The invention of Viagra in the 1990s brought waves of joy to many people. Some of them were cartoonists and comedians, but for the most part, it was men whose erectile dysfunction (ED) problems appeared to be over.
Of course, it wasn’t quite that simple, not least because ED can be a symptom of wider medical problems. It is associated with, among other conditions, obesity, diabetes, heart disease, high blood pressure, raised cholesterol, or psychological issues such as depression. Some research has strongly indicated it can also be a consequence of Long Covid.
What that means is that if you suffer from ED symptoms, it is extremely unwise to try to solve the issue simply by ordering private supplies of sildenafil or any other ED medication. Instead, you should be coming to the pharmacy to pick up an erectile dysfunction prescription only if and when your GP has agreed this is the best approach.
The fact that your condition could be a symptom of something else that urgently needs addressing is not the only major medical reason not to go down this road. Taking ED drugs without a prescription can also mean you suffer unanticipated side effects that can damage your health in other ways.
A recent report in the London Evening Standard showed the kind of unexpected problem that can occur when ED drugs are acquired from unofficial and unregulated sources. It covered the case of a raid on a shop in the Southall area of west London, where sildenafil, the active ingredient in Viagra, was among the haul of illicit items recovered.
The fact that such illegal suppliers exist might tempt some people to get their ‘supplies’ in this fashion, one reason being that they can be acquired without the embarrassment some might feel of going to their GP or picking them up over the counter at the pharmacy, as well as doubts over whether they might be prescribed them in the first place.
A good reason for not prescribing such drugs in some cases is that a patient does not relay need them. This is particularly true if they are trying to compensate for issues like excess alcohol consumption, which can curb erections.
In the US, the recreational misuse of erectile dysfunction drugs is rife and Cleveland Clinic urologist Raevti Bole told the New York Post that recreational use is a very bad idea, as they can be addictive. Moreover, he noted, that some users are not taking them for sexual performance reasons at all, but in the belief they can enhance athletic performance.
“For people who are healthy, there’s no good evidence that the medications significantly improve athletic abilities in a standard, sea-level environment,” he cautioned.
Part of the problem, Dr Bole explained, is that ED drugs are PDE5 inhibitors that lower blood pressure. If these are being taken at the same time as other drugs that also lower blood pressure, the combined effect can be extremely dangerous.
As the Southall incident shows, the problems Dr Bole described are not just confined to the US. If you have ED symptoms, it is vital to see your GP to make sure it is safe to take them alongside any other medication you have, as well as getting checked for any other associated medical issues that might need major interventions.