The pharmaceutical manufacturing sector is a large and profitable entity, making billions of dollars annually. No small part of this is from the sale of "sexual enhancement" supplements.

Many of these products claim that their use will bring unimaginable benefits to their user. However, many times, these products are nothing more than a potentially dangerous cocktail of "herbal" supplements or fillers.

EG Labs Announces Viapro Recall

On July 23rd, 2008, EG Labs, LLC, released a statement voluntarily recalling all lots of their drug Viapro, a sexual enhancement medication. This announcement comes after the company was informed by representatives of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) that lab analysis of a sample from one lot of the product revealed that it contained a potentially harmful undeclared ingredient, thio-methisosildenafil.

The FDA describes this ingredient is an analog of sildenafil. An analog is a another name for a chemical compound in which one or more atoms are replaced from a parent compound, created a similar chemical makeup, but with different potential interactions. In this case, the parent chemical is sildenafil, the active chemical ingredient of an FDA-approved drug used for Erectile Dysfunction in men to enhance sexual performance.

Dangerous Interactions

The danger lies in the interaction with potentially harmful interactions with nitrates found in some prescription drugs (such as nitroglycerin) and may lower blood pressure to dangerous levels. Patients with diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, or heart disease often take such nitrates. Additionally, many of these patients who are males suffer sexual side effects, either from their medication or their existing conditions.

However, the interaction between Viapro (specifically, thio-methisosildenafil) and the nitrates found in many of the prescribed drugs for these conditions can lead to a rapid and potentially fatal drop in blood pressure.

Viapro capsules were sold in health stores, pharmacies, and other retailers across the nation until March 2008. They were packaged into 2-capsule blister, 1 capsule blister and 10 capsule bottles. Viapro is still easily and widely available through various internet retailers, despite the Viapro recall and its potentially fatal interactions with other medications.

Full FDA Recall Underway

The FDA has requested that any adverse events that may be related to the use of this product be reported to the FDA's MedWatch Program by phone at 1-800-FDA-1088 or by fax at 1-800-FDA-0178 or by mail at MedWatch, HF-2, FDA, 5600 Fishers Lane, Rockville, MD 20852-9787.

Any patient who believes they may have been negatively affected by Viapro, whether it was marketed as Viapro or some other brand, should immediately contact a health professional to evaluate their condition. Additionally, patients may want to contact a Viapro law firm to help them better understand any potential Viapro lawsuit that may be developed.