The FDA is warning e-cigarette companies to stop selling vaping products with claims that they contain erectile dysfunction medications.

Consumers are being urged to avoid vaping products claiming to have ingredients such as sildenafil and tadalafil used in Viagra and Cialis respectively as they can interact with other medications (such as nitrates). Moreover there is no data suggesting one’s respiratory lining to be a safe route of absorption of a phosphodiesterase type-5 (PDE-5) inhibitor.

The primary purpose of the lungs is to oxygenate blood and its highly specialized lining is not necessarily designed to absorb nutrients, as does the small intestine.

On the FDA website it states:

THE U.S. FOOD AND DRUG ADMINISTRATION ANNOUNCED TODAY IT HAS ISSUED A WARNING LETTER TO HELLOCIG ELECTRONIC TECHNOLOGY CO. LTD FOR VARIOUS VIOLATIONS OF THE FEDERAL FOOD, DRUG, AND COSMETIC ACT, INCLUDING SELLING TWO E-LIQUIDS THAT CONTAIN THE PRESCRIPTION DRUGS TADALAFIL AND/OR SILDENAFIL, LEADING THE FDA TO DETERMINE THAT THE PRODUCTS ARE UNAPPROVED NEW DRUGS.

SILDENAFIL AND TADALAFIL ARE THE ACTIVE PHARMACEUTICAL INGREDIENTS IN FDA-APPROVED PRESCRIPTION DRUGS USED TO TREAT ERECTILE DYSFUNCTION. THESE FDA-APPROVED PRESCRIPTION DRUGS ARE NOT APPROVED FOR INCLUSION IN E-LIQUID PRODUCTS SOLD OVER THE COUNTER AND ARE THEREFORE BEING SOLD ILLEGALLY. IN ADDITION, THE COMPANY IS MARKETING OTHER E-LIQUIDS USED IN E-CIGARETTES IN WAYS THAT CONVEY AND MISLEAD CONSUMERS INTO BELIEVING THAT THE FDA HAS APPROVED THESE TOBACCO PRODUCTS, WHEN IT HAS NOT.

LABORATORY ANALYSIS CONDUCTED BY THE FDA CONFIRMED “E-CIALIS HELLOCIG E-LIQUID” CONTAINS THE UNDECLARED DRUGS SILDENAFIL AND TADALAFIL, AND “E-RIMONABANT HELLOCIG E-LIQUID” CONTAINS THE UNDECLARED DRUG SILDENAFIL. THESE UNDECLARED INGREDIENTS ARE PHOSPHODIESTERASE TYPE-5 (PDE-5) INHIBITORS. THESE INGREDIENTS CAN BE ASSOCIATED WITH SIGNIFICANT SAFETY ISSUES AND THE RISK OF SERIOUS ADVERSE EVENTS.

FDA Commissioner Dr. Scott Gottlieb states, “There are no e-liquids that contain prescription drugs that have been proven safe or effective through this route of administration.”

Those Needing Erectile Dysfunction Drugs Should Have Their Heart Checked

Companies are looking to expand their market by enticing consumers to vape vitamins, such as B12, and essential oils. Last week, however, a professor of nutrition from New York University, Dr. Charles Mueller, warned against it. He states, “Vitamins need to come with [fat and water] and go through the same gastrointestinal tract to be absorbed.” Moreover respiratory administration of nutrition has not been actively studied.

Vaping linked to heart disease and cancer

A study published by the American Heart Association found nine different E-cig flavors  to impair blood vessel function, which can impair heart health.

Endothelial cells, which delicately line blood and lymph vessels, were found to become inflamed at low concentrations of some vapor flavors.  And at high concentrations of others, exhibited cell death.  Nitric oxide production, necessary for vessel dilation to improve blood flow, was impaired as well. These are often the same changes seen in early heart disease.

The 9 flavors (and the chemicals within) cited in the report to cause the endothelial inflammation and/or damage were:

• Vanilla (vanillin)
• Mint (menthol)
• Clove (eugenol)
• Cinnamon (cinnamaldehyde)
• Strawberry (dimethylpyrazine)
• Banana (isoamyl acetate)
• Butter (diacetyl)
• Eucalyptus/spicy cooling (eucalyptol)
• Burnt flavor (acetylpyridine)

Strawberry flavoring appeared to have the most adverse effect on the cells.

How many other flavors were not included in this study, so it's unknown how safe they may be.

Last May, researchers from Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center in Nashville found e-cig smoke to increase one’s risk of bladder cancer.

In 2015, the University of Minnesota identified chemicals commonly found in e-cig vapor to include:

• Formaldehyde (human carcinogen)
• Acetaldehyde (carcinogen related to alcohol drinking)
• Acrolein (highly irritating and toxic)
• Toluene (toxic) NNN, NNK (tobacco carcinogens related to nicotine)
• Metals (possible carcinogens and toxins)

Although electronic cigarette “juice” may appear safe, it could produce harmful chemicals once heated to become a vapor.

A lethal dose of nicotine for an adult ranges from 30-60 mg and varied for children (0.5-1.0 mg/kg can be a lethal dosage for adults, and 0.1 mg/kg for children).  E-cigs, depending on their strengths (0 – 5.4%) could contain up to 54 mg of nicotine per cartridge (a 1.8% e -cig would contain 18mg/ml).

The topic of nicotine increasing one’s vulnerability to cancer is nothing new as decades ago researchers found nicotine to affect the cilia (brush border) along the respiratory tree, preventing mucous production and a sweeping out of carcinogens trying to make their way down to the lungs.

More research needs to be performed but this recent report reminds us that exposing our delicate lung tissue and immune system to vaping chemicals may not be as safe as we think.

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Daliah Wachs is a guest contributor to GCN news, her views and opinions, medical or otherwise, if expressed, are her own. Doctor Wachs is an MD,  FAAFP and a Board Certified Family Physician.  The Dr. Daliah Show , is nationally syndicated M-F from 11:00 am - 2:00 pm and Saturday from Noon-1:00 pm (all central times) at GCN.