The hospitalization of former NBA star Lamar Odom, has spotlighted the dangers of taking supplements that contain hidden, potentially harmful ingredients. During his time at the brothel, where he was found unconscious, the 35-year-old reportedly took up to 10 tablets of so-called herbal Viagra, which were obtained over the counter. Here’s what we know about the supplement:
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- According to The Washington Post, Odom took a supplement called “Reload,” which the FDA issued a warning notification about two years ago. According to the FDA, Reload is laced with sildenafil, the active ingredient in the prescription erectile dysfunction drug Viagra. The ingredient can lower blood pressure and be particularly dangerous to men with diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol or heart disease who often take nitrates. But because this ingredient isn’t disclosed on Reload’s packaging, consumers would have no idea about the risks and potential interactions.
- The FDA issued this warning about Reload: “Consumers should stop using this product immediately and throw it away.”
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- Odom also reportedly bought another brand of sexual enhancement pill, Libimax Plus, from the brothel’s shop. In 2007, the FDA announced that the California-based maker of a supplement called Libimax was voluntarily recalling it after it also was found to include an active ingredient used in an FDA-approved drug for erectile dysfunction.
- There’s little oversight of the manufacturing processes, so supplements like Reload and Libimax are just a couple of many examples where potent drugs have been found in herbals unbeknownst to consumers. According to the LA Times, the FDA has already issued 20 public warnings this year on similar sex-drive boosters with names like “Weekend Warrior” and “King of Romance.”
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ForMen takeaway: Consumers often perceive supplements and herbal products as safe because they are usually sold with labels suggesting they are all-natural alternatives to prescription drugs. But it’s a good idea to always be wary of sexual performance-enhancement products that claim to be natural and promise rapid or long-lasting effects. To find out which supplements the FDA has deemed potentially dangerous, or to report potentially dangerous products, you can go to the FDA’s MedWatch site.
Curated article from:
Washington Post
US News
Vox.com
FDA
LA Times
FDA MedWatch
