Against a fiery background with an African rhino pictured blazing forward, this pill advertises “TIME. SIZE. STAMINA.” It’s a common sight at bodegas and gas stations, hanging behind the clerk between the cigarettes and phone chargers.
There are dozens of brands making these gas station sex pills. Are they totally fake? Not exactly.
At best, they’re just herbal extracts that won’t do much of anything for you.
But at worst, it’s a totally unknown dose of a controlled medication like Viagra — which could cause heart issues.
Grant Harting, a pharmacist from Pennsylvania, put one of these capsules to the test to find out exactly what’s in it. In a viral social media video, Harting opened what he called a “sketchy gas station pill” that had a “large African rhino” on the packaging.
It listed ingredients like goji extract, deng sen extract, and cinnamon bark — an “herbal” blend that he shouldn’t do much of anything.
But when he looked at the powder inside, he immediately knew there was “no shot” it was herbal. He was right: Upon testing, he found it was sildenafil, the same active ingredient of Viagra.
“This is super illegal and super dangerous,” he said.
The brand name Viagra pills are strictly controlled for a reason. The drug should be used under the supervision of a doctor, because it can interact with other drugs and cause dangerously low blood pressure.
The real stuff, which requires a prescription, is also controlled for quality and the doses are consistent and known. The gas station stuff is a total mystery, both in terms of quality and dosage.
The FDA is well aware of the amount of illegal pharmaceuticals on the market. This month alone, they has released four new warnings about these sex pills.
According to the FDA, “Pink Pussycat Brand,” “Hard AF!” and “Erectus Plus” are just some examples of pills that contain an unlisted mystery concoction of sildenafil and tadalafil, the active ingredient in Cialis. Both can cause a dangerous drop in blood pressure.
“Business Pill” and “Branch Manager for Men” contained yohimbine, which used to be used for erectile dysfunction until safer, more effective treatments came along. Yohimbe can cause severe high blood pressure, irregular heartbeat and even heart attacks.
It’s not just pills. In May, “Boner Bears” chocolates were recalled for containing sildenafil. “Pink Pussycat” also offered an array of products, from pills to liquid medication, honey, and chocolate — all with a secret concoction of sildenafil and tadalafil.
Like the pill Harting tested, these medications often claim to contain some herbal ingredients and never mention they have serious medication inside.
By only listing herbal ingredients, the products fall into the supplement category, avoiding the watchful eye of the FDA. Regulators don’t test or approve products before they go to the public, but may get involved if they falsely advertise.
The pull for gas station pills is obvious — skip the conversation with your doctor about sexual performance, and just pick up a solution right where you get your chips and soda.
But as a Men’s Health reporter found, it’s quite possible the pills could make you feel the opposite of sexy. After trying a selection of the sex pills, he described an “urge to projectile vomit,” sweating and feeling cold and clammy, and a “massive, explosive liquid poo.”
