Lamar Odom in coma: what IS herbal Viagra?

Lamar Odom is in a ‘critical’ condition on life support following his collapse at a brothel in Nevada, and it’s thought herbal Viagra could be to blame.

While there’s been no official statement about the type Lamar took, it’s been reported that he had been using it throughout his stay at the Dennis Hof Love Ranch South, which ended on Tuesday afternoon when he was found unconscious in a VIP suite.

EVERYTHING WE KNOW ABOUT LAMAR ODOM'S COLLAPSE:

What is herbal Viagra?

Herbal Viagra is sold as a treatment for erectile dysfunction – but are marketed as using natural ingredients instead of medical ones, which would need a prescription.

They work by improving blood flow around the body by relaxing the walls of the blood vessels, although experts warn against taking too many as they can have nasty side effects, like vasodilation – which is a widening of the blood vessels that leads to a drop in blood pressure.

Because of that, men with heart problems or those who take certain heart medication are at risk of dangerously low blood pressure if they take these supplements.

There’s no scientific proof that herbal Viagra does anything to improve erections, and that means there are no official checks on their use, too.

MOST READ TODAY:

As many herbal versions of Viagra have never been clinically tested, they can also lead to dangerous side effects when mixed with other medication.

These ‘natural’ supplements may actual contain traces of prescription-only medication, which can have dangerous effects.

While it’s not known whether Lamar is on any medication at the moment, he has been in and out of rehab for reported issues with crack cocaine over the last couple of years.

Our thoughts are with Lamar and his family and friends.