A non-prescription drug that advertises itself as an alternative to the prescription drug Viagra has been found by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to contain an undeclared ingredient, sildenafil, otherwise known as, yes, Viagra. “Viagra 007” continues to be described by its manufacturer as a safe alternative to the expensive Viagra. FDA has not identified the actual dose of sildenafil present in the less-expensive, over-the-counter Chinese alternative.

The FDA maintains a long list of such “tainted” dietary supplements and Viagra 007 – intended to assist against erectile dysfunction (ED) is now on it. The agency says the presence of sildenafil might cause a negative interaction with the nitrates often found in prescription drugs such as nitroglycerin, which could bring blood pressure to dangerously low levels. Nitrates are often consumed as part of medical regimens to assist with high blood pressure, diabetes or heart disease.

Another sexual dysfunction supplement the FDA advises retailers not to make available to their customers is Dick’s Hard Up, which contains prescription tadalafil, the active ingredient in Viagra’s main competitor, Cialis. The FDA advises people to immediately stop using the product, throw it away and, if they have experienced any negative side effects, to see “a health care professional as soon as possible.”

Even as Viagra 007 contains Viagra, the product’s manufacturer, Guangzhou Way Health Products Limited, continues to describe it as a safe alternative to Viagra.

Although sildenafil / Viagra is the most popular and widely used prescribed drug for ED, prescriptions for it are not handed out willy-nilly as it can be dangerous to men with certain cardiovascular problems.

Because products like Viagra 007 and Dick’s Hard Up are not manufactured in the U.S., the FDA has no standing in the matter other than to issue public alerts and encourage reports of adverse reactions via its online and fax MedWatch reporting system.