Instant erection pills: are they safe and effective?

Instant erection pills are herbal supplements that claim to boost sexual performance and relieve erectile dysfunction (ED) or premature ejaculation (PE) in a matter of minutes. But can these over-the-counter male enhancement pills really give you a seemingly instantaneous hard-on? Or is it just a bunch of marketing fluff?

You know what they say: When it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. But there are legit treatment options out there that do work pretty dang fast and well when it comes to sexual dysfunction. Below, we dive into what instant erection pills claim to offer along with their (spoiler alert: lack of) safety and effectiveness. Then, we review several proven and evidence-based treatments that can actually improve sexual performance and erections in a timely manner.

Instant erection pills—also advertised as fast-acting male enhancement pills—are over-the-counter (OTC) supplements that claim to enhance your sex life. They might promise to give you harder erections, help you last longer in bed, make your penis bigger, boost your sexual confidence, or some combination of these effects. 

Their marketing can often contribute to confusion between these products and the proven treatments approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), such as Viagra (sildenafil) and Cialis (tadalafil). So, it can be easy to assume they’re all equally effective. There’s only one problem: They’re not. 

Like any other medication, FDA-approved treatments such as Viagra come with a list of side effects and potential interactions. But they’re regulated, proven to be safe, and effective in evidence-based tests of their action. Plus, they require an Rx from a healthcare provider, which can allow for an informed conversation about the drug. Instant erection pills, on the other hand, are associated with several potential risks. 

Because they’re dietary supplements, instant erection pills are not regulated by the FDA. They don’t have to go through the same safety and testing processes as prescription drugs. The thrill-seekers may be thinking, “Yeah, yeah, so there’s some risk, who cares if it works?” Well, currently, no herbal approaches are completely effective in treating ED. There’s only a small amount of research on them and it’s usually focused on individual ingredients rather than a combination of them and on animals rather than humans. 

Many OTC erection pills are marketed as “all-natural” and contain herbal ingredients, such as horny goat weed, ginseng, L-arginine, and maca. But as a dietary supplement, they don’t have to list all their ingredients—and many often don’t, according to a 2018 study. In fact, another study found that six male enhancement products advertised as 100% natural all contained sildenafil, the active ingredient in Viagra. While sildenafil can be safe for many people, it may not be for those with certain conditions or taking certain medications. Additionally, sildenafil can be dangerous when combined with nitrates, which can be found in some instant erection pills. The point is that the lack of transparency among these supplements can lead to potentially dangerous interactions. 

Meanwhile, part of what makes instant erection pills (and male enhancement pills overall) so attractive is that they’re available OTC. You can find them at your local vitamin shop, online via Amazon and other sites, or even at the gas station. This level of accessibility can be enticing to some people, as it allows you to sidestep any potential awkwardness of talking to your healthcare provider about your sex life. Once you get over any initial discomfort, though, there are plenty of reasons to go the prescription route, starting with safety (more on that later). 

It’s hard to say—in large part because male erection pills are not regulated by the FDA. 

As mentioned above, instant erection pills are sold as dietary supplements, so they’re not subject to the same rigorous review, safety, and approval process that prescription medications are. Meaning, they can go to market without being tested for safety, and they’re not required to back up their marketing claims with scientific evidence or clinical trials.

In theory, it may be possible for male enhancement products, such as instant erection pills, to work. But there’s no way to know without published clinical trials backing them up. And when you try instant erection pills, you’re taking a gamble not just on whether it will work for you but also on whether it will be safe for you to take. That’s because the FDA relies on consumer reports to issue warnings about any products, but reports can only happen after a product is already on the market.

Considering the variety of proven, research-backed treatments currently available for ED and PE, the risk may not be worth it.

Whenever you try a new medication or supplement, there’s a risk it may not work for you or cause side effects you weren't expecting. With instant erection pills over-the-counter, that risk may be significantly higher, according to the research. 

Sexual enhancement products are one of the most common OTC products to be adulterated, meaning they often contain hidden ingredients not listed on their labels—some of which may be unapproved or even banned. In the aforementioned 2018 study, researchers combed through FDA-issued supplement warnings from 2007 to 2016. They found that over 350 male enhancement products contained at least one unapproved ingredient. Worse, some of these products continued to add new, unapproved ingredients after receiving a warning (or multiple warnings) from the FDA. 

Among these adulterated products, nearly half (47%) contained sildenafil, the active ingredient in Viagra. Other unapproved pharmaceutical ingredients included tadalafil (the active ingredient in Cialis), dapoxetine (an antidepressant that’s not approved by the FDA), and sibutramine (an ingredient in weight loss supplements that’s banned in the US due to its cardiovascular risks).

Another researcher continued the work of the previous study and looked through the FDA’s database up through 2021. Sexual enhancement products continued to include active pharmaceutical ingredients, with some supplements including as many as five active ingredients. (You can view the current list of FDA warnings on the organization’s database of Tainted Sexual Enhancement and Energy Products here.)

Even if the FDA issues warnings and recalls these products, they may still remain on the market. One study found that a “natural” male enhancement pill called “Rock Hard for Men” combined tadalafil with glyburide, an ingredient that lowers blood sugar levels. Sadly, this combination appeared in other instant erection pills and led to more than a dozen deaths, the researchers noted. 

Clearly, it’s not uncommon for instant erection pills to fail to list all of their included ingredients or to contain hidden pharmaceutical ingredients despite claiming to be all-natural. The problem is, if you don’t know what’s included in a supplement, you don’t know whether it’s safe for you to take. Many of the ingredients found in fast-acting male enhancement products have the potential to interact with other medications or supplements you might be taking, and some of them can be unsafe if you have certain underlying health conditions. 

Despite what the product labels on instant erection pills may claim, a magic fix to treat ED just doesn’t exist. However, there are a number of relatively fast-acting treatments for ED and PE that come close—plus, they contain safe and FDA-approved ingredients. 

While you can find over-the-counter (OTC) products that claim to help with erections, it’s important to remember that these products are usually not regulated by the FDA, which raises concerns about their safety, effectiveness, and potential side effects. Many places sell these OTC instant erection pills and other products marketed for sexual health, including pharmacies, online retailers, health food stores, big box stores like Walmart or Target, and convenience stores and gas stations. But just because they are available, does not mean they are effective or they are safe. 

Read on for tips on how to spot a male enhancement pill scam that you should definitely avoid.

It’s important to be vigilant when searching for erectile dysfunction supplements. Many fraudulent products may contain ingredients that may pose serious health risks, potentially leading to harmful side effects or dangerous interactions with other medications.

Here are some tips to help you identify potentially sketchy health products and scams:

• Unrealistic claims: Be wary of pills that promise instant results or miraculous improvements in sexual performance. If the claims sound too good to be true, they probably are. There’s a very good reason most doctors recommend prescription medications for erectile dysfunction and not over-the-counter male enhancement products instead. 

• Lack of transparency: Legitimate products typically provide clear information about the amount and type of ingredients in the product as well as the science backing their efficacy. If the manufacturer is vague about what’s in the pill or how it works, it’s a red flag.

• Marketed for erectile dysfunction: Supplements can not legally be marketed for erectile dysfunction as they are not subject to the same rigorous testing as prescription medications. If a product claims to be an alternative to an FDA-approved treatment, it’s likely a scam. 

• Unverified customer reviews: Check for third-party reviews or testimonials. Be cautious of products that feature only glowing reviews on their official websites, as these could be fabricated.

• Low pricing: If the price of a supplement seems unusually low compared to similar products, it may mean the product is poor quality or contains cheap, potentially harmful ingredients.

In your search for erectile dysfunction treatments, you may have come across some websites offering sexual performance medications without a prescription. Buying prescription medications like Viagra (sildenafil) or Cialis (tadalafil) online without a prescription is highly risky. Here’s why: 

• Counterfeit drugs: The online market is rife with counterfeit medications, which may contain harmful substances or no active ingredients at all.

• Unknown ingredients: These counterfeit drugs may contain unknown or dangerous substances that can cause severe, potentially life-threatening side effects.

• Lack of medical oversight: When you buy prescription medications online without a prescription, you bypass the necessary medical evaluation to ensure that the medication is safe and appropriate.

• Legal risks: Buying counterfeit medications online without a prescription is illegal in the United States.

Erectile dysfunction (ED) describes a persistent difficulty getting or maintaining an erection that’s strong enough to have enjoyable sex. ED is common, affecting at least 30–50 million men in the US. There are a number of proven treatments for ED, and while they don’t work within seconds, they can work within minutes to hours. 

PDE5 inhibitors are the first-line treatment for ED, and they're fairly fast-acting. They work by relaxing the muscle tissue and blood vessels around your penis, enabling blood to rush in when you’re aroused, so you can enjoy a harder, longer-lasting erection. Here’s a quick overview of PDE5 inhibitors, in order of how quickly they start to work: 

• Avanafil is the active ingredient in Stendra (there's no generic version just yet). It typically starts working within 15–30 minutes, although some studies have found it can kick in as soon as 10 minutes after taking a dose. It lasts around 5 hours. 

• Sildenafil is the active ingredient in and generic name for Viagra. It usually starts working within 30 minutes to 2 hours, with 1 hour being most common. Effects last for about 4 hours. Sildenafil is available as a generic or brand-name oral tablet.

• Vardenafil is the active ingredient in and generic name for Levitra. Like sildenafil, it starts working within 30 minutes to 2 hours, with 1 hour being most common. The effects last for 4–5 hours.

• Tadalafil is the active ingredient in and generic name for Cialis. It usually starts working within 2 hours, though it can take longer. At 36 hours, Cialis boasts the longest half-life of traditional ED medications, giving it the spicy nickname of the “weekend pill.” 

While all of these drugs are often available as oral tablets, certain PDE5 inhibitors can be found in other formulations as well. For example, tadalafil is the active ingredient in Ro’s Daily Rise Gummies. These chewable gummies feature 7 mg of tadalafil and are designed to be taken daily, so you can be ready for sex whenever the occasion should arise. And then there are 

And then there are PDE5 inhibitor-containing lozenges, such as Ro Sparks. This 2-in-1 treatment contains both sildenafil and tadalafil in a sublingual form, which starts working in about 15 minutes on average.  

Fast-acting male enhancement pills often claim to boost sexual stamina and help you last longer in bed before you ejaculate. This can be a particularly attractive prospect for people with premature ejaculation (PE), who come sooner than they’d like (the technical definition is within 1–3 minutes or less). PE is the most common sexual dysfunction issue men face, affecting anywhere between 30–75% of men between the ages of 18 and 59 years. 

Here’s a quick breakdown of proven treatments for PE  that can help you last longer in bed:

• Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) may be best known for treating depression, but they can also help with PE and may be prescribed off-label to do just that. Their active ingredients include fluoxetine, paroxetine, sertraline, and citalopram, escitalopram, although you may recognize them by their brand names, like Zoloft and Lexapro. Delayed ejaculation is the most common sexual side effect of these medications and thus why they can be helpful for PE. It may take a few weeks for your body to fully respond to the medication.

• Topical lidocaine sprays or creams contain lidocaine as their active ingredient. These topical anesthetics can have a numbing effect on your penis, so you’re less sensitive and have more control over when you orgasm. You simply apply the medicated cream to the tip and shaft of your penis around 10–20 minutes before you plan on having sex. In clinical studies, men who used a lidocaine 5% spray reported that it took them significantly longer to ejaculate and that they had more sex as well. 

• Benzocaine wipes (such as Roman Swipes) are another topical option for treating PE. You just give your penis a solid wipe about 5 minutes before you plan to have sex. According to one study, men who used benzocaine wipes reported significantly higher rates of sexual satisfaction and lower rates of PE than men who didn’t use wipes. At the first month check-in, they were able to increase their time to orgasm from 1.25 minutes to nearly 3 minutes. A month later, they were having sex for 5.5 minutes, on average—a 4x increase from where they started.

You may see ads for instant erection pills that claim to rev up your sex drive and testosterone levels—even though testosterone may not be the problem. While low levels of testosterone can contribute to ED, other causes of ED are far likelier, including diabetes, obesity, and depression. However, if you’re experiencing symptoms—e.g. low libido, fewer spontaneous hard-ons (including morning wood), and unexplained fatigue—low T might be to blame. You’ll want to talk to your healthcare provider to find out: Testing tends to be fairly straightforward, involving getting bloodwork done.

Some herbal ingredients, including fenugreek seed and ashwagandha root extracts, can have a positive effect on testosterone levels. But these ingredients are not fast-acting; increasing testosterone levels takes time. For example, it can take 8–12 weeks to start seeing results from ashwagandha or fenugreek supplementation. 

If your healthcare provider does, in fact, diagnose you with low T, they might pose testosterone replacement therapy (TRT). This treatment supplements your body with a pharmaceutical form of testosterone via pills, creams, gels, or injections. You might start to see improvements in your libido and erections in as little as 3 weeks, although it can take up to 6 months to enjoy the maximum effects on erections and ejaculation.

When it comes to instant erection pills, they’re simply not a great option for improving your sex life. It’s tough to know whether they work, and more importantly, whether they’re safe. Fortunately, there are plenty of safe and effective treatments for improving your erections, whether you want to get hard faster, stay hard longer, or maybe a bit of both. As always, it’s a good idea to talk to your healthcare provider about your options.

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How we reviewed this article

Every article on Health Guide goes through rigorous fact-checking by our team of medical reviewers. Our reviewers are trained medical professionals who ensure each article contains the most up-to-date information, and that medical details have been correctly interpreted by the writer.

Editorial Guidelines | Medical Review Process

Current version

October 10, 2024

Written by

Amelia Willson

Fact checked by

Peter Schlegel, MD and Patricia Weiser, PharmD

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About the medical reviewers

Peter Schlegel, MD

Peter Schlegel, MD, is a Ro Advisor, board-certified urologist, and internationally acclaimed expert in the treatment of male fertility. For nearly 20 years, Dr. Schlegel served as the chair of Urology at New York Presbyterian/Weill Cornell. He now focuses on providing the best patient care possible for urologic conditions through his private practice.

Patricia Weiser, PharmD

Patricia Weiser, PharmD, is a licensed pharmacist, health content writer, and medical reviewer with more than a decade of clinical experience in community and hospital pharmacy.