‘Over 60 percent men need help’ says Viagra representative

It may be surprising to know that over 60 percent of men in Trinidad and Tobago suffer from some form of erectile dysfunction...and are willing to talk about it with their doctors. This was revealed by a representative from the US based Pfizer Incorporated, makers of the drug Viagra, which made its debut some five years ago. Viagra has been described as a breakthrough oral treatment for erectile dysfunction that has been found to be effective and well tolerated in over 130 completed and ongoing clinical studies and has been approved by regulatory authorities in over 120 countries around the world, including Trinidad and Tobago. “Obviously the problem of erectile dysfunction (or ED) is bigger than people first thought,” said the Pfizer rep. “Based on surveys done in doctors offices in TT over the period 2001-2002, we found that most diabetic and hypertensive men were suffering from ED, but they are becoming more comfortable talking about the problem and seeking a solution. However, most didn’t know that they had a health problem to begin with, believing that it was mostly ‘mind over matter’.”

Prior to this TT preliminary study, a US survey (the Massachusetts Male Aging Study) assessed a group of men between the ages of 40-70 and found that 52 percent had some degree of ED. Therefore it stands to reason that our 60 percent tally shouldn’t come as a surprise... or should it? If we were to base these findings on lifestyle problems (such as smoking, excessive alcohol consumption and stress) it would be found that these can also contribute to ED, but according to a study conducted by the New England Journal of Medicine, an average of one in seven men that were being treated for hypertension had it. Every three out of four diabetics suffers from ED, which can range from mild to severe in some instances. Also, men who were being treated for depression faced a double whammy, in that the very medication they take can bring about some form of the disease. “Let’s say we have a healthy 40-year-old man who becomes depressed, for example,” the Pfizer representative explained. “He will be put on a prescription for antidepressants, a few of which have the side effect of lowering the libido, and a doctor may prescribe Viagra to help him. Facts show that over nine out of ten men with depression can have ED. Then we have the case of another 40-year-old man who is hypertensive, taking his medication for that problem and is perfectly fine, but may have problems performing, because of the drugs.”

What is unclear is whether the drug Viagra is being abused in Trinidad and Tobago (due to the high figures of ED sufferers), as it can only be procured with a prescription. At $60 a pill (50mg and 100mg dosages) it’s possible that a few already healthy males may be getting some “under the counter” as it were. No figures were available to show just how much is spent on Viagra in this country. “The drug has been on the market now for about four or five years and we can only gauge by prescriptions just how sales are going. Remember, sexual performance is still a bit of a taboo subject with some men, although that is changing, albeit slowly. We’re seeing some progress with the awareness that ED is a real problem and not mind over matter. However we do need to make it very clear that Viagra is not an aphrodisiac. Viagra is a prescription medication indicated for the treatment of ED, and is only available from health care providers. Contrary to what they may believe, Viagra will do nothing for a healthy man physically... they will just have parted with 60 hard earned dollars. If they find an improvement, it means that there was a problem already there that needed fixing.” Rumored reports that Viagra will induce heart attacks were put to rest by the Pfizer rep, who stated that the drug will not induce a heart attack, but the danger lies in the exertion from the sexual act itself. All heart patients that use some form of nitrate drugs used to control chest pain (also known as angina), must not take Viagra. “This combination could cause the blood pressure to drop to an unsafe or life-threatening level,” said the Pfizer representative. “We cannot stress enough that a doctor has to recommend this drug, so be sure to ask your doctor if your heart is healthy enough for sexual activity.”