What Is a "Male Enhancement" Supplement? FDA Warnings, Reviews and Gummy Safety

The FDA says many sexual enhancement, energy and stamina products are likely to be contaminated with dangerous hidden ingredients. It also says a product that is not on its list is not therefore safe (FDA, Sexual Enhancement and Energy Product Notifications).

The list holds about 196 notices by our count, about 25 with honey, candy or chocolate in the name. HoneyBoost is not on it as we read it, and nothing says it is tainted. This is a category risk.

The hidden drug is often the one in prescription ED pills. In one FDA notice, a gummy sold for sexual enhancement held tadalafil that was not on the label, a drug that can interact with nitrates and lower blood pressure to dangerous levels.

Only lab testing can show what a gummy contains, and none is published for HoneyBoost.

Safety depends on what is inside, not on the shape. The FDA has found the gummy format used to hide a drug.

Each HoneyBoost gummy carries 3 g of added sugar, so a bottle of 30 holds 90 g. The American Heart Association limit for most men is about 36 g a day (AHA, Added Sugars).

• The label warns: do not take if pregnant, lactating, suffering from a medical condition or taking other medications. Consult a physician.
• Packaged in a facility that also handles peanuts, tree nuts, wheat, soy and milk products.
• The label prints no directions line. Ask the order desk, and treat one gummy as the serving.

L-arginine can lower blood pressure, and the Mayo page says it might make pressure too low with nitrate medicine (Mayo Clinic, L-arginine). See HoneyBoost side effects and supplements and medicines.

See one early. Trouble getting or keeping an erection can be a sign of a health condition that needs treatment, such as heart disease or diabetes (Mayo Clinic, ED Symptoms and Causes).

A clinician can check your heart, blood sugar and hormones first. Do not stop a prescribed medicine on your own (NIDDK, Treatment for ED). Report any supplement harm to the FDA through MedWatch (FDA, MedWatch). The detailed guide is erectile dysfunction basics.

1. Erection problems that lastSee a healthcare professional, especially if you have diabetes or heart disease. ED can be the first symptom of heart disease.
2. Signs of low testosteroneLow desire, low energy or fewer spontaneous erections need a blood test, usually two morning samples, not a store-bought booster.
3. You take a nitrateED medicines and some supplements can drop blood pressure too low with nitrates. Ask your doctor before any sexual health product.
4. A product works like a drugFast, drug-like effects from a 'natural' product can mean hidden prescription drugs. Stop it and report it to FDA MedWatch.
5. Call 911 or get care nowChest pain or fainting: call 911. An erection lasting more than 4 hours: get care right away.

From Mayo Clinic (Mayo Clinic, ED Symptoms and Causes) (Mayo Clinic, ED Diagnosis and Treatment), Cleveland Clinic (Cleveland Clinic, Erectile Dysfunction) (Cleveland Clinic, Low Testosterone), NIDDK (NIDDK, Treatment for ED) and FDA (FDA, Sexual Enhancement and Energy Product Notifications) (FDA, MedWatch). This list is not complete, and a supplement is never a reason to wait.