No Wonder Chinese ED Pills Work

On February 15, The Netherlands Health Care Inspectorate reported its identification of large doses of tadalafil (Cialis; Eli Lilly), vardenafil (Levitra; Bayer, GSK, Schering) and acetildenafil, an analog of sildenafil (Viagra; Pfizer), in imported Chinese "herbal" impotence pills. According to an AP report, thousands of the pills were intercepted approximately 2 weeks ago at Amsterdam's Schiphol Airport and sent for analysis by the Dutch authorities.

The confiscated pills were to be sold under the names Herb Vigour, Natural Vigour, and China Vigour* and were found to contain as much as 2.5 times the maximum dose of one of the selective phosphodiesterase inhibitors, which are FDA approved for the treatment of erectile dysfunction (ED) and available only by prescription. Common, reported serious adverse events associated with these medications in the postmarketing setting—such as cardiovascular events and vision or hearing changes—are more likely to occur with the use of higher-than-approved doses.

A web search reveals that identically named products are currently sold through a number of dubious web sites, several of which identify Kunming Dali Industry & Trade Co, Ltd, in the Yunnan Province as the producer and/or distributor. However, the company's web site—which features a prominent head shot of Jessica Alba and offers a number of questionable "herbal" remedies—does not list male-enhancement products in its online catalog. Nevertheless, a "Man Sex Product Message Board" at the web site indicates the availability of "Herbal Viogra" from the company to resellers as of November 2007.

The Dutch authorities report that they have not yet identified the manufacturer of the intercepted pills. According to a statement made to the AP, the company name printed on the pills' packaging (which was not revealed in the AP report) has not been verified. The Inspectorate did inform relevant authorities worldwide, including the FDA, of the intercepted pills.

Since 2003, the FDA has recalled a number of nonprescription sex-enhancement pills—"Viga for Women," "Nasutra," "Liviro3," "H S Joy of Love," "True Man's Sexual Energy Nutriment Men's Formula," and "Long Weekend" (big eyeroll there)—because they contained undeclared tadalafil, vardenafil, or sildenafil or chemical analogs.