Sexual Enhancement Drug Weekend Warrior Contains Harmful Ingredient

 Posted on March 27, 2014 in Dietary Supplements

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulates that drugs are on the market and enforces recalls when enough substandard performance, undeclared ingredient, or adverse side effect reports are received. According to the FDA, “recalls may be conducted on a firm's own initiative, by FDA request, or by FDA order under statutory authority.” There are three types of FDA recalls—Class I, II, and III. A Class I recall is the most severe, and issued when a product or device is likely to have severe adverse health effects. A Class III recall is issued when a product or device is not expected to have immediate health consequences, but has the potential to be so later. A safety alert is issued “in situations where a medical device may present an unreasonable risk of substantial harm.”

Oftentimes, when the FDA cannot recall a product, the organization will issue a warning that encourages consumers to dispose of it instead. In early March, the FDA issued such a warning about Weekend Warrior, a dietary supplement for men to increase sexual performance. According to Forbes, the drug was recalled “because it is adulterated with thiosildenafil, a chemical analogue of the active ingredient in the erectile dysfunction drug, Viagra.” The drug is sold primarily online, but is also available in select retail stores.

According to Forbes, sexual enhancement drugs have long been a concern of the FDA because of the frequency with which chemical relatives keep “somehow ending up in what are otherwise supposed to be natural supplements.” Forbes notes that natural supplements often “work” because they've actually be tainted with chemical compounds. In the public notification regarding the Weekend Warrior warning, the FDA notes that the notification should additionally “inform the public of the growing trend of dietary supplements or conventional foods with hidden drugs and chemicals.” Drugs that purport the assist with sexual performance are likely suspects.

If you or someone you know in the Chicago area has been adversely affected by Weekend Warrior or any other drug or supplement, you may be eligible for compensation. Do not go through it alone. Contact the offices of Newland & Newland LLP today.