FDA: Don't Use Dietary Supplement Rock Hard Extreme

David Liu and editing by Denise Reynolds

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has recently warned consumers not to use three types of dietary supplements intended for weight loss, sexual enhancement and bodybuilding.

The problem, the FDA said, is that these dietary supplements contain hidden or deceptively labeled ingredients that are either the active ingredients in FDA-approved drugs or their analogs or other novel synthetic steroids.

In recent years, the FDA has alerted consumers to more than 80 dietary supplements marketed for sexual enhancement, more than 70 products marketed for weight loss and more than 80 products for bodybuilding.

Below is one recent warning against use of dietary supplements intended for sexual enhancement.

The FDA on Dec 30 updated a public notification on its website to warn consumers not to use two dietary supplements called Rock Hard Extreme and Passion Coffee, which the agency said was found to contain a chemical similar to the active ingredient used in Viagra.

Lab tests by the agency confirmed that the dietary supplement contains synthetic sulfaildenafil, which is structurally similar to sildenafil, the active compound in male sexual enhancement pill Viagra.

The undeclared ingredient in the dietary supplement may interact with other medications including nitrates, lowering blood pressure to dangerous levels.  Men with diabetes, hypertension, high cholesterol or otherwise having heart disease should avoid this chemical.

The FDA did not say if it has taken any legal action against the manufacturer and distributors of the dietary supplement like www.drivetotalenergy.com. The agency does not have any authority to regulate marketing of dietary supplements.  But when a safety issue arises, the agency can intervene.

The agency encouraged healthcare providers and patients who experienced side effects from these dietary supplements to file reports to the FDA's MedWatch Safety Information and Adverse Event Reporting Program.

Drive Total Energy claims on its website that it has been studying natural aphrodisiacs and healing herbs since 1995. Rock Hard Extreme ingredients include bombyx mori extract, oyster extract, gouqi extract and white willow bark extract.

Men who need more power may consider using anti-ED prescription drugs like Viagra, which are costly. Those who want a better experience may also consider using certain foods or dietary supplements or nutrition supplements.  Omega-3 fatty acids, vitamin C, the amino acid arginine, garlic, oyster or other seafood like shrimp and oily fish such as salmon are a few things a man may use to boost his bedroom experience.

A study showed boars whose diet was supplemented with omega-3 fatty acid for 8 to 15 weeks produced much more sperm than those receiving no supplement. Boars on the dietary supplement were also ejaculating for a longer time compared to the controls.

That study was conducted by Estienne MJ et al. of Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University and published in the July 2008 issue of Theriogenology.