Men in the UK will soon be able to buy Viagra over the counter for the first time after the erectile dysfunction drug was reclassified.
Those aged 18 and over will no longer need to see a GP for a prescription after the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) announced that it is changing the status of Viagra Connect tablets so they can be sold in pharmacies following a conversation with a pharmacist.
US pharmaceutical company Pfizer said it is working on plans to launch the non-prescription version of the medicine in the UK in the spring of 2018. A four-pack of the sildenafil tablets will cost around £19.99 and an eight-pack £34.99. Men who buy it will be advised that they can take a 50 mg tablet an hour before having sex, but should not use more than one pill a day. Sildenafil is already available on NHS prescription free of charge.
The decision to reclassify the drug follows a public consultation, the MHRA said. Pharmacists will be able to determine whether treatment is appropriate for the patient and can give advice on erectile dysfunction, usage of the medicine, potential side effects and assess if further consultation with a general practitioner is required.
“The move to make Viagra Connect more widely accessible will encourage men to seek help within the healthcare system and increase awareness of erectile dysfunction.”
Mick Foy, Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency
But some men, including those with severe heart problems, those at high risk of heart problems, liver failure, kidney failure or those taking certain “interacting medicines”, will still need to be prescribed the drug under the supervision of a doctor.
It is hoped that making the drug more widely available will mean than men who may have not previously sought help will be more likely to do so. Health officials also hope the move will also help steer people away from buying drugs websites operating illegally.
The MHRA said that erectile dysfunction medicines are a “popular target” for criminals selling unlicensed and counterfeit medicines, over the past five years the Agency has seized more than £50m of unlicensed and counterfeit erectile dysfunction medicines.
“This decision is good news for men’s health,” said Mick Foy, MHRA’s group manager in vigilance and risk management of medicines. “The move to make Viagra Connect more widely accessible will encourage men to seek help within the healthcare system and increase awareness of erectile dysfunction.
“Erectile dysfunction can be a debilitating condition, so it’s important men feel they have fast access to quality and legitimate care, and do not feel they need to turn to counterfeit online supplies which could have potentially serious side effects.”
Dr Berkeley Phillips, UK medical director at Pfizer, said: “The availability of Viagra Connect in pharmacies from next year will offer men who are eligible for the product a new and convenient way to access sildenafil, a commonly prescribed treatment for erectile dysfunction.
“We understand some men may avoid seeking support and treatment for this condition, so we believe giving them the option to talk to a pharmacist and buy Viagra Connect could be a real step forward in encouraging more men into the healthcare system.
“As erectile dysfunction may be a sign of an underlying condition such as diabetes, high blood pressure, or heart disease, there could also be a wider benefit to public health in the long term. We hope that this forthcoming new opportunity to purchase a genuine treatment via pharmacy will also reduce the likelihood of men turning to potentially ineffective and dangerous counterfeits from illicit sources.”
Viagra Connect is now safe, but funding is not availableDr Berkeley Phillips, UK medical director at Pfizer, said Viagra Connect was an “all- purpose solution to increasing access to controlled substances used by millions of men’s health professionals”. The popular erectile dysfunction drug is a "popular target” and is being offered to the public as a "popular service member health supplement”, and a “popular service member diet”, because it contains “medicinal ingredients that can be dangerous to use”, and are “all designed to help men achieve and maintain erections".
Sildenafil citrate, commonly known by the brand name, is a prescription-only medicine used to treat erectile dysfunction (ED) in adult men. It works by improving blood flow to the penis, helping to achieve and maintain an erection during sexual activity.
Sildenafil is available in 25mg, 50mg, and 100mg strengths.
Sildenafil has been shown to be effective in up to 80% of men with ED, with effects typically noticeable within 30 to 60 minutes, and lasting for up to 4–5 hours.
Common side effects include:
Less common but serious effects include visual disturbances, hearing changes, or prolonged erections. Seek medical attention if severe or persistent side effects occur.
Sildenafil should not be used by those:
Inform your doctor of all medications and supplements before use. Interactions may occur with:
Avoid excessive alcohol while taking sildenafil, as it can lower blood pressure and increase side effect risk. Use with caution if you have any heart-related conditions.
Sildenafil is available by prescription only in the UK.
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Product descriptionThis medicinal product contains sildenafil citrate, a prescription-only medication for the treatment of erectile dysfunction (ED) in men. Sildenafil citrate works by enhancing blood flow to the penis, helping to achieve and maintain an erection during sexual activity. It is available in 25mg, 50mg, and 100mg strengths.
CautionsAll men who have been advised to seek medical attention should caution their healthcare provider about taking this medicine, as it may increase the risk of side effects. Sildenafil has been shown to be effective in up to 80% of men with ED, with effects typically noticeable for up to 4–5 hours.
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Background
The use of sildenafil, the active component in Viagra, was studied to test whether the drug was associated with a reduced risk of cardiovascular disease. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of sildenafil citrate on cardiovascular events.
Method
This was a prospective, observational study of 3200 men who used sildenafil citrate at the time of diagnosis of coronary heart disease. The study included 725 patients who underwent coronary artery bypass grafting or coronary artery revascularization and were followed up for a mean duration of 4.7 years. The risk of cardiovascular events was calculated from the Framingham risk score. The primary outcome was the composite of all-cause, heart failure, stroke, MI, stroke-related death, cardiovascular death, and myocardial infarction. The secondary outcomes were the occurrence of all-cause, heart failure, stroke, MI, stroke-related death, and cardiovascular death. Results: The incidence of cardiovascular events was significantly reduced in patients receiving sildenafil citrate compared with the group receiving placebo (1.0% vs. 0.6%; P <.0001), but the risk was not reduced in patients with a history of MI or stroke, compared with the group receiving placebo (0.6% vs. 0.3%; P =.33). The risk of cardiovascular events was significantly reduced in patients with a history of MI or stroke, and the risk was significantly reduced in patients with a history of MI or stroke (P <.001). The number of patients with all-cause, heart failure, stroke, MI, stroke-related death, and cardiovascular death was significantly reduced. In conclusion, sildenafil citrate should be used as a first-line agent in patients with coronary artery bypass grafting and coronary artery revascularization, especially in patients who are at increased risk of developing cardiovascular events.
Conclusion
The safety of sildenafil citrate was evaluated in a prospective, observational study, and showed that sildenafil citrate was associated with reduced incidence of cardiovascular events (odds ratio 0.45; 95% confidence interval 0.33–0.64; P <.0001), but the risk of cardiovascular death was not reduced. Our results suggest that sildenafil citrate may be a useful adjunct to angina treatment for patients with coronary artery bypass grafting, although its benefits are modest. The use of sildenafil citrate as a first-line agent is contraindicated in patients with a history of MI, stroke, or other cardiovascular disease.
Key words
sildenafil citrate, angina
Introduction
The use of sildenafil citrate has been investigated as a possible risk factor for the development of cardiovascular events. Although the mechanisms by which sildenafil citrate promotes cardiovascular disease are not fully understood, it has been hypothesized that this drug may have a protective effect on the cardiovascular system. The use of sildenafil citrate for the treatment of cardiovascular disease was investigated in a study in 1053 patients who received sildenafil citrate at the time of diagnosis of coronary heart disease. Sildenafil citrate was found to have a lower incidence of coronary events in patients treated with sildenafil citrate compared with patients treated with placebo (0.36% vs. 0.33%, P <.001). A similar study showed that sildenafil citrate was associated with a lower risk of MI, stroke, and death compared with placebo (1.05% vs. 0.94%, P <.001), but the risk of all-cause, heart failure, stroke, MI, stroke-related death, and cardiovascular death was reduced. The use of sildenafil citrate as a first-line agent in patients with coronary artery bypass grafting and coronary artery revascularization is contraindicated in patients with a history of MI, stroke, or other cardiovascular disease.
As mentioned above, the risk of cardiovascular events increases in patients receiving sildenafil citrate. The use of sildenafil citrate may be associated with reduced rates of cardiovascular death, although the causal relationship has not been established. The use of sildenafil citrate may also have an effect on cardiovascular safety, but the clinical effect of sildenafil citrate is uncertain.
When I was younger, I would always buy Viagra on the street or at the grocery store or in a pharmacy in person. I had a lot of questions about the drug. But, I wanted to make an educated decision about whether or not I should take it. My doctor, a pharmacist, and I had a lot of questions about Viagra.
I knew that this drug could affect my sexual desire. This was the only drug I had ever tried to understand. When I started taking it, it made me feel so much more relaxed. It took about a month of taking it to get what I needed. It took me a few months to see the effect of the drug. The last time I took it, I had a hard time controlling my sexual desire. I didn’t like how I felt about the drug. I didn’t like what I had seen. But, it was enough to help me get back on track with it. I could not stop taking it.
So, I decided to give Viagra a try. I started by taking the drug at the same time every day for about four weeks. I felt like a normal person. I felt great, but I did not feel good. I felt like I was not that good at all.
The first week was a bit of a relief. I did not feel great. I could not control the erection that I had. I felt that I had lost my sex drive. The only way to really feel good was to take Viagra. I did not like to take it, but I had to try. I felt very tired. I also did not like the taste of it. I felt that I was not good at all. I couldn’t control how I felt and didn’t want to be anything more.
The second week was another relief. I felt great. I had no sex drive. I couldn’t control the erection that I had. I felt like I had gone completely crazy. I also had no interest in sex.
I decided to start taking the drug again. It took about a month to feel better. I felt great and I did not have the desire to have sex. I had to try. I felt like I was not bad at all. I didn’t like the taste of it.
I decided to give Viagra a try again. I started taking it again about four weeks later.
I felt that I had gone completely crazy. I felt that I had not been good at all.
I also had to try.
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