In spite of its efforts to stop the distribution of dangerous weight loss and sexual enhancement products, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) continues to discover weight loss and sexual enhancement products that violate the federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act at various online stores. Consumers in Chicago and elsewhere should be wary of purchasing these types of products online.
The FDA has warned consumers about dangerous products available at online retailers for a decade, but in spite of efforts to improve safety in these spaces, violations persist. On July 26, 2021, the FDA issued a letter to let Amazon know that it was distributing weight loss and sexual enhancement products that violate the federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act. The distributed products include hidden ingredients that could have harmful medical consequences.
The FDA sampled 26 products it bought on Amazon. It also sampled 25 products it bought on eBay. Alarmingly, the FDA found that all 26 of the drugs bought on Amazon contained undeclared active ingredients. 20 of 25 products purchased on eBay also did. None of the potentially harmful ingredients in these products is declared in the product labeling so that consumers know to seek physician supervision and advice with regard to them. For instance, an FDA lab analysis confirmed that X Rated Honey for Men includes tadalafil, which is the active ingredient in the erectile dysfunction drug Cialis. Likewise, analysis found tadalafil, the active ingredient in the FDA-approved prescription drug Cialis, in Adam’s Secret Extra Strength 2000 sold through online retailers.
Identified drug ingredients that carry risks are the phosphodiesterase type 5 (PDE-5) inhibitors sildenafil, tadalafil, and/or vardenafil. They are active ingredients in the erectile dysfunction drugs Viagra, Cialis, and Levitra. They could adversely interact with nitrates found in nitroglycerin and other specific prescription drugs. The result may be blood pressure that is reduced to dangerous levels. Those with high blood pressure, diabetes, high cholesterol, or heart disease often take nitrates, and if they also take the unlabeled online drugs without the supervision of a doctor, they could face serious harm.
The FDA maintains a tainted products database that consumers can use to identify potentially harmful drugs. There are around 1000 products in the database. However, whether a product is listed in the database or not, you should be careful when purchasing or using certain over-the-counter pharmaceutical products, particularly those promoted for weight loss, sexual enhancement, sleep aids, dietary supplements for pain relief, or bodybuilding. Often these drugs are tempting because they seem to promise quick results and are easy to get and don’t carry adequate warnings.
Drug manufacturers and others in the chain of distribution may be held responsible for defective over-the-counter pharmaceuticals in product liability lawsuits. Pharmaceuticals can be defective in their marketing, manufacturing, or design. Failure to warn about a dangerous ingredient or aspect of using a drug can be an actionable marketing defect. When manufacturers fail to warn about potentially harmful drug ingredients in pharmaceuticals, and as a result, they cause injuries to those using them, it may be appropriate to sue responsible parties for defective marketing.
The dedicated Chicago-based lawyers of the Moll Law Group may be able to represent you if you sustained injuries due to a weight loss or sexual enhancement drug that didn’t contain adequate warnings. We’ve compassionately represented consumers for decades and we’re ready to help you assert your rights against a manufacturer or other company in the chain of distribution. Billions have been recovered in cases with which we’ve been involved. Please contact us online or call us at 312.462.1700.