Australians who are looking to improve their sexual performance with online herbal supplements may be putting their health at risk. The TGA, Australia’s pharmaceutical watchdog, has issued safety alerts for seven supplements, including Tantra Jelly, Bullblood tablets, and Throb herbal supplements, after testing revealed that they contained sildenafil, tadalafil, or both.
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These substances, commonly known as Viagra (sildenafil) and Cialis (tadalafil), are prescription-only products in Australia and can have serious side effects and interactions with other medications.
The TGA stated that the products were seized as ”potentially counterfeit” and warned consumers to be extremely cautious when purchasing medicines from unknown overseas websites. They emphasized that these products may contain undisclosed and potentially harmful ingredients and may not meet the same standards of quality, safety, and efficacy as those approved for supply in Australia.
Prof Steve Robson, president of the Australian Medical Association, advised people to be extremely careful when sourcing herbal supplements, especially those bought online from international websites. He recommended using only local pharmacies when buying medication online.
Robson also highlighted the limited evidence on the effectiveness of most complementary medicines and the potential risks they pose to patient health. He warned against the misuse of unproven complementary medicines and therapies, as well as the risk of patients deferring seeking medical advice.
A 2020 review published in the medical journal Drug Testing and Analysis found that there is a growing trend toward the intentional adulteration of dietary supplements with synthetic pharmaceuticals, posing an alarming emerging risk to consumers and a serious problem for regulatory agencies.
The review also revealed that between 2010 and 2019, 44.7% of reported adulterants were found in erectile dysfunction supplements, and 81% of these adulterated sexual enhancement supplements contained sildenafil or one of its derivatives.
2024-01-30 00:32:23
Article from www.theguardian.com