- Launched in 1998, Viagra is a popular pill used to treat erectile dysfunction
- Erectile dysfunction affects 52% of men aged between 40 and 70
- Many men go online for the pills, putting them at risk of dangerous counterfeits
- They could soon be made available over the counter without a prescription
Ben Spencer
and
Joani Walsh For The Daily Mail
234
View
comments
The little blue pill could be made available without prescription in the UK for the first time. Viagra, launched in 1998, is one of the most successful drugs ever developed and is taken by millions to treat erectile dysfunction
Viagra could be made available from pharmacies without a prescription for the first time, officials are to announce today.
Medical regulators will begin a three-week public consultation over plans to significantly expand access to the drug.
Viagra is one of the most successful drugs ever developed, taken by millions of men since it was launched by Pfizer in 1998.
But in Britain getting access to the drug, or the many others like it now available, has only ever been possible with a prescription from a doctor.
Erectile dysfunction affects 52 per cent of men aged between 40 and 70. But experts say 70 per cent of these are too embarrassed to seek advice over the problem.
Many go online, often buying illegal or counterfeit versions from overseas, putting them at risk of taking dangerous fakes.
Officials seized more than £11million of counterfeit and unlicensed erectile dysfunction treatments last year in Britain. More than 90 per cent of all illegal unlicensed medications seized in Britain last year were for erectile problems.
¿Small egg and tomato omelette for the WEIRD FREAK¿: Father…
EXCLUSIVE: British public school graduate ¿was choked to…
The Department of Health and the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency last night confirmed a consultation proposing a relaxation of the rules, to last until April 18. An MHRA spokesman said: ‘We have analysed the scientific evidence on safety and sought advice from the Commission on Human Medicines.’ If the public response is positive, this will mean men will no longer need a GP’s prescription to take the drug. The new rules will limit sales to pharmacies, meaning men will be questioned about their health before they are sold the pills.
Many man source Viagra online leaving themselves open to the risk of illegal or dangerous counterfeit pills
Sales are also to be limited to a box of eight 50mg pills of sildenafil, the generic name of Viagra. Such a pack currently costs the NHS £2.09, but the price may rise without a prescription.
The drug will also remain available on prescription, if a doctor decides it is needed.
But there are likely to be concerns men will be able to bulk buy packs by going from pharmacy to pharmacy, something that is not possible with a prescription.
A spokesman for the National Pharmacy Association said last night: ‘Pharmacists are capable of doing the necessary assessment for the treatment and also identifying when the situation requires a fuller investigation by a sexual health specialist.’
Pros and cons of a wonder drug
Developed as a blood pressure medication, Viagra’s ability to relax blood vessels means that it also improves blood flow to the groin.
More recent research has found it halves the risk of men with type two diabetes dying with heart problems.
A team of scientists in London is also exploring whether it may prevent the onset of vascular dementia, by improving blood flow to the brain.
But it does not work for everyone, even as an erectile drug, and comes with the risk of side-effects including headaches, nausea and loss of vision. It is particularly dangerous if a man takes more than one pill at a time, and in extreme cases can cause a heart attack.
Share or comment on this article
- Furious father films a police officer confiscating 27…
- You’ve been BUS-ted! Police catch 130 motorists in just…
- Seven-year-old boy whose dying wish was to be buried with…
- Pakistani cricketer who beat his wife with his bat,…
- SCORCHIO! Easter weekend is odds-on to be HOTTER than…
- Tennessee bank executive, his wife and their two…
- The march of the Nazi war machine: Unseen photographs -…
- Life in a Magdalene laundry: Haunting images show…
- Is this a member of Indonesia’s lost pygmy tribe?…
- EXCLUSIVE – Spring Breakers: Megyn Kelly and husband…
- Woman, 47, paid for young Mexican mother to be smuggled…
- ‘Small egg and tomato omelette for the WEIRD FREAK’:…
- Westminster killer’s MOTHER condemns her son’s murder…
- Abducted student, 15, was forced to hide from teacher,…
- Make it so! Calls for Sir Patrick Stewart to appear on…
- EXCLUSIVE: British ex-public schoolboy ‘was choked to…
- Theresa May offers NOTHING to Nicola Sturgeon in frosty…
- That’s never going to fit! Amusing video shows driver…
Comments 234
Share what you think
-
Newest -
Oldest -
Best rated -
Worst rated
The comments below have not been moderated.
The views expressed in the contents above are those of our users and do not necessarily reflect the views of MailOnline.
Close
Your comment will be posted to MailOnline as usual.
Your comment will be credited to your MailOnline persona.
Close
Your comment will be posted to MailOnline as usual
We will automatically post your comment and a link to the news story to your Facebook timeline at the same time it is posted on MailOnline. To do this we will link your MailOnline account with your Facebook account. We’ll ask you to confirm this for your first post to Facebook.
The post will be credited to your MailOnline username. You can choose on each post whether you would like it to be posted to Facebook. Your details from Facebook will be used to provide you with tailored content, marketing and ads in line with our Privacy Policy.