5 Dangers of Buying ED Meds Online
The next time you consider ordering erectile dysfunction meds online, ask yourself: Would I give these to a loved one?
The potential side effects of ED drugs can be serious, depending on your medical history and other prescriptions you might take, regardless of where you purchase them. However, if you buy your ED meds online, you expose yourself to additional risks, including being scammed by an unauthorized seller and/or receiving the wrong drug. By some estimates, less than half of all ED drugs sold online are the real thing, according to WebMD.
But if you see your doctor before ordering ED meds online, you will limit these risks because you will first undergo a physical exam to rule out medical complications and side effects.
In the process, your doctor also can diagnose whether you have chronic erectile dysfunction that requires medication, or just occasional or situational ED.
What Causes ED and Why It Might Need Treatment
The underlying source of ED is a lack of blood flow to the penis, which is necessary for it to become rigid. This does happen occasionally – 43% of all men experience intermittent ED at one time or another. What distinguishes full-scale erectile dysfunction is that it occurs persistently.
The lack of confidence that results from a failed erection can be emotionally damaging for the estimated 30 million to 50 million men with ED, including 52% of men between the ages of 40 and 70 years. More importantly, chronic ED might suggest a more serious medical condition.
These conditions include:
- Cardiovascular disease (heart and blood vessels)
- Diabetes
- Kidney disease
- Neurological problems caused by spinal cord injuries, multiple sclerosis, and metal poisoning
- Peyronie’s disease (curvature of the penis)
- Enlarged prostate
- Prostate cancer
If you are unable to achieve an erection more than 50% of the time, you should consider seeing a doctor.
How ED Meds Work, and How They Differ
Erectile dysfunction drugs raise the levels of a naturally produced chemical in your blood, called nitric oxide, that widens your veins and arteries, particularly those in your penis. The better the blood flow, the easier it is for you to get and maintain an erection.
The FDA approved the first ED drug, sildenafil (Viagra), in 1998 the pharmaceutical industry has introduced several others. The most common are tadalafil (Cialis); vardenafil (formerly Levitra); and avanafil (Stendra).Further, sildenafil, tadalafil, and vardenafil are available in generic versions.
Each of these medications works the same way, by increasing nitric oxide. However, each has a slightly different chemical makeup that controls how fast the drug kicks in, how long it lasts, and its side effects.
The Potential Dangers of Purchasing ED Meds Online
All of this drug development presents opportunities for online pharmacies, making it easy to find ED meds online. By 2030, the overall ED drug market is expected to reach approximately $2.2 billion, up from nearly $1.4 billion in 2024.
Many of the online pharmacies selling these drugs are legitimate, but some are not. Medical experts advise that you consult a doctor before ordering ED drugs online to address these potential risks:
- Your medical history – The chemicals in ED medications can be unsafe or ineffective if you have liver or kidney disease, very high or low blood pressure, recent heart or blood vessel issues, and/or an inherited eye disease that affects the retina.
- Combining drugs – Some erection-enhancing meds interact poorly with other prescriptions, with possibly hazardous results. Among these drugs are alpha-blockers, nitrates, and those that suppress an enzyme called CYP3A4 (in the liver and intestines).
- Fraud – Officials warn that some online ED med providers sell illegally and could send fake drugs. A legitimate site will include contact information, a U.S. address, and be licensed with a state board of pharmacy. It also will require a prescription. When in doubt, look up a seller on the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy’s “Safe Pharmacy”
- Getting the wrong dosage – The strength of the ED drug you order online may be far below its advertised potency, according to a sampling of online-ordered Viagra. Additionally, some ED prescriptions require different dosages (Viagra is not designed to take daily, for example).
- Surprise side effects – The common side effects of ED drugs include dizziness, headaches, body aches, and digestion problems. But did you know the following also can occur?
- Vision issues – The medical journal JAMA and others have reported that ED meds can cause sudden vision loss in one eye, retinal detachment, and retinal blood clots. Other side effects include blurriness, light sensitivity, and problems telling colors apart, American Academy of Ophthalmology reports.
- Hearing problems – Hearing loss and/or ringing in one or both ears can occur a day within taking ED drugs, the Food and Drug Administration warns.
Ask Your Doctor About Any Medications You Take
As a rule of thumb, you should always consult your doctor before taking any new drug, including ED meds online, to ensure it will not threaten your health.
Based on your medical history and the prescription’s side effects, you might decide to take a different non-invasive approach. Among those you can ask your doctor about:
- Duolith – This painless procedure works by directing low-intensity energy waves through the penile tissue to enhance blood flow.
- Penile injections or suppositories – The patient can self-inject a medication into the base of the penis, or insert a small suppository into the tip of the penis. Both of these contain drugs that expand blood vessels to improve blood flow.
- A penile pump – A vacuum device is placed over the penis and manually draws blood into it through a hand pump. A small ring around the base of the penis then holds the erection.
Lastly, depending on the cause of your ED, your doctor might provide information about a surgical penile implant.
If you choose to stay with ED medications, take the steps outlined above to rule out the risks of ordering online. Do that for your loved ones, and yourself.
Is it time for you to talk to a urologist about your erectile dysfunction?
