E-commerce platform Amazon is known for being the world's largest online retailer and marketplace, offering various products such as electronics, apparel, housewares, and pharmaceutical products, among others. Just recently, it received a warning letter from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for distributing supplements containing undisclosed licensed medicines.
Threatened Legal Action from FDA
The multinational company received a warning from the FDA about "bootleg Viagra" found on its platform, disguised as energy or health supplements for men. In a warning letter dated December 20, the agency details numerous violations of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act. FDA also threatened legal action and mentioned seven products available on the platform with ingredients found in Viagra and Cialis.
Buyers might confuse the products with real-deal prescription drugs with their brightly colored, cartoonish labels with outlandish names. However, a laboratory analysis found that several supplements or powders sold on Amazon contained either tadalafil or sildenafil, the active ingredients in Viagra and Cialis. These products include X Max Triple Shot Energy Honey, Men's Maximum Energy Supplement, Big Guys Male Energy Supplement, Genergy, WeFun, Round 2, and MANNERS Energy Boost.
FDA also asked Amazon how it will prevent similar mislabeled drugs from being included in the product listings in the future. The agency clarified that the platform is responsible for investigating and determining the causes of any violations and for preventing the occurrence of similar violations.
The products were identified individually throughout the year, and its findings were first published in August. Amazon spokesperson Samantha Boyd stated that the products were removed from the site before the letter was sent in December. She emphasized that the company requires all products in their platform to comply with applicable laws and regulations.
Viagra and Cialis both belong to a group of medications called PDE-5 inhibitors, which cause a reduction in blood pressure. This can pose health risks or even be fatal to people with heart problems. Most of these products tend to surface when buyers search for "Viagra" or "erectile dysfunction" on Amazon. However, some are marked as health supplements containing ginseng, royal jelly, and honey.
Amazon has long had a problem with third-party sellers who offer counterfeit drugs and pharmaceutical products. The company is given 15 working days to respond to the charges in the letter.
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Harmful Effects of Viagra and Cialis
Viagra and Cialis are both phosphodiesterase-5 (PDE5) inhibitors that are used in treating impotence or erectile dysfunction in men. They only work when a man is sexually aroused.
One of the differences between the two drugs is the amount of time they spend in the body system. Cialis provides penile hardness over a more extended period since it lasts for about 36 hours, while Viagra lasts only 4 to 5 hours.
People taking Cialis report side effects such as headache, indigestion, back pain, muscle pain, and stuffy nose. It can also cause priapism or prolonged, painful erection. Meanwhile, Viagra can cause heartburn, nose bleeding, flushed skin, and numbness. Some of its severe side effects, like chest pain, blurred vision, and shortness of breath, may require immediate medical attention.
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