What to Do If You Have a Bad Reaction to Honey Packs
If You’re Experiencing a Bad Reaction Right Now
Call 911 or go to the ER immediately if you have chest pain or pressure, difficulty breathing, erection lasting over 4 hours, sudden vision or hearing loss, severe dizziness or fainting, allergic reaction symptoms (throat swelling, difficulty breathing), or irregular or rapid heartbeat.
Don’t wait. Don’t drive yourself if symptoms are severe.
Poison Control: 1-800-222-1222 (24/7, US)
Emergency Symptoms: When to Seek Immediate Help
Life-Threatening (Call 911)
Cardiovascular emergencies include chest pain, pressure, or tightness. Pain radiating to arm, jaw, or back. Severe shortness of breath. Feeling like you’re going to die. Rapid, irregular, or pounding heartbeat. Extreme lightheadedness or fainting. Cold sweats with chest discomfort.
These could indicate heart attack or dangerous arrhythmia.
Allergic reaction (anaphylaxis) signs include difficulty breathing or swallowing, throat tightness or swelling, severe hives or swelling (especially face, lips, tongue), rapid heart rate with swelling, feeling of impending doom, and severe dizziness with breathing problems.
This can progress quickly. Don’t wait.
Neurological symptoms: sudden severe headache (worst of your life), vision changes or loss, hearing loss or severe ringing, slurred speech, facial drooping or arm weakness (signs of stroke), seizure, confusion or altered consciousness.
Time is critical for strokes and severe reactions.
Priapism means erection lasting more than 4 hours, painful prolonged erection, or erection unrelated to sexual stimulation.
This is an emergency. Permanent damage can occur.
Urgent Care Level (Go to ER or Urgent Care)
Severe but not immediately life-threatening symptoms include severe headache (not worst ever, but bad), severe nausea and vomiting, severe dizziness that won’t resolve, visual disturbances (blue tint, light sensitivity), severe flushing and discomfort, extreme anxiety or panic, symptoms that are worsening, or multiple moderate symptoms together.
Better safe than sorry. Seek medical evaluation.
Monitor at Home (But Stay Alert)
Common mild side effects include mild headache, mild facial flushing, stuffy nose, mild indigestion, and mild muscle aches.
Monitor these, but if they worsen or persist beyond several hours, seek medical care.
What to Tell Medical Providers
Be Honest and Specific
Medical providers need to know what you took: “honey pack” or sexual enhancement supplement, brand name if you know it, how much (number of packets), when you took it (exact time if possible).
Your medications matter. ALL prescription medications you take, especially heart/blood pressure meds, over-the-counter drugs, and other supplements.
Describe your symptoms. What you’re experiencing, when symptoms started, how they’ve progressed, and severity level.
Share your health history. Heart conditions, blood pressure issues, any chronic conditions, and known allergies.
Don’t hide information due to embarrassment. They’ve seen it before and need the full picture to treat you safely.
What They Need to Know About Honey Packs
Help your providers understand that honey packs often contain undeclared sildenafil (Viagra) or tadalafil (Cialis). Dosing is unknown and variable. May contain multiple drugs. Counterfeits are common.
This helps them anticipate possible interactions, know what tests to run, understand potential complications, and provide appropriate treatment.
Critical Drug Interaction Information
If you take nitrates, tell them immediately. This is life-threatening. Nitroglycerin, isosorbide, or any nitrate medications. They cannot give you standard angina treatment if you have PDE5 inhibitors in your system.
If you take alpha-blockers for prostate (Flomax, etc.) or blood pressure, the interaction causes severe hypotension and helps explain your symptoms.
Treatment for Common Honey Pack Reactions
Priapism (Erection More Than 4 Hours)
Emergency treatment needed. Go to ER immediately. Tell them you have priapism. Mention honey pack use.
Treatment may involve draining blood from penis, medication injection, cold packs, or in severe cases, surgery.
Don’t wait. Damage can be permanent.
Don’t try home remedies. You need medical treatment.
Severe Headache
Medical evaluation may include blood pressure check, assessment for dangerous causes, pain medication, and monitoring.
If accompanied by vision changes, neurological symptoms, or it’s the worst headache ever, go to ER, not urgent care.
Cardiovascular Symptoms
If you have chest pain or severe BP changes, expect EKG/ECG, cardiac enzymes, blood pressure monitoring, and possible admission for observation.
Tell them about possible sildenafil or tadalafil. It affects treatment decisions.
Allergic Reactions
Mild to moderate reactions get antihistamines (Benadryl), monitoring, and possible corticosteroids.
Severe (anaphylaxis) requires epinephrine (EpiPen), IV fluids, hospital admission, and intensive monitoring.
Bee products (royal jelly, bee pollen) are common allergens in honey packs.
After Initial Treatment
Follow-Up Care
Even if ER visit resolves the issue, follow up with primary care doctor. Discuss what happened. Review medications and health status. Consider cardiovascular screening if appropriate.
If symptoms persist or recur, return to medical care. Don’t assume it’s just normal variation.
Reporting Adverse Events
Help protect others.
FDA MedWatch at https://www.fda.gov/safety/medwatch lets you report your adverse reaction. Include brand name and details. Anonymous reporting is available.
Poison Control will do follow-up. They track adverse events.
Your healthcare provider may file reports too.
Your report matters. It helps identify dangerous products and patterns.
What Not to Do
Don’t take more honey packs to “fix” the reaction. Don’t assume it was a one-time fluke. Don’t use honey packs again without medical clearance. Don’t hide the incident from your doctors.
Preventing Future Reactions
If You’ve Had Adverse Reaction
Strong recommendation: don’t use honey packs again.
Your reaction indicates sensitivity to ingredients (likely drugs), health conditions incompatible with use, dangerous interaction potential, and higher risk for future problems.
Safer alternatives exist: medical consultation, FDA-approved medications, and proper screening and dosing.
If You Choose to Use Despite Past Reaction
Harm reduction measures (though not recommended): see a doctor first, get cardiovascular screening, review all medications, consider prescription ED meds instead, start with much smaller amounts, never alone, have emergency plan, and know nearest ER.
Recognizing Warning Signs Early
Early intervention is key. Don’t ignore mild symptoms that worsen. Monitor yourself carefully. Have support person aware. Don’t wait for symptoms to become severe.
Special Populations
Older Adults (60+)
Higher risk for complications because you’re more likely on multiple medications. Cardiovascular conditions are more common. You metabolize drugs differently. Slower to clear drugs from system.
More likely to need medical intervention. Lower threshold for seeking help.
People with Chronic Conditions
Heart disease, diabetes, hypertension mean higher baseline risk. Interactions are more dangerous. Symptoms may be harder to distinguish from underlying condition.
Seek medical help earlier rather than later.
People on Multiple Medications
Interaction risks multiply. More medications equals more interaction potential. Unknown honey pack contents make this unpredictable. Lower threshold for medical evaluation.
Resources and Support
Emergency Services
US: 911 for life-threatening emergencies. Poison Control: 1-800-222-1222.
Other countries: use local emergency numbers and contact poison control services.
Non-Emergency Medical
Telehealth services can consult quickly. May direct you to ER if needed. Not a substitute for emergency care.
Primary care doctor provides follow-up care, health screening, and medication review.
Reporting
FDA MedWatch at https://www.fda.gov/safety/medwatch
Local health department may track adverse events.
Support and Information
Visit our Safety Hub for detailed safety information, interaction databases, emergency resources, and harm reduction guidance.
The Bottom Line
If you’re having a bad reaction to honey packs:
- Assess severity. Life-threatening symptoms equal 911.
- Seek appropriate care. ER, urgent care, or monitor at home.
- Be honest with providers. They need full information.
- Report the reaction. Helps protect others.
- Don’t use again. Reaction indicates significant risk.
- Consider safer alternatives. Medical consultation for underlying concerns.
Your health and safety are more important than embarrassment or inconvenience.
Don’t hesitate to seek help. Medical providers see these cases and want to help you, not judge you.
Related Reading:
- Honey Pack Safety Guide - Comprehensive safety information
- Honey Pack Medication Interactions - Interaction details
- Are Honey Packs Safe? - Safety overview
- Undeclared Ingredients Problem - What’s really inside
This article is for educational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. If experiencing severe symptoms, seek emergency medical care immediately. Always consult with qualified healthcare providers.