WASHINGTON -- The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is warning consumers not to purchase or use certain male enhancement products for sale in convenience stores, gas stations and other retail outlets due to a recent rise in reported health issues. Since 2007, the FDA has identified more than 25 products marketed with variations of the name "Rhino" that contain hidden drug ingredients.
The products, which contain the same main ingredients found in Viagra, include Platinum Rhino 25000, Krazzy Rhino 25000 and Gold Rhino 25000. Each is sold in single-serve package sizes.
The FDA warnings come after multiple consumers reported experiencing chest pain, severe headaches and prolonged erections after taking the product. Some of these cases even led to hospitalization due to extreme drops in blood pressure.
"Over the past few years, the FDA has been combating the retail sale of male enhancement drug products that are frequently misrepresented as dietary supplements and that contain hidden and potentially harmful active drug ingredients,” said Donald Ashley, director of the Office of Compliance in the FDA's Center for Drug Evaluation and Research. “Distributing unapproved drugs disguised as supplements places the U.S. public health at risk. We remain vigilant in our efforts to protect the American public from the sale of these potentially dangerous products."
Since 2015, the FDA's Office of Criminal Investigations has been investigating the smuggling of raw materials, the production of Rhino capsules and the distribution of the misbranded drug products in the United States, leading to an indictment that is being prosecuted by the U.S. Department of Justice.
These products were sold under the names Rhino, Orgazen, Black Panther, Libigrow, Black Stallion and Black Mamba at various retail outlets including c-stores across the country, according to the FDA.
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