The drug Sildenafil, most commonly known as Viagra, was first approved for use in Australia in 1998. Viagra was originally developed in 1989 to treat high blood pressure but clinical trials for this purpose were not promising due to some patients having adverse side effects and the fact that the reduction in high blood pressure could take several days to occur. However, many of the male patients also noted that one of the side effects was a delayed erection and the drug was marketed toward sexual deficiency in men.
Viagra price
In Australia Viagra is highly subsidized by the government with pills costing about $1.50 AUD for the user and $13.50 – $18.50 AUD per pill for the government. Viagra comes in doses of 25, 50, and 100 milligrams in a pack of four and can only be purchased legally with a doctor’s prescription although there are numerous other avenues to procure the drug from online sources, many of which are Generic.
Side effects
About 10 percent of individuals who use Viagra will experience some type of negative side effects including diarrhea, rashes, and urinary tract infections. Other side effects can include blurry vision and sensitivity to light, but this is more rare. When used as a treatment for erectile dysfunction, Viagra is recommended to be taken 30 minutes to an hour prior to intended sexual intercourse.
Viagra recreational use
There is a trend in Australian youth culture to use Viagra as a recreational drug in order to “last longer” and “perform better” in a society that is increasingly more and more sex obsessed. Many of the recreational users of Viagra do not have a prescription for the drug and are purchasing the pills from pharmacies in India and other less regulated sources abroad. One interviewee stated that there is increased pressure to perform from social media, television, and pornography to the point that many Australian men feel inadequate about themselves or worry excessively about how they will perform when the time comes. This pressure to have high sexual performance also has some men stating that they have “self-induced” erectile dysfunction due to the mental pressure and potential anxiety of performing in bed and feel the need to pop a pill (Viagra) in order to calm their nerves and guarantee erectile performance. There is concern in medical communities that these men will become dependent on these sexual performance-enhancing drugs to the point that they may need them to perform in the future. With this increasing pressure to perform and corresponding dependence on Viagra and drugs like it, there are additional concerns that more counterfeit drugs will hit the market with questionable ingredients and quality control.
Viagra is currently estimated to be a $3.4 Billion USD market worldwide by the year 2019 and the demand for the drug is increasing every year. Viagra is not going away anytime soon due to the current social pressures put on young men and the large market and ease of accessibility to online pharmacies willing to offer the drug at discounted prices with little to no regulation.
I am self employed. General Practitioner in Melbourne, VIC. My special interest: male reproductive system.