We went through the side effects reported in the ProSolution Plus trial, then checked each of its seven botanicals against published safety information.
In its one published trial, ProSolution Plus caused mostly mild side effects, mainly stomach upset, acidity and gas, at about the same rate as placebo. The bigger concerns come from its ingredients: ashwagandha can interact with thyroid, diabetes, blood pressure and sedative medicines and has been linked to rare liver injury, and Mucuna pruriens contains L-dopa, which matters if you take Parkinson's medicines or MAO inhibitors. Check with your doctor first if you take any prescription medicine. ProSolution Plus is not a treatment for premature ejaculation or erectile dysfunction; see a doctor about persistent symptoms.
ProSolution Plus is sold by Leading Edge Health, the company behind VigRX Plus, and is marketed mainly for ejaculation control. The official site lists seven ingredients:
The site does not list amounts on its formula page or give directions on its FAQ page, so read the Supplement Facts panel on your bottle. That is the list to show your doctor or pharmacist. The FAQ says "most men find the ProSolution Plus formula is remarkably well-tolerated" and suggests speaking with your doctor if you are concerned about interactions with existing prescriptions. That second piece of advice is worth taking seriously.
The formula behind ProSolution Plus was tested in a 2011 trial published in the American Journal of Therapeutics. The paper calls it E-MA-H, and its seven herbal extracts match the seven ingredients on the ProSolution Plus site. In the study, 148 men aged 21 to 60 were randomized to placebo, a low dose, a higher dose, or a version with two extra herbs, for 60 days. Results on effectiveness are covered in our breakdown of the ProSolution Plus clinical study.
On safety, the authors reported no serious adverse events and said side effects occurred at similar rates in all groups. There were 80 adverse events in total: 24 in the placebo group and 17, 20 and 19 in the three active groups.
| Type of side effect | Placebo | Low dose | Higher dose | E-MA-HP version |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stomach and digestive (acidity, gas, upset stomach, constipation and similar) | 12 | 8 | 8 | 7 |
| Respiratory (colds, cough, sore throat and similar) | 5 | 2 | 4 | 4 |
| Skin (skin reactions, one case of shingles) | 1 | 3 | 1 | 0 |
| Other | 6 | 4 | 7 | 8 |
The paper also says headache and heartburn occurred in about 2% of participants, and that no flushing or dizziness was reported.
Blood tests were taken at the start and end. A few values shifted in the active groups: hemoglobin fell in the higher-dose group, red blood cell counts fell in both E-MA-H dose groups, and a marker of inflammation (ESR) rose in two active groups. Testosterone levels also dropped in all groups, including placebo. The authors judged none of these changes clinically significant, and with trials this small that is hard to confirm or rule out.
| Ingredient | Reported side effects | Main caution |
|---|---|---|
| Ashwagandha | Drowsiness, stomach upset, diarrhea, vomiting | Rare liver injury; interacts with several medicine types |
| Mucuna pruriens | Little product-specific data | Contains L-dopa, the same compound used in Parkinson's medicine |
| Tribulus terrestris | Mild stomach discomfort, nausea | Rare liver and kidney reports, mostly at high doses |
| Shilajit, Asparagus adscendens, Asteracantha, Curculigo | Little human safety data | "No known side effects" mostly means "not well studied" |
The National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH) says ashwagandha may be safe for up to three months, but long-term safety is unknown. Possible side effects include drowsiness, stomach upset, diarrhea and vomiting. NCCIH also notes rare cases of liver injury linked to ashwagandha supplements.
NCCIH lists possible interactions with diabetes and blood pressure medicines, immunosuppressants, sedatives, anti-seizure medicines and thyroid hormone. It says ashwagandha is not recommended for people about to have surgery or with autoimmune or thyroid disorders. Because it may raise testosterone, NCCIH says people with hormone-sensitive prostate cancer should avoid it.
The ProSolution Plus formula page itself describes Mucuna as a legume containing L-dopa, a dopamine precursor. L-dopa is the active drug in Parkinson's medicines like carbidopa-levodopa, and MedlinePlus lists MAO inhibitors such as phenelzine, selegiline and tranylcypromine among the medicines to flag with it. We do not know how much L-dopa a daily dose of ProSolution Plus provides, but if you take Parkinson's medicine, an MAO inhibitor or medicines that affect dopamine, do not start this product without your doctor's approval.
The NIH's LiverTox database describes Tribulus as generally well tolerated, with possible mild stomach discomfort, nausea or indigestion. Liver injury in humans has not been convincingly shown, but there are a few case reports of liver and kidney problems in young men taking high doses. LiverTox advises treating high doses as potentially harmful in people with existing liver disease.
Asphaltum (shilajit), Asparagus adscendens, Asteracantha longifolia and Curculigo orchioides are traditional Ayurvedic ingredients with little published human safety data outside the ProSolution Plus trial itself. That does not mean they are harmful. It means there is not much to go on.
ProSolution Plus is made for men, but if a partner who is pregnant or breastfeeding is curious about it, NCCIH advises avoiding ashwagandha in pregnancy and while breastfeeding.
It is also worth knowing the alternatives. For premature ejaculation, Mayo Clinic lists behavioral techniques, pelvic floor exercises, numbing creams or sprays, counseling and certain prescription medicines. A doctor can help you weigh those against a supplement, and can check for erection problems, which sometimes come along with premature ejaculation and can be an early sign of heart or blood vessel disease.
If you are deciding between this and Leading Edge Health's erection-focused product, our VigRX Plus vs ProSolution Plus comparison explains how the two differ.
ProSolution Plus appeared well tolerated in its one 60-day trial, with mostly mild stomach complaints at about the same rate as placebo. But that trial was short, run by the formula's developer, and excluded men with major health problems. The ingredients carry real interaction concerns, especially ashwagandha with thyroid, diabetes, blood pressure and sedative medicines, and Mucuna's L-dopa with Parkinson's medicines and MAO inhibitors. It is a dietary supplement, not a treatment for premature ejaculation or ED. If you take prescription medicine or have a chronic condition, talk to your doctor before trying it.