5 Risks of Buying Prescription ED Meds Online

Data indicates that 52% of U.S. men between the ages of 40 and 70 live with erectile dysfunction. By coincidence, the same share of U.S. adults, 52%, have filled a prescription from an online pharmacy at least once.

Chances are, a decent share of the men with erectile dysfunction (ED) are among those ordering drugs online. And chances are that for some of those who purchased ED meds online, the results did not turn out as expected.

According to various reports and studies, ordering ED meds online can be risky both to your health and your wallet. A WebMD report states that more than half of ED drugs sold online are fakes, according to some estimates.

Even if the meds are the real thing, they can expose you to medical complications, should you have pre-existing conditions that can be made worse by ED drugs.

A doctor’s exam and consultation can reduce such hazards, in part by providing guidelines on the best ED medication and dosage for you. Your doctor can also determine whether your ED is chronic and even requires treatment.

Understanding Chronic ED and Why It Might Need Treatment

It’s estimated that 43% of all men experience ED at least once, typically due to medical or emotional issues. Chronic ED, which impacts 30 million to 50 million men, is different in that it is persistent, not occasional.

The cause of ED, either way, is the same: insufficient blood flow to the penis. And the culprits are plentiful, from performance anxiety to high alcohol consumption to potentially serious health conditions.

Among those medical conditions:

• Cardiovascular diseases
• Diabetes
• Enlarged prostate (benign prostatic hyperplasia)
• Kidney disease
• Neurological problems (from spinal cord and nerve injuries, multiple sclerosis, and heavy metal poisoning)
• Peyronie’s disease (curvature of the penis)
• Prostate cancer

Understanding How ED Drugs Work in Your Body

Generally, all erection-enhancing prescriptions work the same: they increase the levels of nitric oxide in your blood. Nitric oxide is a chemical your body produces that relaxes your blood vessels. More pliable veins and arties can carry blood to the penis more efficiently, for a more reliable erection.

The first ED drug to do this was sildenafil, branded as Viagra, which the FDA approved in 1998. Other versions of the drug soon followed: tadalafil (Cialis); vardenafil (formerly Levitra); and avanafil (Stendra). Eventually, generic versions of sildenafil, tadalafil, and vardenafil emerged.

These medicines all accomplish the same task, but each drug company formulates its pill differently, so one might differ from another in terms of how fast it works, how long it is effective, and possible side effects.

5 Risks That Come with Ordering ED Meds Online, and Why

In 2024, the ED drug market generated $1.4 billion, and by 2030, it is forecast to be worth close to $2.2 billion, an average annual growth rate of 8%. A good share of those sales will likely be spent with online pharmacies and drug suppliers, including those that sell “natural” remedies.

Depending on which company you choose to buy ED meds online, you can face medical and financial hazards. These include:

1. A health issue that ED drugs can worsen. The chemicals in ED medications can cause adverse side effects in those who have very high or low blood pressure, recent heart or blood vessel issues, kidney or liver disease, and/or retina-related eye disease. These conditions might also make ED drugs ineffective.

2. A bad reaction to other drugs. If you are taking other prescriptions and then mix in an ED drug, the combination could trigger serious reactions. Watch-out drugs include alpha-blockers (for blood pressure), nitrates (to widen blood vessels), and medications that suppress an enzyme in the liver and intestines (called CYP3A4).

3. You take too much or not enough. Did you know Viagra is not meant to be taken daily? Because ED drugs have different chemical makeups, they also have different dosages. Then there’s the issue of ensuring you receive the right dosage. When testing a sample of Viagra pills bought online, researchers found just 10% were even near the promoted strength, WebMD reports.

4. Side effects that you are not prepared for. In addition to light-headedness, body aches, headaches, and indigestion, some lesser-known side effects of ED drugs include:

• Vision complications – Retinal detachment, retinal blood clots, and sudden vision loss have all been linked to regular ED drug use, according to a report in JAMA. Other vision side effects are light sensitivity, blurriness, and problems distinguishing colors.
• Hearing complications – Some men who take ED meds have reported hearing loss and/or ringing in one or both ears within a day of taking the drug.

5. You’re sold bum pills. Be vigilant about authenticity. An online vendor authorized to sell prescription ED meds online will show proof of its license with a state board of pharmacy and require a prescription from you. Look for contact information, including a U.S. address, or search a seller on the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy’s “Safe Pharmacy”

Before Purchasing ED Meds Online, Talk to Your Doctor

One rule of thumb for determining whether you should seek medical advice for ED is if you cannot get an erection more than half the time. If this describes your experience, it may be time to discuss a treatment approach with your doctor that suits your lifestyle and overall health.

You might even decide not to take ED meds at all, and instead pursue a non-invasive approach. Among the options, you can ask about:

• Self-injection – The patient injects an erection-enhancing medication into the base of the penis, via a very small needle.
• A penile pump – This device draws blood into the penis manually with the aid of a hand pump; a ring is then placed around the base of the penis to maintain the erection.

Depending on the severity of your ED, your doctor might provide information about surgical options, including vascular surgery and penile implants.

If you are among the 30 million to 50 million men living with chronic ED and decide to go the route of ordering ED meds online, please do so with the above precautions and guidelines in mind. When in doubt, call your doctor.

Erectile dysfunction is a medical condition that can be treated and should be discussed. To consult one of our physicians, see our contact information page or call for an appointment at 509-747-3147. To learn more about the causes, symptoms, and treatments we offer, visit our Erectile Dysfunction website.