What is Kamagra?
Medically reviewed by
Dr Simran DeoLast reviewed: 01 Sep 2020
Kamagra is a medication for erectile dysfunction that’s made in India, and is sold online illegally. Kamagra is claimed to work in a similar way to Viagra, but is not licensed for use in the UK. Find out what Kamagra is, and why buying it may lead to disappointment.
What is Kamagra?
Kamagra is sold as a tablet you can take to improve your sex drive (libido) and erectile dysfunction, but it is not guaranteed to be safe for you to use. Kamagra is manufactured in India and is not approved for use in the EU. It is illegal to purchase or sell Kamagra in the UK. Some men buy Kamagra online because they think it is a cheaper alternative to approved treatments for erectile dysfunction, such as Viagra.
According to the manufacturer, Ajanta Pharma, Kamagra contains 100mg of sildenafil citrate. Sildenafil is a drug used to treat erectile dysfunction, and usually requires a consultation with a doctor and a prescription to make sure it is safe for you to take. Taking prescription-only medications without first consulting with a doctor could put your health at risk, and is unnecessary when safe and legal options are easily available.
The drug was originally only available as a tablet with the active ingredient sildenafil, but since there have been new versions of the drug created called Super Kamagra and Kamagra Jelly Oil that contain different ingredients.
Super Kamagra
Super Kamagra, which is also not licensed for use in the UK, is different from Kamagra as each tablet contains 60mg of dapoxetine as well as 100mg of sildenafil citrate. Dapoxetine is a drug from a group of drugs called antidepressants that was approved for use in 2009 for the treatment of premature ejaculation, under the name Ejaculatio Praecox. According to the manufacturer of Super Kamagra, the combination of the two drugs it contains allow you to have sex for longer.
Kamagra Oral Jelly
Like Kamagra, Kamagra Oral Jelly only contains the active ingredient sildenafil, and it comes in the form of small jellies that you swallow. It's available in a variety of different flavours, and it's packaged in small bags. Much like Kamagra, Kamagra Oral Jelly is illegal in the EU as its effectiveness, and possible health risks are not known.
"Kamagra is an unlicensed medication which contains sildenafil. Spam pharmacies often sell fake Kamagra, which could be harmful to your health."
How Does Kamagra Work?
According to its manufacturer, Kamagra can be used to treat erectile dysfunction effectively. This is because Kamagra contains the active ingredient sildenafil which increases the blood to flow to your penis, helping you get and maintain an erection if you're aroused.
Does Kamagra work for women?
There is no clear evidence that Kamagra works for women, but the manufacturer of Kamagra does offer an alternative for women called Lovegra. This medication contains exactly the same ingredients as Kamagra and works in the same way.While there is no evidence that Kamagra works for women, there are studies which have shown that sildenafil (the active ingredient in Kamagra) can boost a woman's sex drive, but it also causes regular side effects such as headaches, hot flushes and indigestion. Sildenafil can also affect the lining of the uterus by thickening it, which makes it easier for an egg to implant and "nest" in the uterus.
Is it Illegal to Buy Kamagra Online?
Yes, it is illegal to buy Kamagra online. Selling or buying Kamagra is a criminal offence that can result in a fine or jail time. Still, many online shops offer medications like Kamagra, but these services are operating illegally by importing drugs.Not only is buying Kamagra illegal, but there are also health risks associated with using it as there is not enough information on its side effects or precisely what it contains to guarantee its safety. This is because Kamagra is manufactured in India where there are different regulations regarding the production of medicines, meaning there are no guarantees that Kamagra won't contain any additional harmful additives or impurities.
Is it Dangerous to Take Kamagra?
As the manufacturer of Kamagra states, it contains 100mg of sildenafil citrate per tablet. If these claims were correct and Kamagra only contained this ingredient, taking it without a doctor's advice could harm your health. Sildenafil is a prescription-only medication and the recommended dosage for first-time use is 50mg - half of what Kamagra reportedly contains. Before Sildenafil is prescribed, a doctor will review the patient's information to make sure it's safe and suitable for them to take it. This is because erectile dysfunction can be a physical or psychological condition, and a doctor will need to clarify this before prescribing medication.
There is also a risk that Kamagra may interact with other medications. As we can't be entirely sure what Kamagra contains or that its ingredients are correct, combining it with other drugs could be extremely dangerous. The manufacturer of Kamagra doesn't have to comply with the hygiene and production regulations for drugs in the EU, so impurities can't be ruled out. There has already been a documented case where the use of Kamagra led to a patient being poisoned.
Are There Other Cheaper Alternatives Similar to Kamagra?
As the patents for the three most well-known erectile dysfunction treatments, Viagra, Cialis, and Levitra, have expired, there are now a lot of generic medications that work in the exact same way. A majority of these medications are legal and cheaper than their branded counterparts. The cost of these will depend on the manufacturer of these medications, but you will still need a prescription from a doctor to purchase these in the UK. Cheap and legal erectile dysfunction treatments include:
Sources
- Journal of the Royal Society of Medicine (2011) Acute lead intoxication from medications purchased online presenting with recurrent abdominal pain and encephalopathy (Accessed on 01 September 2020)
- National Center for Biotechnology Information (2008) Sildenafil treatment of women with antidepressant-associated sexual dysfunction: a randomized controlled trial (Accessed on 01 September 2020)
- National Center for Biotechnology Information (2006) Successful use of vaginal sildenafil citrate in two infertility patients with Asherman's syndrome (Accessed on 01 September 2020)