Red Flags: How to Spot Dangerous Male Enhancement Products

The male enhancement market has exploded in recent years, with countless products promising everything from better erections to increased size and stamina. While some supplements may offer legitimate benefits, many others pose serious—even life-threatening—health risks. According to recent FDA warnings, the landscape of male enhancement products in 2025 is more dangerous than ever.

“The number of contaminated sexual enhancement products has reached alarming levels,” says Dr. Michael Eisenberg, Director of Male Reproductive Medicine at Stanford University. “Many men don’t realize they’re essentially taking unregulated prescription drugs when they purchase these supplements.”

This comprehensive guide will help you identify the red flags of dangerous male enhancement products and make safer choices for your sexual health.

The Hidden Danger: Undeclared Pharmaceutical Ingredients

The most serious risk with male enhancement products is the presence of hidden pharmaceutical ingredients. The FDA has consistently found that many supplements marketed as “all natural” actually contain potent prescription drugs or their analogs.

Common Hidden Ingredients

According to FDA notifications, the most frequently found hidden ingredients include:

1. Sildenafil (the active ingredient in Viagra)
2. Tadalafil (the active ingredient in Cialis)
3. Vardenafil (the active ingredient in Levitra)
4. Dapoxetine (a prescription medication for premature ejaculation)
5. Acetaminophen (a pain reliever that can cause liver damage in high doses)

In July 2025, the FDA issued warnings for four products containing both sildenafil and tadalafil: Versace Real Honey for Men, Black Panther Miracle Honey for Men, Secret Miracle Honey Extra Strength, and Black Horse Miracle Honey for Men. The first three also contained undeclared acetaminophen, according to Lachman Consultants.

Why This Matters

These hidden ingredients can:

• Interact dangerously with other medications: Particularly nitrates found in drugs prescribed for diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, or heart disease
• Cause unpredictable side effects: Including severe drops in blood pressure, priapism (painful erections lasting more than 4 hours), vision or hearing loss
• Lead to accidental overdose: Particularly with acetaminophen, which can cause liver failure when combined with other products containing this ingredient

“Taking these products is essentially self-prescribing powerful drugs without medical supervision,” warns Dr. Eisenberg. “The dose is often unknown, and the manufacturing quality is completely unregulated.”

Red Flag #1: “Too Good to Be True” Claims

One of the most obvious warning signs of a dangerous product is marketing that makes implausible claims. Be wary of products that promise:

• Permanent penis enlargement
• Immediate results (within minutes or hours)
• 100% effectiveness for all users
• “Miracle” or “magic” solutions
• Results equivalent to prescription medications

Legitimate supplements typically make more modest claims about supporting sexual health rather than promising dramatic transformations or instant results.

Red Flag #2: “All Natural” Claims Combined with Rapid Effects

Products marketed as “all natural” that also claim to work within minutes or hours are especially suspicious. Truly natural ingredients generally don’t produce immediate, drug-like effects.

“If a product claims to be natural but works just like Viagra, that should immediately raise suspicion,” says Dr. Jennifer Berman, sexual health expert and urologist. “Herbal ingredients simply don’t work that quickly or dramatically.”

Red Flag #3: Products from Questionable Sources

The source of a male enhancement product can tell you a lot about its safety. Exercise extreme caution with products:

• Sold exclusively through social media ads
• Available only through obscure websites
• Shipped directly from overseas without FDA inspection
• Sold at gas stations, convenience stores, or adult shops
• Marketed through spam emails or unsolicited text messages

Legitimate supplements are typically available through established retailers, reputable online stores, or directly from manufacturers with verifiable business information.

Red Flag #4: Lack of Transparent Ingredient Information

Safe supplements clearly list all ingredients and their amounts. Be suspicious of products that:

• Have vague ingredient lists (e.g., “proprietary blend” without specifics)
• List ingredients without quantities
• Make claims in multiple languages but have minimal English ingredient information
• Use scientific-sounding but meaningless terms like “male vitality matrix”
• Fail to provide a supplement facts panel

According to the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health, the lack of clear ingredient information is one of the biggest red flags for potentially dangerous supplements.

Red Flag #5: No Contact Information or Return Policy

Reputable companies stand behind their products with clear policies and accessible customer service. Be wary of products that:

• Provide no phone number or only an email address
• Lack a physical address for the company
• Offer no return policy or satisfaction guarantee
• Have no clear process for reporting adverse effects
• Use only a PO box for returns

“A legitimate company wants to hear from its customers and stands behind its products,” explains consumer protection attorney Sarah Klein. “Fly-by-night operations make themselves difficult to contact for a reason.”

Red Flag #6: Excessive and Suspiciously Positive Reviews

While reviews can be helpful, they can also be manufactured. Be skeptical of products with:

• Hundreds of five-star reviews with minimal detail
• Reviews that all sound similar or use the same phrases
• No negative or moderate reviews whatsoever
• Reviews that describe immediate, dramatic results
• Reviews posted in a short timeframe

Review manipulation is common in the supplement industry, particularly for products with questionable safety profiles.

Red Flag #7: Products Pulled from Shelves and Rebranded

Many dangerous supplements follow a pattern: they’re identified by the FDA, pulled from the market, and then quickly reappear under a slightly different name or with modified packaging.

“It’s a regulatory whack-a-mole,” explains FDA consumer safety officer Robert Durkin. “We identify a dangerous product, and within weeks, the same formula reappears under a new name.”

Pay attention to products that:

• Look similar to previously recalled supplements
• Use numbering systems (e.g., “Rhino 7,” “Rhino 8,” “Rhino 12”)
• Have nearly identical packaging to known problematic products
• Make the same claims as recently recalled supplements

Real-World Examples: Products Flagged in 2025

According to the FDA’s Health Fraud Product Database, several male enhancement products have been flagged in 2025 for containing dangerous hidden ingredients:

1. Green Lumber (August 13, 2025) – Contained undeclared tadalafil
2. Versace Real Honey for Men (July 8, 2025) – Contained undeclared sildenafil, tadalafil, and acetaminophen
3. Black Horse Miracle Honey for Men (July 8, 2025) – Contained undeclared sildenafil and tadalafil
4. Secret Miracle Honey Extra Strength (July 8, 2025) – Contained undeclared sildenafil, tadalafil, and acetaminophen
5. Black Panther Miracle Honey for Men (July 8, 2025) – Contained undeclared sildenafil, tadalafil, and acetaminophen
6. Platinum 69000 Rhino 69 – Contained undeclared sildenafil

These products exemplify the trend of marketing supplements as “honey” products or using exotic-sounding names to attract consumers while hiding dangerous ingredients.

How to Find Safer Alternatives

While no supplement is guaranteed to be 100% safe or effective, there are ways to reduce your risk when considering male enhancement products:

1. Consult Healthcare Providers First

Before trying any supplement, discuss your sexual health concerns with a healthcare provider. Many sexual issues have underlying medical causes that supplements won’t address.

“Men often turn to supplements because they’re embarrassed to discuss sexual problems with their doctor,” says urologist Dr. Amin Herati. “But that conversation could save their life, especially if they have underlying cardiovascular issues.”

2. Look for Third-Party Testing

Reputable supplement companies voluntarily submit their products for third-party testing to verify ingredient quality and purity. Look for certifications from:

• NSF International
• USP (United States Pharmacopeia)
• ConsumerLab
• Informed-Choice

These organizations independently verify that products contain what they claim and are free from harmful contaminants.

3. Research the Manufacturer

Before purchasing, research the company making the supplement:

• How long have they been in business?
• Do they manufacture other reputable health products?
• Are they transparent about their manufacturing processes?
• Do they have a scientific advisory board or research team?
• Have they been subject to FDA warnings or recalls?

Established companies with good reputations have more to lose by selling dangerous products.

4. Check the FDA Database

The FDA maintains a database of tainted sexual enhancement products. Before purchasing any male enhancement supplement, check this resource to see if it’s been flagged for safety concerns.

Remember that this list isn’t exhaustive—the FDA can only test a small fraction of products on the market—but it’s a helpful starting point.

5. Start with Single-Ingredient Products

Products with long lists of ingredients increase the risk of adverse reactions and make it harder to identify which components are effective or problematic for you personally.

Consider starting with supplements that contain single, well-studied ingredients such as:

• L-arginine
• L-citrulline
• Panax ginseng
• Maca root

While even these ingredients aren’t guaranteed to help, they have better safety profiles when used appropriately and are less likely to contain hidden pharmaceuticals.

Who Is Most at Risk?

While hidden ingredients in male enhancement products pose risks to all consumers, certain groups face heightened dangers:

Men Taking Nitrate Medications

Individuals with cardiovascular disease, diabetes, or hypertension who take nitrate medications face the greatest risk. The interaction between nitrates and hidden PDE5 inhibitors (like sildenafil) can cause a potentially fatal drop in blood pressure.

Men with Liver Conditions

Products containing undeclared acetaminophen pose serious risks to those with liver disease or who regularly consume alcohol.

Men with Other Health Conditions

Those with a history of stroke, unstable heart conditions, severe vision problems, or Peyronie’s disease may experience dangerous side effects from hidden pharmaceutical ingredients.

Addressing Sexual Health Concerns Safely

Rather than turning to potentially dangerous supplements, consider these safer approaches to sexual health:

1. Address Underlying Health Issues

Sexual dysfunction is often linked to other health conditions such as:

• Cardiovascular disease
• Diabetes
• Obesity
• Low testosterone
• Depression or anxiety
• Sleep disorders

Treating these underlying conditions often improves sexual function without the need for supplements.

2. Consider Lifestyle Modifications

Research consistently shows that certain lifestyle changes can improve erectile function and sexual health:

• Regular physical activity
• Mediterranean-style diet
• Adequate sleep
• Stress reduction
• Limiting alcohol consumption
• Quitting smoking

“Many men don’t realize that the same factors that affect heart health also impact sexual function,” explains Dr. Eisenberg. “Improving overall health often translates to better sexual health.”

3. Explore FDA-Approved Treatments

If you’re experiencing erectile dysfunction or other sexual health issues, FDA-approved medications prescribed by a healthcare provider offer a safer alternative to unregulated supplements. These include:

• Sildenafil (Viagra)
• Tadalafil (Cialis)
• Vardenafil (Levitra)
• Avanafil (Stendra)

These medications have undergone rigorous clinical testing, have known safety profiles, and are manufactured under strict quality controls.

Conclusion: Prioritizing Safety in Sexual Health

The male enhancement market is rife with products that promise miraculous results but deliver hidden dangers. By recognizing the red flags outlined in this guide, you can better protect yourself from potentially harmful supplements.

Remember that legitimate sexual health treatments rarely promise overnight miracles, and true improvements in sexual function typically require addressing underlying health factors rather than relying on a pill or powder.

“Sexual health is an important component of overall wellbeing,” concludes Dr. Berman. “But risking your life or health for sexual enhancement is never worth it, especially when safer alternatives exist.”

If you’ve purchased a male enhancement product and experienced unexpected side effects, report them to the FDA’s MedWatch program. Your report could help protect others from similar harm.