to Report a Problem with Dietary Supplements) | Portal is open to all |
FDA lists "quick fixes" and "all natural cure or treatment claims" among the warning signs of health fraud (FDA, 6 Tip-offs to Rip-offs). NCCIH says products promoted for sexual enhancement may contain prescription drugs not allowed in supplements (NCCIH, Using Dietary Supplements Wisely).
Maxforce: from $49 a bottle30 gummies a bottle · 2, 3 or 6 bottles · free US shipping on 3 or 6 · 60-day money-back guarantee
See packsIf you already took one05
What should you do if you already took a product you now doubt?
Stop taking it, check how you feel and tell your doctor or pharmacist what it was and what the label said.
Stop
Do not take more while you check.
Watch for symptoms
Dizziness, faintness, a pounding heart, chest pain or a long erection need urgent care (MedlinePlus, Sildenafil).
Keep the product
Keep the tub, the receipt and the lot code. They help a doctor and help FDA.
Report it
File a report at safetyreporting.hhs.gov (FDA, How to Report a Problem with Dietary Supplements).
Do not stop prescribed medicine to make room for this check. If you take nitrates, call your doctor before the next dose of anything new.
Ask the pharmacist06
What should you ask a pharmacist about enhancement supplements?
Bring the label and ask three things: does it clash with my medicines, does any ingredient affect blood pressure or heart rhythm, and what should I watch for?
A pharmacist reads interaction lists daily and can usually answer in a few minutes. For Maxforce, the points to raise are L-arginine with nitrates or sildenafil (Mayo Clinic, L-arginine), caffeine and green tea with blood pressure or heart rhythm drugs (NCCIH, Green Tea) (FDA, Caffeine: how much is too much?), and ashwagandha with thyroid, diabetes and sedative drugs (NIH ODS, Ashwagandha).
About Maxforce07
Does Maxforce contain hidden drugs?
We do not know. The label lists none, and the sales page names no test. Without a lab report, neither "yes" nor "no" can be proved.
The label's ingredients are plant extracts, an amino acid and caffeine, and none of those is a prescription drug. But a label is what the maker says, and the sales page's claim of "stringent testing for purity and potency" names no lab. Our testing page explains what to ask for.
If you take nitrates or an ED medicine, or you have heart disease, the safe course is the same for any product in this category: ask your doctor before the first gummy.
Maxforce: from $49 a bottle30 gummies a bottle · 2, 3 or 6 bottles · free US shipping on 3 or 6 · 60-day money-back guarantee
See packsFAQ08
Maxforce questions people ask
Which drugs are found in tainted enhancement products?
FDA's notices name sildenafil and tadalafil, the drugs behind Viagra and Cialis. They are prescription drugs that a supplement may not contain. Other undeclared drugs can also appear, so the list of names is not complete.
How do I check FDA's tainted products list?
Search FDA's Tainted Sexual Enhancement Products page. Remember that the list covers only a small fraction of contaminated products, so a product's absence does not prove it is clean.
What if I take nitrates and used a tainted product?
Call your doctor or 911 if you feel faint, dizzy or have chest pain. Low blood pressure from the mix can be dangerous. Bring the product with you, and report it to FDA afterwards.
Can a lab test tell if a supplement has hidden drugs?
Yes. Independent labs can screen for undeclared drugs in a lot. A report should name the lab, the lot and the tests. Ask the seller for it, and be cautious if it cannot supply one.
Are all male enhancement supplements tainted?
No. FDA's list covers a small fraction of the products on the market. Most are not on it. But with no lab report and no named maker, a buyer cannot tell which group a product falls into.
How do I report a tainted supplement?
Stop using it and file a report through FDA's Safety Reporting Portal at safetyreporting.hhs.gov. FDA says even partial information can help it identify dangerous products.
Who wrote this09
Written and reviewed by
Pages built from the label, the sales page and linked NIH, FDA, FTC and peer-reviewed sources.
Last updated . Read our editorial standards and how we check reviews. This website is run by Maxforcevitality, a Maxforce U.S. retail desk, not by the manufacturer or the distributor named on the label. We earn money when you buy through our order links.
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