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'Herbal' Sex Aids Were Viagra
Vigor-25 maker scammed $24 million
By Lucas Laursen
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Posted Sep 6, 07 9:04 AM CDT
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(Newser)
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Federal officials yesterday arrested the maker of an "herbal," non-prescription sex supplement, Vigor-25, for lacing the pills with the active ingredient in Viagra, reports Newsday. More than 4 million of the surprisingly effective pills have been sold on the internet and at health food stores, with a label listing hodiola rhizome, chinese yam, and cnidium fruit as ingredients, officials said.
After an initial warning, company president Michael Peng switched to a different ingredient used in Levitra, another drug for erectile dysfunction. Though no complaints have been received, an FDA investigator warned that the mislabeled drugs could interact with drugs for diabetes, high blood pressure, and heart disease.