Zyrexin Review: Ingredients, Side Effects & Does It Work?

Zyrexin is a blue pill marketed to men who have difficulty achieving an erection, built around a blend of natural ingredients said to work “the very first time” it’s used. Our research team set out to see how much of that holds up.

Despite how widely the product is sold, we were immediately struck by how little scientific research actually backs some of its ingredients. From there, we looked into potential side effects, the background of the manufacturer, and what actual users are saying, then wrapped it all into this report.

What Is Zyrexin?

Zyrexin is a supplement marketed to help men with erectile dysfunction, built around a tuber vegetable traditionally used as an aphrodisiac. It comes as a blue capsule with claims of results in as little as 35 minutes, with effects said to last up to 24 hours.

The makers say Zyrexin is the only natural blend to hold a U.S. patent for use as a male enhancement product — though it’s worth noting a patent only protects a formula from being copied, it doesn’t confirm the product actually works.

What does the broader research say about male enhancement products generally? The Journal of Dietary Supplements has flagged real concern that “adulterated and counterfeit male enhancement nutraceuticals and dietary supplements pose a real threat to the management of erectile dysfunction,” often due to undeclared ingredients or mislabeling. Despite that, herbal remedies in this category continue to grow in popularity, according to the Journal of Addiction Research & Therapy, and the FDA actively monitors this market, issuing warning letters when products cross the line, per JAMA Network Open.

How Did Zyrexin Start?

Zyrexin is manufactured by Superbalife International LLC, a Los Angeles-based nutraceutical company founded in 2004 that focuses on men’s health formulations, including Zyatrim (a weight-loss supplement) and Prostavar (a prostate-health supplement). Zyrexin is sold through major retailers including Walmart and Rite Aid.

Zyrexin Claims

The marketing claims are bold: results in under an hour, effects lasting 24 hours, results the first time it’s used, and no side effects.

Zyrexin Ingredients

The official Zyrexin website doesn’t publish a complete ingredient list or a label image, disclosing only that the formula contains Butea Superba, a natural PDE-5 inhibitor. The actual label reveals a broader proprietary blend that includes epimedium extract, yohimbe extract, xanthoparmelia scabrosa extract, ginkgo extract, cnidium extract, velvet bean extract, Butea Superba extract, and L-arginine.

What Is a PDE-5 Inhibitor?

A PDE-5 inhibitor blocks the breakdown of cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP), which keeps blood vessels dilated so blood flows more freely. These compounds act specifically on type-5 phosphodiesterases found in the erectile tissue of the penis and lungs, according to LiverTox.

Does Zyrexin Work?

Whether Zyrexin delivers on its promises comes down to whether there’s clinical evidence behind the individual ingredients, and the company’s own website doesn’t link to any supporting studies. Here’s what our research turned up on a few of the key ones.

Yohimbe Extract

Yohimbe bark contains yohimbine, which in a standardized, prescription form is used to treat erectile dysfunction. But according to the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health, dietary supplements containing yohimbe vary widely in actual yohimbine content, and “yohimbe sold as a dietary supplement may not work like the prescription medication that contains yohimbine.” Zyrexin’s label doesn’t disclose how much yohimbe or yohimbine is actually in the proprietary blend, making it impossible to know if there’s enough to have any effect.

Ginkgo Extract

Ginkgo biloba is an ancient tree species whose leaf extract is used in supplements for eye conditions and leg pain caused by narrowing arteries, thanks to antioxidant flavonoids and terpenoids. That said, the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health notes studies have found “no conclusive evidence that ginkgo is helpful for any health condition.”

Velvet Bean Extract

Velvet bean (Mucuna pruriens) is a legume grown in Africa and Asia, traditionally used to treat infertility and as an aphrodisiac, according to the Journal of Traditional and Complementary Medicine. It contains L-DOPA, which can cause nausea, vomiting, cramping, or an erratic heartbeat in sensitive individuals. A study in Fertility and Sterility involving 150 men found that mucuna pruriens “regulates steroidogenesis and improves semen quality in infertile men,” suggesting a possible fertility benefit, though that’s distinct from treating erectile dysfunction directly.

Butea Superba Extract

Butea Superba, the ingredient Zyrexin’s makers credit most heavily, is a tuberous shrub native to Thailand, Vietnam, and India, traditionally used by Thai men to boost sexual vigor. Evidence for its effectiveness in achieving erections remains thin. Research in BJU International found inconsistent results — an initial study showed positive effects on erectile dysfunction, but a follow-up double-blind study failed to replicate them, and researchers later suspected the original test batch had been contaminated with an actual PDE-5 inhibitor, a suspicion the supplying company later confirmed.

L-Arginine

While L-arginine may activate nitric oxide production, research compiled by Examine.com suggests its effects on blood flow aren’t consistently reliable when taken as a supplement.

Potential Zyrexin Side Effects

The makers claim Zyrexin has been “taken over 100 million times without any reports of side effects,” but customer feedback tells a different story. Reported issues linked to ginkgo include headaches, constipation, dizziness, and upset stomach, and the Mayo Clinic specifically cautions older adults and pregnant women against ginkgo-containing supplements. Other reported effects across the broader ingredient blend include rapid heartbeat, trouble breathing, prolonged painful erections, nausea, bloating, vomiting, abnormal movement, abdominal pain, diarrhea, gout, and inflamed airways. As for Butea Superba specifically, there simply hasn’t been enough research to establish its safety for human use.

Zyrexin Product Warnings

The label states Zyrexin shouldn’t be used by anyone under 18 or by women who are pregnant or nursing.

Where to Buy Zyrexin

Zyrexin is sold at Walmart, CVS, Rite Aid, and Walgreens.

What Does Zyrexin Cost?

At the time of our research, Zyrexin ran $21.79 at CVS and $21.99 at Walgreens — for a bottle that contains only ten pills, which makes the per-dose cost notably high.

Any Zyrexin Lawsuits?

Our research didn’t turn up any lawsuits tied to Zyrexin directly, though the Canadian government issued a “Foreign Product Alert” over its yohimbine content, since yohimbine is a prescription-only drug in Canada. We also found a news report of students getting sick after eating brownies laced with Zyrexin, though no lawsuit was ever filed over that incident.

Is Zyrexin a Scam?

We hesitate to call Zyrexin an outright scam, since there’s no clear evidence of fraudulent business practices. That said, we’re not convinced the supplement meaningfully helps with erectile dysfunction — it looks more like an overpriced herbal blend with limited proven effect.

The Bottom Line on Zyrexin

Is it worth grabbing a bottle of Zyrexin? We don’t think so. There’s some evidence a few of its ingredients may support fertility, but little to suggest they help men achieve erections specifically. Combine that with a pattern of uncomfortable reported side effects and a high per-pill cost for just ten capsules a bottle, and it’s hard to recommend. Anyone dealing with erectile dysfunction is better served talking to a doctor about proven treatment options rather than relying on an unregulated herbal blend.

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For general guidance on healthy weight management, see the resources available from the CDC.