Rhino Pills for Men: Risks, Side Effects & More

Behind the counter at your local gas station, convenience store, or bodega, tucked within the energy shots and flavored cigarillos, are a variety of male enhancement products like Rhino pills. You might be tempted by their claims to improve stamina, increase erections, or elevate your sex life.

But if you’re wondering if they’re a scam, your instincts are good.

Rhino pills and other non-prescription supplements aren’t regulated by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) like medications are, and there’s rarely much science to back their claims. What’s worse, these sex supplements can sometimes contain undeclared and potentially dangerous hidden drug ingredients. And that’s just the tip of the iceberg.

You’re right to be wary of products like Rhino pills for erectile dysfunction (ED) and premature ejaculation (PE).

Keep reading to learn just how much risk you could be taking by popping these hyped-up male enhancement pills. And find out whether their claims to make you hard, increase your penis size, or help you last longer are even true.

Rhino is a common brand of male sexual enhancement products you’ll find in gas stations, at convenience stores, and online. They’re created from proprietary blends of herbal ingredients occasionally associated with better erectile health.

According to their own packaging, uses for Rhino pills 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

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

• Krazzy Rhino 25000

• Platinum Rhino 25000

• Rhino 30000

• Blue Rhino Pills

• Gold Rhino 25000

• Mega Rhino 82000

• Rhino Blitz Gold

• Rhino 69 Pills

• Rhino 7

• Rhino X

Most Rhino pills come in similar packaging, with a distinctive design dominated by a large holographic rhino. You’ve probably seen a pop-up ad or glitzy package for at least one of the brand’s offerings.

Some use similar packaging with alternative brand names like Jet Black® or Jet Blue®, among others. 

Do rhino pills make you hard, or are they another gas station let-down like that $10 lotto scratcher?

Rhino pills may work, in theory — some of the purported ingredients can increase blood flow to the penis.

But in practice, they’re not considered medically reliable — or safe. Manufacturers of Rhino pills and other male enhancement supplements claim their products “work” based on thin research into ingredients rarely considered effective or safe by the FDA.

Research on Rhino Pills

What Rhino pills do is really a question of what they’re supposed to do. There’s no scientific evidence that Rhino pills work, nor is there anything to suggest that the various ingredients used in Rhino male enhancement or similar non-prescription products have any positive effects on sexual performance. 

Now, this doesn’t necessarily mean Rhino pills can’t possibly work at all or that they don’t cause some kind of effect in men who use them.

Some natural ingredients may increase blood flow to the penis, but whether they do it reliably and without adverse effects is another matter. In fact, there isn’t sufficient reputable evidence that any ingredients in them (at least, the ingredients on the label) have effects that match up to actual prescription medications for ED. 

If you’re going to take any kind of medication or supplement, it should be backed by evidence.

At this point, you know that neither we nor the FDA are big fans of Rhino pills (or other bootleg gas station ED pills).

There have been reports that their effects can last for days or weeks at a time. While you might want to last longer in bed, this isn’t a good thing.

There are other risks and adverse events attached to Rhino pills too. 

Though the Rhino brand doesn’t include potential risks on its labels, the FDA went through the trouble of listing a number of potential physical side effects. Some common ones include: 

• Chest pain

• Severe headaches

• Painful, prolonged erections

We can’t recommend Rhino pills for these reasons. But if you experience any of these side effects after taking a new supplement or medication, seek medical care ASAP.

Plenty of guys first look into Rhino pills because they seem to offer a safe, doctor-free alternative to prescription sildenafil (that’s the active ingredient in Viagra®). 

But these over-the-counter herbal supplements are far from safe, far from proven effective, and very far from Viagra.

Here’s why:

• Viagra and similar medications are FDA-approved treatments for erectile dysfunction. Known as PDE5 inhibitors, they work by increasing blood flow to your penis. And when used before sex, they make it easier to get and maintain an erection while sexually aroused.

• Rhino products aren’t approved by the FDA and don’t require a prescription. They’re also not as predictable. While Viagra typically works for just a few hours, Rhino claims the effects of a single pill can last seven, nine, or even 14 days. Yikes.

• Rhino pills could illegally contain sildenafil. A Rhino pill may illegally contain the active ingredient in Viagra, but the quality and amount can’t be verified.

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, definitely make your way to the closest emergency room because you might be experiencing a dangerous condition called priapism.

You might be asking how something with so many dangerous side effects hasn’t been pulled off the market by the FDA. Good question.

Here’s why they’re (sort of) allowed to be sold and why it’s problematic:

• Rhino pills aren’t regulated or tested like FDA-approved drugs. Since sexual enhancement capsules like Rhino pills aren’t FDA-approved prescription erectile dysfunction drugs, they aren’t subject to the same strict drug ingredients testing and licensing rules. And because they don’t require a prescription, healthcare providers can’t assess their safety.

• They could be contaminated or contain hidden ingredients. Fast-acting male enhancement supplements are particularly concerning because many are labeled as harmless “dietary supplements.” Yet, some are made in potentially unsafe or unsanitary facilities that may be cross-contaminated by other substances. 

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

The point is, these products aren’t necessarily effective, they aren’t safe, and they shouldn’t be viewed as replacements for FDA-approved prescription pills for ED or PE.

What the FDA Says About Male-Enhancement Supplements

The FDA has released several public warnings about non-prescription sex enhancement pills.

A 2021 news release from the FDA noted that all 26 of the male sexual health supplements the agency purchased from Amazon for laboratory testing contained undeclared ingredients — hidden stuff not listed on the labels.

That means they could interact dangerously with nitrates, medications for heart disease and high blood pressure, and other prescription drugs you’re taking — potentially landing you in a hospital bed instead of your own.

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

This seems like a great time for our favorite reminder: Before using any sexual enhancement products, supplements, or medications, talk to your healthcare provider about safe, FDA-approved alternatives.

Not only can your provider tell you what works and what likely doesn’t, but they can also make sure you’re safe while using these supplements or medications.

Here’s what a medical professional might recommend.

Medications for Treating Erectile Dysfunction

Most FDA-approved prescription-only medications have a clearly understood mechanism of action for increasing blood flow to the penis. 

Currently, there are four FDA-approved prescription oral drugs. They are: 

• Sildenafil (the active ingredient in Viagra)

• Tadalafil (Cialis®)

• Vardenafil (Levitra®)

• Avanafil (Stendra®)

There’s also an injectable medication called alprostadil and a recently FDA-authorized, non-prescription topical gel for ED.

Products for Managing Premature Ejaculation

PE treatments include delay sprays, climax control condoms, and wipes that contain local anesthetics like lidocaine or benzocaine. They can help decrease sensitivity and lengthen the road to orgasm and ejaculation.

Prescription medications might also help with premature ejaculation, like sertraline and paroxetine, which delay the process of reaching orgasm and ejaculating.

Increasing Penis Size

While reliable penis enhancement practices might be few and far between, more is known about their safety risks than about Rhino pills and other non-prescription male enhancement products.

Medical experts might suggest penile enhancement surgery or penis pumps after other options have been exhausted.

These aren’t usually the first things a healthcare professional will recommend to remedy sexual performance issues. But if you’re curious, ask your provider.

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

Here’s the bottom line on Rhino pills:

• 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 notices about the safety of Rhino pills and other non-prescription sex pills, warning consumers against everything from unlabeled ingredients to manufacturing quality concerns.

• Better options are available. If you’re worried about erectile dysfunction or premature ejaculation, the best option is to talk to a healthcare provider or look into FDA-approved treatments.

Unlike Rhino pills, these FDA-approved medications contain exactly what they say they do. This means you can 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 virtual consultation with a healthcare provider.

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