Disclaimer: None of the information in this article constitutes medical advice, and is just the opinion of the writer(s). We recommend that patients follow their doctor’s guidance in regard to erectile dysfunction treatment.
Rugiet is a men’s health brand that sells a prescription erectile dysfunction (ED) medication called Rugiet Ready that the brand describes as "groundbreaking" and can be customized to be stronger or weaker based on patient need. Rugiet claims their medication "works in 15 minutes or less" and "lasts longer" than the competition.
But what's actually in Rugiet and are the active drug ingredients proven to fix ED? Is this medication safe? How does it compare to other prescription ED treatments like Viagra? And has Rugiet's unique formulation ever been shown to work in a clinical trial?
In this article we’ll answer all of these questions and more, as we review the active ingredients in Rugiet to give our take on whether or not the treatment is likely to be effective for treating ED and improving sexual function in men.
We'll share our concerns about the safety of Rugiet, document our concerns about the flavoring ingredients in this formulation, and compare Rugiet to more common ED treatments like Viagra and Cialis.
Ingredient Analysis
Sildenafil, tadalafil and APO are the three active ingredients in Rugiet.
The first two active ingredients are approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to treat ED, and are the same active ingredients in other popular ED treatments such as Viagra (sildenafil) and Cialis (tadalafil).
Both sildenafil and tadalafil are backed by significant research.
A medical review published in the Drugs journal examined data from many clinical trials on sildenafil. The researchers found that the drug improved erection hardness, duration of erections and the ability to have sex.
A 2019 meta-study analyzed the effects of tadalafil, and the study authors found that the drug significantly improved erectile function.
Some online retailers like blue chew sell generic versions of both medications, which are proven to be as effective as the brand-name versions but can be significantly cheaper.
Apomorphone (APO) is a novel active ingredient for an ED formulation, and not one we’ve previously reviewed on Illuminate Health.
A medical review published in the Urologia Internationalis journal examined the effectiveness of APO for treating ED. The study authors documented that the medication successfully caused erections and improved nerve function in the penis while aroused.
The researchers in the above-linked study noted the following about APO: “The most favorable risk/benefit ratio is seen with a dose-optimization regimen of 2–3 mg.” The APO doses available on Rugiet’s site are 2 milligrams (mg) and 3 mg so this ingredient appears effectively dosed.
All three active drug ingredients in Rugiet have significant research backing, so we consider this an effective formulation overall and we believe Rugiet is likely to treat ED and improve sexual function in men.
Our Safety Concerns
While the three active ingredients in Rugiet are individually backed by impressive research, we cannot identify any clinical trials testing their efficacy and safety in combination.
This safety consideration is serious in our opinion, given that these are pharmaceutical drug ingredients.
A 2015 clinical trial examined the long-term safety of tadalafil and sildenafil when taken in combination.
The reported side effects were relatively mild: flushing, headache, upset stomach and muscle pain. The researchers noted no difference between the group taking the drugs and the group taking placebo, which suggests that this combination is safe and side-effect-free.
But we cannot find any clinical trials evaluating the safety of sildenafil, tadalafil and APO combined, nor can we find citations to such studies on Rugiet's website.
Ingredients proven to be safe when used individually can sometimes have dangerous synergies, which is why thorough safety testing of proprietary formulations of drug ingredients is so crucial.
While we don’t consider this combination likely to cause harm, we cannot recommend it given that it doesn’t appear to have been proven safe in clinical trials.
It’s also notable that Rugiet is a sublingual medication, meaning it dissolves under the tongue and is rapidly absorbed into the bloodstream (this is mentioned frequently in Rugiet marketing materials).
This means that even if the active ingredient combination in Rugiet was proven safe and effective in capsule form, there would still be questions about its safety in rapidly-absorbed sublingual form.
Are There Hidden Ingredients?
Rugiet sublingual tablets are bright blue, as shown above, and the brand describes them as mint-chocolate-flavored.
To our knowledge, none of the active ingredients in this medication are blue, and none of them have a natural mint flavor.
As shown above, Rugiet's FAQ page claims that the brand engages in "flavor-masking" -- but what does this process actually entail, and what ingredients or chemical compounds are used in the flavor masking process? Consumers deserve to know this information.
If Rugiet contains inactive ingredients like coloring and flavoring agents, the brand should transparently list this information on their website. Failing to do so is a consumer safety issue, as consumers may be allergic or sensitive to one of the additive ingredients, and cannot make an informed purchase decision without access to the full ingredient list.
We cannot find a full ingredients list published on Rugiet’s site including inactive ingredients.
Our Clean Men's Health Picks
Panax ginseng was shown in a clinical trial published in The Journal of Urology to increase erectile function scores were "significantly" compared to participants taking placebo pills.
Illuminate Labs sells a Panax Ginseng Extract supplement which is third-party tested, and costs only $15 on a subscription basis.
Bulletproof Magnesium is our top overall testosterone support pick, because magnesium is a mineral that is clinically shown to increase free and total testosterone in athletes and in sedentary individuals.
Bulletproof Magnesium costs under $17 at the time of updating this article.
Momentous Tongkat Ali is our top herbal testosterone support pick, and costs under $20 at the time of updating this article.
Tongkat ali's effects on testosterone were reviewed in a 2022 meta-study, and the researchers concluded that "A significant improvement in total testosterone levels after [tongkat ali] treatment was mostly reported in both healthy volunteers and hypogonadal men."
Rugiet Pros and Cons
Here are the pros and cons of Rugiet in our opinion:
Pros:
- Likely to be effective for ED
- All three active ingredients have research backing
- Discreet packaging
- May be more potent than leading ED meds
Cons:
- Prop blend doesn't appear to be clinically tested
- Lacking safety data
- Apparently unlisted flavoring and coloring ingredients
- Challenging to find unsponsored customer reviews
