Dangerous impotence supplements found by the NATCP in the market - products containing unauthorised active substances may pose serious health risks

During its inspections last month, the National Authority for Trade and Consumer Protection (NTCA) identified several impotence pills marketed as food supplements, food or natural stimulants, but containing unauthorised active substances such as sildenafil, tadalafil and vardenafil. These active substances can only be used in medicines manufactured under controlled conditions on prescription. Their use under inappropriate conditions poses a serious health risk and their presence in foods and food supplements is therefore prohibited. During the inspection, the authority also found that the prohibited active substances were not listed on the labels of the products, which mislead consumers.

The following products were found to contain banned substances: Black Rock Gold, Dragon Power Green, El Diablo, Superhero Blue and Virility Max Plus. These products were advertised by the manufacturers as natural herbal extracts, herbal food supplements, but laboratory tests have shown that they contain compounds with medicinal properties.

The active substances in question - sildenafil, tadalafil and vardenafil - belong to a group of drugs known as phosphodiesterase-5 (PDE-5) inhibitors, which are safe to use only under strict medical supervision. These compounds affect the cardiovascular system and can be particularly dangerous when used in combination with other drugs, such as nitrate-containing preparations. Side effects can include headaches, dizziness, visual disturbances, drops in blood pressure and, in severe cases, heart attacks. This is particularly dangerous if the user is unaware that he or she has consumed a product containing a banned substance.

It is important to know that PDE-5 inhibitors do not occur naturally in plant-based ingredients, so if a dietary supplement has a strong drug-like effect while being advertised as being of natural origin, there is a strong suspicion that it contains an illegal pharmaceutical substance. Unknown ingredients, uncontrolled manufacturing conditions and inappropriate dosage significantly increase the risk of overdose, allergic reactions and cardiovascular complications.

The Authority warns consumers to buy only dietary supplements from trusted, authorised sources, to avoid products that promise an unrealistically fast or powerful effect, and to be particularly wary of products that claim to be natural herbal but have a medicinal effect. In all cases, it is worth checking that the product you have chosen is not on the database of notified food supplements published by the National Centre for Public Health and Pharmacy or on the list of products banned from marketing. Up-to-date information on how to check is available at https://ogyei.gov.hu/ETREND_LISTA/ .

If you experience any side effects after consuming this or similar products, such as headaches, dizziness, blood pressure fluctuations, heart problems, you should immediately consult a doctor and report the case to the National Authority for Trade and Consumer Protection, the National Centre for Public Health and Pharmacy or the food chain control or public health authorities of the competent county government agency. The Authority also asks consumers not to consume the products listed or similar products if they have been purchased and, if possible, to return them to the place of purchase.

Finally, distributors are reminded that the marketing of products containing an active pharmaceutical ingredient in breach of the law is not only a food safety offence, but also a falsification and a criminal offence, which may lead to strict legal consequences.