Adamssecret.co voluntarily recalled Adam’s Secret Extra Strength 1500 and Extra Strength 3000 capsules, a supplement sold online for male sexual enhancement. The company announced the recall February 15, 2021, and the FDA published the notice a day later.
The capsules contained undeclared sildenafil and/or tadalafil, ingredients used in prescription drugs for erectile dysfunction. These can dangerously lower blood pressure when combined with nitrate medications. All lots within expiry of both strengths were affected, sold nationwide at www.adamssecret.co.
Anyone who still has the capsules should stop using them and return them to the place of purchase. The FDA states this recall has been completed and terminated.
- Action type: Voluntary nationwide recall
- Announcement and initiation dates: Company announcement February 15, 2021. FDA publish date February 16, 2021
- Company and responsible agency: Adamssecret.co and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration; FDA recalls page
- Recall or campaign number: Not stated in the notice
- Affected models, lots, UPCs, serial numbers, or VINs: All lots within expiry of Extra Strength 1500 and 3000 capsules, sold in blister foil sheets in a box of 10. No lot, UPC or serial numbers stated
- Number of affected units: Not published in the notice
- Sold at and sale period: Sold online at www.adamssecret.co nationwide in the US. Sale period and price not stated
- Hazard: Undeclared sildenafil and/or tadalafil (PDE-5 inhibitors). Can dangerously lower blood pressure with nitrate drugs
- Reported incidents, injuries, illnesses, and deaths: No adverse event reports received as of the notice
- Remedy: Stop use and return to place of purchase. Company notifying customers by email and arranging returns
Table Of Contents
- Latest Adam’s Secret Recall Updates
- Which Adam’s Secret Products Are Affected?
- Why Was Adam’s Secret Recalled?
- Reported Incidents, Injuries, or Illnesses
- What Should Consumers Do?
- Other Recalls, Warnings, or International Actions
- Legal Options
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Is Adam’s Secret Still Sold?
- What Are the Symptoms of a PDE-5 Inhibitor Reaction?
- Why Does the FDA Call Adam’s Secret an Unapproved Drug Instead of a Dietary Supplement?
- What Different Hidden Drugs Did the FDA Find in Later Adam’s Secret Products?
- Did the Adam’s Secret Recall Include an Official FDA Recall Number?
- How Common Are Hidden Drugs Like Sildenafil in Sexual-Enhancement Supplements?
- References
Latest Adam’s Secret Recall Updates
June 10, 2021: FDA Confirms More Tainted Samples
The FDA reminded consumers not to buy or use Adam’s Secret Extra Strength 1500. Lab analysis confirmed additional samples contained tadalafil, the active ingredient in the drug Cialis [1].
The notice said the product was still being sold for sexual enhancement on Amazon.com, months after the company’s own recall. The notice reported no new injuries linked to those additional samples.
February 15, 2021: Adamssecret.co Announces a Voluntary Recall
Adamssecret.co announced a voluntary nationwide recall of both capsule strengths, covering all unexpired lots, per the FDA’s recall notice [2]. An FDA lab analysis had found the products contained undeclared sildenafil and/or tadalafil.
The FDA published the recall notice the next day, February 16, 2021. The company said no adverse events had been reported in connection with either capsule strength as of that notice.
January 19, 2021: FDA Warns Consumers Before the Recall
Weeks before the company’s recall, the FDA first warned shoppers away from Adam’s Secret Extra Strength 1500. It was sold on websites including www.adamssecret.co and walmart.com.
A separate FDA notice issued the same day warned about Extra Strength 3000 Platinum, also sold through www.adamssecret.co [3]. Both notices came about a month before the company’s own recall of these products.
Which Adam’s Secret Products Are Affected?
Adamssecret.co recalled all unexpired lots of two Adam’s Secret capsule products it sold online at www.adamssecret.co. The affected products are:
- Adam’s Secret Extra Strength 1500 capsules, sold in blister foil sheets packed in a box of 10 capsules, all lots within expiry
- Adam’s Secret Extra Strength 3000 capsules, sold in blister foil sheets packed in a box of 10 capsules, all lots within expiry
The recall notice does not list separate lot numbers, UPC codes or serial numbers for either product. So consumers cannot check a lot code against a published list.
Anyone who bought either capsule strength through www.adamssecret.co should treat their bottle as recalled, whatever the purchase date.
Why Was Adam’s Secret Recalled?
Both capsule strengths were recalled because of an FDA lab analysis. It found they contained undeclared sildenafil and/or tadalafil.
Both drugs are ingredients in prescription medicines for erectile dysfunction. They are approved only for use under a doctor’s care, and neither was declared on the label.
The undeclared drugs can interact with nitrate medications, such as nitroglycerin, and lower blood pressure to dangerous, sometimes life-threatening levels.
People being treated for diabetes, elevated blood pressure or heart problems often take nitrate drugs and face higher risk from this interaction. Because the ingredients were hidden, buyers had no way to know.
Reported Incidents, Injuries, or Illnesses
As of the recall notice, Adamssecret.co had logged zero reports of any problem linked to either recalled capsule strength at that time.
The absence of reported incidents does not mean these capsules were safe. The undeclared sildenafil and tadalafil the FDA found in Adam’s Secret can cause serious problems for people who do not know they are taking a PDE-5 inhibitor.
The ingredients were hidden from the label. So anyone with an unexpected drop in blood pressure, fainting or a related symptom may not have made the connection.
The FDA’s MedWatch program collects reports of this kind, and Adamssecret.co published its own contact information alongside the recall notice.
What Should Consumers Do?
Anyone who still has either Adam’s Secret Extra Strength capsule product, 1500 or 3000, at home should take the following steps:
- Stop taking the capsules right away and do not resume use, even if no problems have been noticed so far.
- Return the capsules to the place of purchase. Or email Adamssecret.co at adamssecret.co@gmail.com, or write to 29-31 Industrial Ave., Fairview, NJ 07022.
- Watch for a sudden drop in blood pressure, dizziness or fainting. Seek medical care or contact a physician right away if any occur.
- Report any adverse reaction to the FDA’s MedWatch program online. Or call 1-800-332-1088 for a mail-in form, or send it by fax to 1-800-FDA-0178.
Other Recalls, Warnings, or International Actions
A new website, www.adamssecret.com, later sold other Adam’s Secret variants. These also drew FDA action, separate from the 2021 Adamssecret.co recall described above.
On July 15, 2022, an FDA notification confirmed that Extra Strength Blue contained tadalafil [4]. A second notification issued the same day confirmed that Extra Strength Amazing Black also contained tadalafil [5].
On January 10, 2023, the FDA sent a warning letter to the operator, Adam’s Secret USA, LLC. It had found several more variants also contained a hidden PDE-5 inhibitor drug [6].
Legal Options
No lawsuit, class action or settlement over Adam’s Secret has been confirmed. A recall does not automatically establish liability or eligibility for compensation.
Schmidt & Clark offers a free case review for people who believe a recalled or mislabeled supplement harmed them. A review does not promise eligibility or any particular result. Related claims are covered on our dietary supplement lawsuits page.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Adam’s Secret Still Sold?
Yes, Adam’s Secret is still sold today, at www.adamssecret.com, through a new company called HIS Enterprise Inc. A January 2023 FDA warning letter said several of those newer products still hid the same kind of prescription drug that triggered the 2021 recall.
What Are the Symptoms of a PDE-5 Inhibitor Reaction?
A PDE-5 inhibitor reaction can cause a dangerous drop in blood pressure, dizziness and fainting, especially with nitrate drugs. The FDA’s notices on this drug elsewhere also list high cholesterol as a risk factor, a detail this recall’s notice did not include.
Why Does the FDA Call Adam’s Secret an Unapproved Drug Instead of a Dietary Supplement?
The FDA calls Adam’s Secret an unapproved drug instead of a dietary supplement. The reason is section 505(a) of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act. It already contained sildenafil and tadalafil, drugs sold by prescription before Adam’s Secret used them.
Later Adam’s Secret products contained different hidden drugs, per the FDA’s January 2023 warning letter. Extra Strength 3000 Platinum, Blue and Amazing Black tested positive for tadalafil alone. Extra Strength Purple and 2000 contained both tadalafil and sildenafil.
Did the Adam’s Secret Recall Include an Official FDA Recall Number?
No, the Adam’s Secret recall notice does not include an official FDA recall or campaign number. A separate pharmacy recall database that republished the same notice does not list one either, so no formal number exists for this recall action.
Hidden drugs like sildenafil are common in sexual-enhancement supplements. A 2022 study of FDA’s tainted-supplement database found 1,068 unique adulterated products from 2007-2021, with sexual-enhancement supplements among the most common category. Adam’s Secret’s own five 2022-2023 variants fit that pattern.
References
- https://www.fda.gov/drugs/medication-health-fraud/public-notification-adams-secret-extra-strength-1500-contains-hidden-drug-ingredients
- https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts/adamssecretco-issues-voluntary-nationwide-recall-adams-secret-extra-strength-1500-and-3000-capsules
- https://www.fda.gov/drugs/medication-health-fraud/public-notification-adams-secret-extra-strength-3000-platinum-contains-hidden-drug-ingredients
- https://www.fda.gov/drugs/medication-health-fraud/public-notification-adams-secret-extra-strength-blue-contains-hidden-drug-ingredient
- https://www.fda.gov/drugs/medication-health-fraud/public-notification-adams-secret-extra-strength-amazing-black-contains-hidden-drug-ingredient
- https://www.fda.gov/inspections-compliance-enforcement-and-criminal-investigations/warning-letters/his-enterprise-inc-dba-adams-secret-usa-llc-646494-01102023