As Valentine’s Day Approaches, Beware Of Fake Viagra

When taken according to the instructions on the pack, Viagra is safe for most people. There are some people who should avoid it, due to conditions like low blood pressure, heart problems, or sickle cell disease, so if it’s your first time it’s always best to check with a doctor or pharmacist first. 

Equally, like all drugs, Viagra can cause some side effects. Some of the most common ones include nausea, headaches, and vision changes, but there are also rare, serious side effects to be aware of. One of these is priapism, an erection that lasts longer than four hours. This requires immediate medical attention as it can cause lasting damage to the penis if it goes untreated. 

If you purchase legitimate sildenafil tablets, either from a pharmacy or via a reputable online retailer, all of these potential risks will be listed on the package insert, so you know what to look out for. But not all the sildenafil that’s available out there is legitimate, and that’s a problem. 

“Fake Viagra is a counterfeit version of the popular erectile dysfunction treatment, often sold online at low prices but posing serious risks. Nearly 80 percent of Viagra bought online is estimated to be fake, with many containing unsafe ingredients,” Dr Bhavini Shah, a GP with the LloydsPharmacy Online Doctor service, said in a statement sent to IFLScience. 

These pills may be produced in unsanitary conditions, and could be contaminated with all sorts of dodgy substances. “Lab tests have found harmful ingredients like detergents, road paint, printer ink, and even amphetamines,” Dr Shah explained.

Even where they do contain actual sildenafil, it may not be in the labeled quantity, so you can’t be sure what you’re actually taking: “Dosages of sildenafil, Viagra’s active ingredient, are inconsistent and can be dangerously high – or absent altogether – making counterfeit pills highly unsafe.”

In a 2018 interview with The Brink, Professor Muhammad Zaman, author of the book Bitter Pills: The Global War on Counterfeit Drugs, speculated that counterfeit Viagra could be near the top of the rankings when it comes to revenue. Not only does this pose a risk to consumers, Professor Zaman pointed out, but it does no good for the drug companies’ reputations either, so it’s in everyone’s best interests to raise awareness of the problem.

Online services are making it easier for people to access erectile dysfunction medication in a more discreet and convenient way, but it’s important that you use a trustworthy source. If you’re planning to make a purchase online, do as much research as you can to ascertain whether the company is reputable. There may be a regulator in your country that you can check with – in the US, for instance, there’s the Safe Site Search Tool from the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy, which can tell you whether an online pharmacy is accredited.

Unfortunately, it can be tough to tell real pills from fake ones without sending them off for testing. “To spot fakes, check for consistent colour, diamond shape, and smooth edges,” Dr Shah advises.

But, ultimately, her message is when in doubt, throw it out: “If unsure about a pill’s origin, don’t take it.”

The content of this article is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of qualified health providers with questions you may have regarding medical conditions.