S127: Detection and Quantification of PDE-5 Inhibitor Adulterants in Commercial Sexual Performance Enhancers

Poster Presenter

Emmanuel Amponsah

Pharmacy Student- Class of 2023
Chicago State University College of Pharmacy
United States

Objectives

The objective of this study was to determine whether sexual performance enhancers sold in local convenient stores are adulterated with phosphodiesterase-5 inhibitors (PDE5Is) particularly sildenafil citrate and tadalafil.

Method

A total of nine (9) common supplements touted to be “natural” sexual enhancement agents and sold in convenient stores in the Chicagoland area were obtained for drug analysis. We employed a modified official HPLC method from the USF-NF used to screen undeclared drugs (USP-NF (2251).

Results

The content weight of the capsules obtained ranged from 254.1 mg to 1318.2 mg. The most common PDE5Is detected using LC-MS were sildenafil and tadalafil. The analysis focused mainly on quantification of both chemicals in the samples. Out of the nine common brand sexual performance supplements obtained from convenient stores in Chicago, eight (8) of them (89%) contained either sildenafil citrate or tadalafil. The amount of sildenafil or tadalafil in each capsule where present ranged from 6.87 to 57.57 mg and 19.74 to 60.75 mg respectively. These quantities exceed the recommended 50 mg in some capsules.

Conclusion

About 90% of commonly found “natural” sexual performance supplements obtained from convenient stores in Chicago were adulterated with either sildenafil and/or tadalafil in amounts that may exceed recommended doses.