• Home
• Defective Drug Index
• About A Drug Recall
• Contact A Defective Drug Lawyer

We Can Help.

UK Denies OTC Viagra

-November 20, 2008 

Recent bids for making Viagra available over-the-counter (OTC) in England have been withdrawn due to concerns that lack of doctor supervision could lead to health problems among patients.

Pfizer, the pharmaceutical manufacturer that makes Viagra, had been trying since February 2008 to get the 50mg dose of Viagra pills approved for OTC sale in England.

However, objections raised by a drug regulatory committee working for the European Medicines Agency (the European equivalent of the FDA) have caused Pfizer to withdraw its application for OTC Viagra. The committee is concerned that side effects of Viagra (including heart disease) will skyrocket, as lack of doctor supervision will lead to abuse of this medication.

Viagra: Facts and Figures

Viagra, generically known as sildenafil citrate, is among the leading anti-impotence medications in the world. Since it was first introduced in 1998, Viagra has become the main medication prescribed to treat erectile dysfunction. To date, experts estimate that approximately 35 million men worldwide have used Viagra.

Other medications used to treat erectile dysfunction including Cialis (produced by the ICOS Corp.) and Levitra (made by Bayer Pharmaceuticals).

Benefits of Making Viagra Available without a Prescription

Although making Viagra available over-the-counter would increase Pfizer's sales of the drug, there are also some consumer-related benefits that would come with this increased accessibility.

Some of these benefits include:

• Minimizing patients' embarrassment, as men would not have to talk to their doctors about the potentially humiliating details of their erectile dysfunction

• Preventing use of counterfeit Viagra pills (Some men will risk taking fake Viagra pills purchased online to avoid a possibly embarrassing trip to their doctors. This practice is extremely risky, as counterfeit anti-impotency pills can contain harmful ingredients – such as rat poison.)

Disadvantages of OTC Viagra

While there are valid reasons to make Viagra available without a prescription, the overall risks (in the eyes of the European Medicines Agency) outweigh the benefits.

Of primary concern is the fact that unmonitored use of Viagra will lead to an increased incidence of associated side effects, which include:

• stroke
• arrhythmias
• heart attack
• hypotension (dangerously low blood pressure)
• priapism (painful, prolonged erections)
• vision and hearing problems (that can lead to permanent loss of either)

(Source: BBC Health News)

Have you been harmed by an OTC or prescription medication? If so, contact us today to talk to an experienced professional who will provide you with the legal support you need to pursue your legal claim.

• Reglan
• Raptiva
• Yaz Birth Control
• Nuvaring
• Duragesic Patch
• Heparin