Kamagra Oral Jelly: Is It Effective for ED?
The internet is full of erectile dysfunction (ED) treatments — including Kamagra Oral Jelly, an ED medication produced in India.
Kamagra is sold both as a tablet and a flavoured oral jelly, often marketed as a cheap alternative to well-known ED drugs like Viagra Connect. You’re probably here because you’re wondering if it’s as effective as Viagra.
Well, you’re in the right place.
While Kamagra might seem like a good alternative at first glance, it falls short of medications like Viagra due to safety and regulatory gaps. But all that is secondary to the fact that it’s illegal in the United States.
So, what’s the deal? Is Kamagra oral jelly dangerous? What should you use instead? Read on for the nuances of this eyebrow-raising ED treatment.
What Is Kamagra Oral Jelly?
Kamagra Oral Jelly is a medication meant to treat erectile dysfunction. It comes in single-use packs of flavored oral jelly (yes, really). Unlike most ED medications, which come in tablet form, Kamagra can be eaten like a Jell-O® shot.
Now that we have your attention, there are several flavoured Kamagra Oral Jelly sachets available, including orange, vanilla, and chocolate.
This jelly isn’t for your PB&J, however. Kamagra contains sildenafil — the same active ingredient in Viagra.
Because of this, Kamagra is usually marketed as a cheaper alternative to drugs like Viagra and Cialis Together (which contains a similar medication, tadalafil).
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Kamagra vs. Viagra
While Viagra and Kamagra share the same active ingredient and are marketed to be taken for the same purposes, they differ in three key ways:
First, Viagra is the only one approved by the FDA (U.S. Food and Drug Administration).
Second, Viagra is generally known to cause fewer and more predictable side effects.
And third, Kamagra carries additional risks of complications.
Why does the same ingredient create two different experiences? It has to do with how safely that main ingredient is being prepared.
Sildenafil is a phosphodiesterase type 5 inhibitor, or PDE5 inhibitor. Although Kamagra Oral Jelly uses the same main ingredient as Viagra (sildenafil citrate), it does so without the approval of the FDA — a very important step for drugs sold in the U.S.
Kamagra isn’t produced under the same rigorous safety standards, which increases the risk of overdose and other side effects associated with sildenafil.
Does Kamagra Oral Jelly Work for ED?
Numerous studies, as well as several large-scale reviews, have concluded that sildenafil citrate is one of the most effective treatments available for ED. But Kamagra itself? That’s a different conversation.
There’s relatively little research on Kamagra oral jelly, specifically.
Like all other erectile dysfunction medications in its class, sildenafil inhibits enzymes that affect the muscles managing blood flow to the erectile tissues of your penis.
This allows the muscles to stay relaxed, making it easier to get and keep an erection when you’re sexually aroused.
Sildenafil is also sometimes used as a premature ejaculation treatment in an off-label capacity.
But an FDA-approved and properly dosed medication is very much unlike the “ED candy” Kamagra Oral Jelly is promoting — for a number of reasons.
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The Risks of Kamagra Oral Jelly
Kamagra comes in a convenient form that’s easy to use, doesn’t cost a fortune, and supposedly works the same way as other medications containing sildenafil. So why aren’t you reading quote after quote of medical advice talking about using it?
In a nutshell: Kamagra jelly is less safe than FDA-approved options, carries a higher risk of side effects, and might contain unlisted ingredients.
In other words, a product claiming to be “Kamagra 100mg Oral Jelly” might actually be “Kamagra 100mg plus some other stuff you didn’t know about” — or possibly worse, “Kamagra 100mg with way more sildenafil than is safe to take.”
The fact is, you’ll never know what you’re getting with Kamagra. Whereas with a prescription for sildenafil, you’ll know it’s actually an FDA-approved (and FDA-regulated) medication.
There are several reasons to avoid this sildenafil oral jelly. That’s the biggest one — but there’s more.
It’s Illegal to Sell Prescription Meds Without a Prescription
As mentioned above, Kamagra is illegal to sell in the United States. You won’t find it from any trustworthy, U.S.-based suppliers like your local pharmacy or favourite telemedicine website.
The only way to get Kamagra — in the U.S., at least — is to buy it either online or from an unlicensed provider who’s offering it illegally without a prescription. It should go without saying, but this isn’t advised.
You Could Experience Side Effects Due to a Lack of Supervision
Even if you get your hands on contraband oral jelly Kamagra, buying prescription medication without a prescription can be very risky.
Prescription medications like sildenafil need to be used at the right dosage to produce the intended effects and minimise side effects. If you inadvertently take too much, you may be more likely to experience side effects from sildenafil, like priapism (prolonged erection lasting four or more hours) or blurred vision.
Remember, the same medication that alters the flow to blood vessels in your penis can also affect your blood pressure. Specifically, it can lead to sudden low blood pressure when combined with other medications. This could potentially be fatal, so you really want whoever is measuring your doses to be good at it.
And, of course, if you take too little sildenafil, it might not help treat your ED symptoms at all.
Sildenafil Comes With Possible Drug Interactions
One of the reasons you want a licensed healthcare provider to hand you this prescription is that they’re trained and qualified to spot potential bad interactions with any other drug or supplement you’re taking.
PDE5 inhibitors like the sildenafil in Kamagra can interact with certain medications, including nitrates and alpha-blockers — and the resulting chemical mix can cause life-threatening symptoms.
When you receive prescription medication from a licensed healthcare provider, you’ll talk about these possible interactions and side effects and take steps to avoid any potentially hazardous ones. When you order unlicensed medication online, this step is skipped.
Counterfeiting Dangers of ED Meds
People make counterfeit (fake) drugs, and they can make a lot of money doing it. Unfortunately, those counterfeits are often a mystery box of ingredients.
Unlicensed ED medications sold online (like Kamagra) are some of the most frequently counterfeited in the world. Research published in the International Journal of Clinical Practice shows that as much as 90 percent of PDE5 inhibitors sold online may be counterfeit. Yikes.
In one analysis, researchers found that only 10.1 percent of sampled PDE5 inhibitor medications bought online were within 10 percent of the dosage listed on the medication’s label.
This means that when you buy medication that could be counterfeited, there’s a serious risk it will contain much less or much more of the active ingredient than it should.
So, buying Kamagra Oral Jelly made by its real manufacturer is already a risk. Getting a knockoff puts you in a whole other danger zone.
Lack of Oversight and Unclean Production Facilities
To save money, many counterfeit drug manufacturers use low-quality, potentially dangerous ingredients in their medications.
Counterfeit medications are often riddled with issues, from contaminants to dosages that simply don’t match the information provided on the medication’s label.
According to the research mentioned above, several ED drugs purchased online revealed contaminants such as commercial paint and printer ink.
Read that again: commercial paint and printer ink.
These medications just aren’t worth the risk. And in the big picture, even transactions with these pharmacies aren’t safe.
When you order medication like Kamagra online from an unlicensed pharmacy, there’s a real risk your financial information could be misused. Many illicit online pharmacies take a lax approach to credit card security.
Since many are based overseas, they generally don’t comply with U.S. laws designed to keep your financial information private and protect you from things like credit card fraud.
Worse yet, some online pharmacies are outright frauds themselves.
The AARP, an organisation for retired people, warns its members that many illicit pharmacies are tied to international crime networks that steal money and use personal information for identity theft.
Safe Alternatives to Kamagra Jelly for ED: What to Use Instead
Kamagra gel products are bad for consumers — at least, according to the FDA.
But that doesn’t mean you don’t have options to treat your ED symptoms.
In fact, you have several, including FDA-approved, science-backed erectile dysfunction medications, plus things like psychotherapy, vacuum constriction devices, and more.
Let’s look at them in more detail.
FDA-Approved ED Medications
When ED medications like Viagra and Cialis first appeared on the market in the late ‘90s and early 2000s, they were far from affordable because they were under patent protection.
Today, the situation is completely different. The patents on most ED medications have expired, meaning affordable, high-quality generic versions are now readily available in the U.S. This includes:
Sildenafil. Generic for Viagra, this short-acting ED medication lasts roughly four hours and needs to be taken at least 30 minutes to an hour before sexual activity.
Tadalafil. The generic version of Cialis, this is a longer-acting ED medication that lasts up to 36 hours, earning its reputation as the “weekend” treatment of erectile dysfunction.
Vardenafil. Generic for Levitra®, this ED medication works similarly to sildenafil to improve sexual performance but calls for a smaller dose.
You’ll likely get far better results from these medications than you would from an unlicensed drug like Kamagra Oral Jelly.
Our complete guide to the most common ED treatments has more info about how these medications work, their dosages, side effects, and more.
Though you may think getting a prescription seems difficult, accessing ED medication is actually pretty easy in the age of telehealth.
You can access generic sildenafil and tadalafil online with Hims, following a consultation with a licensed healthcare provider who can determine if a prescription is appropriate.
Other Treatments for Erectile Dysfunction
Besides PDE5 inhibitors, several other methods are used to treat erectile dysfunction and other sexual performance issues.
They include:
Psychotherapy. Many causes of ED are psychological, meaning they’re linked to issues like depression, anxiety, or severe stress. In these cases, a healthcare provider may suggest counselling.
Other medications. If PDE5 inhibitors aren’t effective at improving erections and sexual performance, your provider might recommend the injection alprostadil or other types of medication.
Vacuum constriction devices (VCDs). Also known as “penis pumps,” these devices work by pulling blood into the penis. You may need to wear an elastic ring to sustain your erection during sex.
Surgical implants. Though not a first-line treatment for ED, surgically implanted prosthetics can be inserted into the penis to help promote better erections.
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Kamagra Oral Jelly: Making Your Decision
Kamagra Oral Jelly is an increasingly popular “alternative” to Viagra. Yes, it’s been around for decades and has been relentlessly promoted through spam emails and other forms of online marketing.
But it’s not something you should use.
Hopefully, we’ve talked you out of sending your credit card info into the ether. But, in case we haven’t, here’s what you need to remember:
While Kamagra’s active ingredient, sildenafil, is backed up by research, it’s not wise to use Kamagra Oral Jelly or other unlicensed medications to treat ED.
Not only are these medications potentially unsafe, they’re often sold by vendors that engage in less-than-ethical activities when it comes to billing and customer privacy.
There are several affordable, FDA-approved medications to consider instead if you’re one of the tens of millions of American men affected by ED.
If you want to treat ED but prefer to avoid the price tag of brand-name Viagra, consider getting generic ED medication from a reputable telehealth provider like Hims.
You can get an erectile dysfunction consult checked off your list today on our men’s sexual health platform. Not only will you get the medication you need, but you’ll also be able to discuss your issues with a licensed healthcare provider to make sure your safety is taken into account.
This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. The information contained herein is not a substitute for and should never be relied upon for professional medical advice. Always talk to your doctor about the risks and benefits of any treatment or medication.