Rhino Pills: Risks, Side Effects & Alternatives

If you've ever browsed behind the counter at your local gas station or convenience store, you've probably seen them — tucked somewhere behind the bottles of 5-Hour Energy® shots and the flavored blunt wraps.

They promise hours of crazy sex, better stamina and even claim to make you bigger. They're called Rhino pills. 

While these male enhancement products may seem like the winning ticket to the best sex of your life, they often come at a price. 

They’re unregulated by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), there's no science to back them up and there are even reports out there that suggest these pills — and dozens of other over-the-counter sex supplements just like them — contain undeclared and potentially dangerous ingredients.

Below, we’ve gone into detail on what Rhino pills are, how they claim to work and the many risks you assume by taking a chance on them.

We’ve also shared real, science-based products that you can use to safely treat common sexual performance issues such as erectile dysfunction (ED) and premature ejaculation (PE).

What Is a Rhino Pill?

Rhino is a common brand of male sexual enhancement products you’ll typically find in gas stations, drug stores and online. 

Rhino products aren’t approved by the FDA, nor do they require a prescription. Because they’re cheap, widely available and don’t require a visit to the doctor’s office, they’re often perceived as an over-the-counter alternative to drugs like sildenafil (the active ingredient in Viagra®) — but they’re far from it.

Supplements sold under the Rhino brand have a variety of names, including: 

• Krazzy Rhino 25000

• Platinum Rhino 25000

• Rhino 30000

• Gold Rhino 25000

• Mega Rhino 82000

• Rhino Blitz Gold

• Rhino 69

• Rhino 7

• Rhino x

Most Rhino pills come in similar packaging, with a distinctive design that’s dominated by a large, holographic rhino. 

Some use similar packaging with alternative brand names like “Jet Black™,” “Jet Blue™” and others. 

So what do Rhino pills do, exactly? They make all types of claims about sexual performance and health benefits. Some of the most notable ones include:

• Maximizing the time of sexual intercourse

• Stopping premature ejaculation

• Maximizing ejaculate volume

• Providing “rock hard” erections

• Increasing penis length, width and thickness

• Making orgasms more intense and explosive

• Improving sexual confidence

• “Guaranteed” enhancement.

Do Rhino Pills Work?

While Rhino pills may have flashy packaging and intriguing health claims, these pills are not backed by any type of scientific research and may even do more harm than good. 

How Long Do Rhino Pills Last? 

Rhino Pills don’t just promise harder and stronger erections, they also guarantee days of peaked sexual performance. Yep, you read that right. Days.

Their packaging claims that the effects of a single pill can last seven, nine or even 14 days and they typically kick in within just 45 to 90 minutes after consumption. 

It should go without saying that no one should be in this type of enhanced state of stimulation for 14 days straight. In fact, if your erection lasts more than four hours, you should definitely make your way to the closest emergency room to see what’s going on below the belt.

Rhino Pills Ingredients

There's no scientific evidence that Rhino pills work, nor is there anything to suggest that the various exotic-sounding ingredients used in Rhino pills or similar over-the-counter products have any positive effects on your sexual performance.

Like many dietary supplements promoted as male sex aids, the developers of Rhino male enhancement products claim they use a blend of herbal ingredients to improve sexual function. 

For example, the supplement label for Mega Rhino 82000 lists zinc gluconate, horny goat weed (epimedium), white willow bark, black pepper (yes, you read that right) and Rauvolfia serpentina (also known as devil pepper) as active ingredients.

Not only is there no scientific evidence that Rhino pills increase your stamina in bed, get rid of erectile dysfunction or enlarge your penis — there also isn't sufficient reputable evidence that any of the ingredients in them (at least the ingredients on the label) have any significant effects at all. 

Now, this doesn't necessarily mean that Rhino pills can't possibly work at all or that they don't cause some kind of effect in men who use them. Maybe we’ve been using fresh-cracked pepper wrong this entire time.

But if you’re going to take any kind of medication or supplement, it should be backed by evidence if it's going to serve as a treatment option for a specific condition.

Warnings on Rhino Pills and General Male Enhancement Products

Because Rhino pills and other sexual enhancement capsules aren’t FDA-approved prescription drugs, they aren’t subject to the same strict testing and licensing rules. And because they don’t require a prescription, there’s no opportunity for a healthcare provider to assess their safety.

Fast-acting male enhancement drugs are particularly concerning as many of these products are labeled as harmless “dietary supplements.” Yet, many of them are made in potentially unsafe or unsanitary facilities that may be cross-contaminated by other substances. 

The ingredients used in these products — both the stuff on the label and the stuff they don’t tell you about — may not be measured accurately, meaning some supplements may use an unsafe amount of unlabeled active ingredients.

These factors combine to create products that aren’t effective, aren’t safe and should never be viewed as replacements for prescription pills for ED or PE.

FDA Rhino Pill Warnings

Several investigations by the FDA found that more than 25 products sold under the Rhino brand contain unlabeled ingredients and other substances, including active and potentially dangerous ingredients from prescription drugs that can't legally be sold in herbal supplements.

In response to these issues, the FDA has warned customers not to purchase or use any Rhino enhancement pills or other products.

In one lab test, the FDA found that the product Rhino 8 Platinum 8000 contained the ingredients sildenafil, N-desmethylsibutramine, phenolphthalein and diclofenac.

• N-desmethylsibutramine. This ingredient is structurally similar to sibutramine — a controlled substance that was withdrawn from the market in 2010 due to safety concerns. It was previously used as a weight loss medication.

• Sildenafil. This is an active ingredient in Viagra and is a prescription ED medication that’s only available for people who have been diagnosed with erectile dysfunction by a licensed healthcare provider. While it’s not dangerous when taken as prescribed, taking unregulated doses may lead to harmful side effects.

• Phenolphthalein. Phenolphthalein is a laxative. We shit you not. (Heh.)

• Diclofenac.Diclofenac is a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID), in the same class of medication as ibuprofen.. Although it is safe in small doses for most people when used as prescribed, chronic use has been linked with a higher risk of stroke or heart attack.  In addition, diclofenac can be dangerous if you have kidney problems, stomach problems, or other conditions. But hey, let’s sell it next to the iPhone 6 chargers, right?

These active drug ingredients can interact with other medications and cause potentially serious complications. 

For example, sildenafil can interact with nitrates and other medications used to treat high blood pressure, angina and other cardiovascular health issues. When used at the same time, these medications can cause sudden, potentially fatal drops in blood pressure. 

Other medications for conditions such as heart disease and high blood pressure can also cause interactions when used with sildenafil and other ED drugs that can also be potentially fatal.

FDA Male Enhancement Drug Warnings Overall

The FDA has also released several more public warnings about over-the-counter sex enhancement pills as a whole. 

In fact, a 2021 news release from the FDA found that all 26 of the male sexual health supplements the agency purchased from Amazon for laboratory testing contained hidden ingredients.

Furthermore, 80 percent of the 25 supplements the FDA purchased on eBay contained undeclared active pharmaceutical ingredients.

In an announcement from 2022, the FDA stated the following:

"It is clear from the results of our decade of testing that retailers and distributors, including online marketplaces, do not effectively prevent these types of potentially harmful products from being sold to consumers.”

“FDA cannot test all products on the market that contain potentially harmful hidden ingredients. Enforcement actions and consumer advisories for tainted products only cover a small fraction of the tainted over-the-counter products on the market."

Put simply, many of the "too good to be true" male sexual performance supplements sold online are, well, too good to be true.  

Our recommendation? Listen to the FDA and avoid any male sexual enhancement pills, creams or other unregulated supplements that aren't supported by real scientific research — especially any brand that's been mentioned by the FDA as a common offender when it comes to tainted or unsafe goods. 

Risks & Side Effects of Rhino Pills for Men

By now, you know that neither we, nor the FDA, are big fans of Rhino pills or pills like Rhino pills. You know that they’re potentially dangerous and can even cause some life-threatening interactions when taken with other prescription drugs.

But there are other risks and side effects attached to Rhino pills, too. While the “Rhino” brand does not include potential risks on its labels, the FDA went through the trouble of listing a number of potential physical side effects on their website, some of which include: 

• Heart palpitations

• Light-headedness

• Chest pain

• Severe headaches

• A drop in blood pressure

• Prolonged erections

• drug interactions

Safer Alternatives to Rhino Sex Pills  

Erections are about mental and physical stimulation. When you feel sexually stimulated, blood flows into the erectile tissue in your penis, causing you to get and maintain an erection during sexual activity.

That said, most medications for improving sexual performance — the FDA-approved prescription-only stuff, at least — have a clearly understood mechanism of action. 

For example, most ED medications work by increasing blood flow to your penis, which can make it easier for you to get and maintain an erection when you feel aroused.

Likewise, medications for increasing your sexual stamina and stopping premature ejaculation either work by reducing penis sensitivity or by delaying your body's internal process of reaching orgasm and ejaculating.

Treating Erectile Dysfunction

There are safer and more effective alternatives available to help treat erectile dysfunction, stop premature ejaculation and improve your sexual performance.

Currently, there are four FDA-approved prescription-only ED medications. They are: 

• Sildenafil (the active ingredient in Viagra)

• Tadalafil (Cialis®)

• Vardenafil (Levitra®)

• Avanafil (Stendra®)

These medications, referred to as PDE5 inhibitors, work by increasing blood flow to your penis. When used before sex, they make it easier to get and maintain an erection while you’re sexually aroused.

Managing Premature Ejaculation

Maybe erections aren’t your problem point. If your train is leaving the station earlier than you’d like — by a little or a lot — there are products out there for you, too.

These include sprays, gels or wipes that contain local anesthetics like lidocaine or benzocaine to help decrease sensitivity and lengthen the road to orgasm and ejaculation.

There are also prescription medications like sertraline and paroxetine, which delay the process of reaching orgasm and ejaculating.

This also seems like a great time for our favorite reminder: before using any sexual enhancement products, supplements or medications, it’s important to talk to your healthcare provider.

Not only can they tell you what works and what likely doesn’t — they can also make sure you’re safe while using these supplements or medication.

Increasing Penis Size

When it comes to increasing penis size, you might be getting the “shorter end of the stick.” Unfortunately, penis enlargement options are limited, potentially dangerous, and tend to be very expensive. 

Here are a few common ways  to pump up your penis:

• Penile enhancement surgery:  These procedures include penile implants, fat or tissue grafting, or injecting dermal fillers. While these surgeries are regulated, they are often painful, expensive and can’t guarantee your desired results.

• Jelqing. This popular penis stretching exercise involves creating micro-tears in the skin tissue. While it may temporarily increase the appearance and length of your package,  it can also cause bruising and scar tissue buildup. Who’d’ve thunk you probably shouldn’t be tearing your penis skin, right?

• Penis pumps: Also known as vacuum pumps, these tube-shaped erection devices are designed to draw more blood into the penis. Even though they offer temporary results, they come with a number of side effects.

While reliable penis enhancement practices might be few and far between, they are still a lot safer compared to Rhino pills and other over-the-counter male enhancement products. 

Understanding the Risks of Rhino Pills

No matter which way you slice or dice it, Rhino pills are never the way to go. Period.

• They’re untested. Not only are these pills not scientifically proven to actually work, but many contain unlabeled or unapproved drugs that could put your health at serious risk — especially if you use other medications.

• They’re unsafe. The FDA has released numerous advisory warnings about the safety of Rhino pills and other over-the-counter sex pills, warning consumers against everything from unlabeled ingredients to manufacturing quality concerns.

• There are other options out there. If you’re worried about erectile dysfunction or premature ejaculation, the best option is to talk to your healthcare provider or look into FDA-approved ED treatments.

Unlike Rhino pills, these medications contain exactly what they say on the label, meaning you’ll be able to treat ED, PE and other sexual performance issues with confidence.

We offer a range of evidence-based erectile dysfunction medications and premature ejaculation treatments online, with prescription products available following a consultation with a healthcare provider. 

You can also learn more about improving your sexual function naturally in our detailed guide to the best ways to naturally protect your erection.