ExtenZe is a herbal and nutritional supplement that claims to be “the number one male enhancement pill”.
This product line has come under a lot of scrutiny over the last 10 years after the owner of the product line — BIOTAB Nutraceuticals — was sued for false advertising.
The company claimed its products could make you larger and give you more pleasure in the bedroom.
Are any of these claims true?
Is ExtenZe as effective as the company claims?
The quick answer is no. None of the claims ExtenZe has made have ever been tested, and the company has proven itself to be untrustworthy, to begin with. What’s even worse, the company was found to be secretly adding generic Viagra (sildenafil) in its capsules despite marketing them as — “a natural alternative to Viagra.”
Here’s everything you need to know about ExtenZe before you buy it.
What is ExtenZe?
ExtenZe is a nutritional supplement marketed as a “natural male enhancement supplement.” It’s owned by BIOTAB Nutraceuticals, Inc. and marketed in collaboration with Maximizer Health Products.
ExtenZe is banned in several countries, and there’s currently a warning against the product in the US by the FDA — however, you can still order ExtenZe online or buy it at CVS and Walgreens or online on Amazon.
BioTab Nutraceuticals has already settled several lawsuits over the ExtenZe line of products for false advertising and unapproved ingredients in the formula. The company has failed to pay sponsors, and frequently uses spammy marketing tactics to sell its products.
We don’t recommend using ExtenZe — however, there are still a lot of people who use this supplement on a daily basis.
ExtenZe comes in 5 different forms:
- ExtenZe (Original)
- ExtenZe Extended Release Soft Gel
- ExtenZe with Testosterone Boost
- ExtenZe Plus
- ExtenZe 2oz Shots
What Are the Ingredients of ExtenZe?
ExtenZe contains 21 active ingredients, along with a handful of fillers and preservatives. The FDA recently found the prescription drug, sildenafil, in ExtenZe Plus — making the claims and listed ingredients offered by ExtenZe hard to trust.
The listed ingredients of ExtenZe include:
- Astragalus (root)
- Black Pepper (berries)
- Boron (as Boron Amino Acid Chelate)
- Cnidium Extract (seed)
- Epimedium (aerial parts)
- Fo-ti Extract (root)
- Folate (Folic Acid)
- GABA (Gamma-Aminobutyric Acid)
- Ginger (root)
- Hops Extract (flower)
- L-Arginine HCL
- Maca Extract (Root)
- Micronized DHEA (dehydroepiandrosterone)
- Muira puama Extract (bark)
- Pregnenolone
- Pumpkin (seed)
- Stinging Nettle Extract (root)
- Tribulus Extract (fruit)
- White Pepper (fruit)
- Yohimbe Extract (bark)
- Zinc (as Zinc Oxide)
The Dose of ExtenZe Ingredients Are Too Low To Realistically Meet the Products Claims
While many of the ingredients in ExtenZe are excellent herbal supplements to support male fertility and sexual function, the dose of each ingredient is diluted by the large number of other ingredients in the formula.
For example, the entire herbal component of the formula consists of just 600 mg. Compare this to the active dose of herbs like tribulus, maca, cnidium, epimedium, pumpkin, stinging nettle, and astragalus are all higher than 600 mg alone.
Despite having exceptionally low doses of the “active ingredients,” ExtenZe recommends just one capsule per day.
Can ExtenZe Really Make You Penis Bigger?
No, ExtenZe can not permanently increase the size of your penis like the company claims — here’s why.
The size of the penis is set during puberty. During this time, testosterone levels rise, triggering the maturation of the penis and testicles. By age 17, this process is complete. The size of your penis will remain the same for the rest of your life. There are no chemicals, medications, or health supplements that can cause the penis to start growing again.
Prescription ED medications don’t actually increase the size of your junk — they simply make it easier for blood to flow into the erectile tissue (corpora cavernosa) to produce a fuller erection.
ExtenZe contains a series of herbal ingredients and nutrients that have individually been found to benefit male reproductive health — but there are exactly zero studies exploring the effects of ExtenZe directly.
As we discussed earlier, the dose of each of these ingredients is so low, it’s unlikely ExtenZe is able to offer much benefit at all.
The creators of the drug likely new this, which is probably what motivated them to lace some fo their products with the prescription ED medication, sildenafil — just to users would experience some degree of benefit.
ExtenZe is not only an ineffective product — it brings with it many potential dangers and should be avoided completely.
ExtenZe False Advertising Charges
In 2010, the creators of ExtenZe (BIOTAB Nutraceuticals, Inc.) had to pay $1.7 million in a class-action lawsuit for false advertising. This was the result of a series of television ads claiming the product could improve arousal and offer “natural male enhancement”. It was implied the product could increase the size of the penis.
The commercials featured the Miami Hurricanes head coach, Jimmy Johnson, a few of the Dallas Cowboys, and the famous porn star, Ron Jeremy.
Just four years before the $1.7 million lawsuits the owner of ExtenZe was charged $300,000 for unfair business practices and false advertising. In this case, the company specifically claimed ExtenZe could increase the size of the penis by 27%.
At the same time, the company was also charged with breaking the agreement set in place by Proposition 65 — a Californian statute that requires nutritional products that contain more than half a microgram of lead to place a warning on the label.
ExtenZe NASCAR Sponsorship Lawsuit
From 2009 to 2011, ExtenZe sponsored Kevin Conway during the NASCAR Cup Series and NASCAR Nationwide Series. After failing to pay the sponsorship money that was promised ($108,000 per week for 50 weeks), Conway’s team was forced to file a lawsuit against the company for over $3 million.
ExtenZe Was Found to Contain Sildenafil — A Prescription Drug
In 2018, ExtenZe Plus was flagged by the FDA for containing a hidden prescription medication called sildenafil. This is the same active ingredient used in Viagra.
Sildenafil is a popular erectile dysfunction medication, and is generally regarded as safe — however, it’s a prescription medication and not permitted in nutritional supplements.
There’s a very good reason why sildenafil requires a prescription. The drug can cause severe side effects in people with certain underlying medical conditions and can have deadly consequences if used with other prescription medications. A doctor is needed to assess the level of risk before prescribing the medication.
By including sildenafil secretly in the formula (likely to improve the effects of the “herbal” supplement), ExtenZe Plus created a potentially dangerous situation for its customers.
The FDA is continuing to investigate the company but urges customers not to order ExtenZe, and especially avoid ExtenZe Plus.
ExtenZe Was Banned From the Olympics as Part of its Anti-Doping Regulations
One of the ingredients in ExtenZe is DHEA (dehydroepiandrosterone), a well-known steroid.
At least one Olympic athlete was banned for using the drug — LaShawn Merrit, a 400-meter gold medalist (2010).
ExtenZe decided to use this as a way to help market its products — suggesting the ban was because it “is such a performance enhancer”. You’ll also find the company using images of its now-defunct sponsorship deal with Kevin Conway’s NASCAR.
The Dangers of Using ExtenZe
While the company that owns ExtenZe markets it as a safe alternative to prescription ED medications, it’s not that simple.
ExtenZe comes with a long list of associated side effects of its own, some of which can be very serious, and the potential for hidden drugs like sildenafil bring with it a host of other dangers that can make this product very dangerous.
ExtenZe Side Effects:
- Fainting
- Fever
- Hallucinations
- High Blood Pressure
- Increased Body Temperature
- Insomnia
- Irritability & Aggression
- Loss of Appetite
- Muscle Spasm
- Nausea
- Ringing in the Ears
- Skin Rash
- Sweating
- Tachycardia (Rapid Heart Beat)
- Upset Stomach
Negative Drug Interactions & ExtenZe
The sildenafil found in some ExtenZe products by the FDA raises some concerns over the safety of the product.
This medication is classified as a vasodilator — which means it causes blood vessels to widem, allowing more blood to flow through. In this case, the arteries affected flow into the penis. By improving blood flow to the penis, erection is formed much more easily.
But the effects of sildenafil spill over to other areas of the body too. When the arteries dilate, it causes blood pressure to drop. If vasodilating drugs are taken in combination with other drugs with a similar effect, it can cause blood pressure to drop too low — leading to confusion, dizziness, and fainting.
Sildenafil is also known to interact with certain anti-fungal medications, heart medications, some antibiotics, HIV medications, and more.
These potential dangers are the reason why this medicine is listed as prescription only. A doctor can assess the risk based on any other medications you may be using, underlying health disease, or other factors.
People taking ExtenZe may inadvertently experience a negative interaction between sildenafil or other hidden ingredients in the formula — which can be life-threatening.
ExtenZe Alternatives
There are a lot of alternatives to ExtenZe that are worth checking out instead.
This product is marketed as a natural option, so we’ll look at the more natural alternatives first.
A) Natural Alternatives
Some of the herbal ingredients listed on the ExtenZe ingredient list offer some impressive benefits towards the male reproductive system — but only when used at sufficient doses.
For mild to moderate ED, it may be enough to order some of these herbs on their own to try first. The risk of using these herbs is relatively low, and many of them can offer enough benefits to avoid having to use prescription medications to manage symptoms.
Here are a few examples of herbs commonly used to help with male fertility and reproductive organs:
- Horny goat weed (Epimedium spp.)
- Muira puama (Ptychopetalum olacoides)
- Maca (Lepidium meyenii)
- Tribulus (Tribulus terestris)
- Korean red ginseng (Panax ginseng)
- Yohimbe (Pausinystalia johimbe)
You can also use nutrients to help optimize reproductive health:
- Citrulline
- Folic Acid
- L-Arginine
- Vitamin B3
- Vitamin D
- Zinc
B) Alternative Formulas
There are also plenty of other formulated supplements that can be used to support a healthy erection and improve sexual desire. These brands are similar to ExtenZe, but offer products that have a higher level of integrity and fact-based claims behind them.
- Nugenixx
- Semenax
C) Prescription Medications
For moderate to severe ED, natural health supplements may not offer enough support. You may need to try one of the many prescription ED medications instead.
The best prescription alternative to ExtenZe is Viagra or sildenafil, but there are several others that work through the same mechanism:
- Sildenafil (Viagra, Kamagra)
- Tadalafil (Cialis, Tadalis)
- Vardenafil (Levitra, Staxyn, Vivanza)
- Mirodenafil (Mvix)
- Udenafil (Zydena)
You should always visit a doctor before you order any of these medications. While it’s possible to order them under the table through online pharmacies operating overseas, this can be risky. You never know what you’re going to get, and there have been many reports of people receiving counterfeit medications through these websites.
It may also be dangerous to use ED medications if you have certain underlying health issues like diabetes, heart disease, eye disorders, kidney disease, liver disease, high blood pressure, and others.
Your doctor will be able to assess your individual risk before prescribing the medication.
Where to Buy ExtenZe
ExtenZe is a controversial supplement. It’s been targeted by the FDA for including hidden prescription medications — yet these pills are still available in just about any big box store in the United States.
You can find ExtenZe products on store shelves in Walmart, Walgreens, CVS, or on Amazon or the ExtenZe official website.
ExtenZe is also commonly sold through third-party websites — many of them with poor ethics in regards to the health claims they’re using to sell the medication. Many of these websites make obnoxious claims that ExtenZe can increase penis size in as little as 3 days, increase muscle mass, or make you last longer in bed. None of these claims have ever been backed up by science.
While ExtenZe products are easy to buy if you live in the US, we highly recommend you avoid this product and aim for a brand that’s shown more integrity in their products.
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