Warning over imported ‘Viagra’ capsules that pose serious health risks

The Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) is encouraging Australians to stay away from a specific type of erectile disfunction pill that can cause a number of serious health problems.

Following an investigation, the TGA found 9800mg capsules of what’s called ‘Gold Viagra’ can pose a serious risk to health. Testing found that the capsules contained a substance known as sildenafil. While sildenafil has the ability to treat erectile dysfunction and is used in legitimate Viagra medication, it should only be given to patients via prescription or with medical advice. Side effects can include vision or hearing loss, bladder pain, bloody urine, an irregular heartbeat, pain in the arms, chest or shoulders, nausea and sweating.

Because the sellers of Gold Viagra – which is unrelated to legitimate Viagra medication manufactured by pharma giant Pfizer – don’t declare the substance or the amount of sildenafil in each capsule, buying or consuming Gold Viagra is illegal and while the drug isn’t available in Australian stores, there are fears that many men are purchasing it online.

As such, the TGA has advised people who have purchased the capsules to stop using them immediately. It recommends taking any remaining capsules to a local pharmacy so it can safely and securely dispose of them. Pharmacists will have secure bins for proper disposal as part of the Return Unwanted Medicines (RUM) Project.

If you have taken the tablets, the TGA advises seeking medical attention This can be done by booking an appointment with a GP or visiting a hospital in extreme cases. 

It’s not the first time the TGA has warned about Gold Viagra, which first appeared in Australia in 2015 under the name ‘Kangaroo Sexually Invigorating Essence’ and were sold as Chinese herbal medicine. And the year before, the US Food and Drug Administration warned that men on existing medication for diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol or heart disease risked having sildenafil interfere with their medication, lowering blood pressure to dangerous levels.

Read more: Men shunning Viagra for electric shocks to cure erectile dysfunction

The TGA is now working with the Australian Border Force to prevent further shipments of the Gold Viagra capsules from entering the country. There are also warnings for people not to purchase the drugs online, with Border Force officials instructed to seize and destroy any of the drugs they come across in the postal and packaging system.

More generally, the TGA warned Australians to exercise extreme caution when ordering medication online. In addition to potentially making you extremely ill, there is a risk you could lose your money or that you could unintentionally be breaking the law.

Instead, it’s best to always talk to your GP or health professional first, especially if you are considering a new drug or a change in medication. If you are purchasing from an online store, ensure you know exactly what you’re purchasing and where the medication is coming from.

If the medication isn’t readily available in Australia, chances are there is a very good reason for that. In most cases, medication from other countries aren’t regulated by the TGA, meaning they are at higher risk of being a fake or expired, containing incorrect amounts of vital ingredients, containing dangerous ingredients, or even being contaminated.

Have you ever purchased medication online? Were you happy with your purchase?