Statistics note rise in those who abuse ‘Little Blue Pill’

Published 9:56 am Wednesday, May 14, 2008

Health Watch by Steve Mullenix

The North Jefferson News



Who has not been sitting with the family watching television and one of “those” advertisements play. You know the ads I’m talking about — the ads for those little blue pills.

The number of television and printed ads for these drugs has many medical professionals concerned that one of the most commonly prescribed class of drugs has become one of the more commonly abused class of drugs. If you’re still not sure which drugs I’m talking about, they are the drugs for “ED” (erectile dysfunction): Viagra, Cialis and Levitra.

Viagra has gotten most of the press because it was the first impotence pill on the market, and was originally introduced by the former U.S. Sen. Bob Dole. The drug was originally developed as a treatment for heart disease.

During the clinical studies, the investigators discovered the sexual side effect, and quickly re-evaluated the drug’s marketing program. The drug became a smashing financial success, exceeding annual sales of over $1 billion every year since its introduction.

Since 1998, over 23 million men worldwide have had filled prescriptions for Viagra, making it one of the most successful drugs of all time.

An interesting quote I found during the research for this article was: “Viagra is to the drug world what Britney Spears is to pop music. Nobody will admit to actually being a fan, but someone is buying the CDs.”

For men, the inability to get or sustain an erection usually leads to performance anxiety and self-esteem issues. There can be any number or multiple causes of erectile dysfunction, from physical conditions such as heart disease, prostate cancer, PHP and diabetes to psychological factors such as stress, anxiety, exhaustion or depression. Even drugs prescribed to treat anxiety and depression may interfere with sexual function have some sexual side effects.

Prior to these oral medications, treatment for ED included surgical implants, penile injections and other rather uncomfortable procedures. Throughout the ages, foods such as asparagus, almonds, avocados, bananas, basic chocolate, eggs, figs and of course oysters, have all been touted as aphrodisiacs. It’s no wonder that individuals are willing to fork over the cost of more than $10 a pill that most insurance companies refuse to pay just to have a pleasurable experience.

These wonder drugs are not without their darker side. In 2000, researchers at Cedar-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles studied 1,473 major adverse medical events involving the use of one of these drugs. There were 522 deaths, most involving the cardiovascular system in men less than 65 years of age and who had not reported risk of a cardiac involvement.

In Athens, Ga., home of the University of Georgia, drug task force agents report the routine discovery of these drugs in the possession of college students, who don’t have ED or even prescriptions for the medication.

So, what’s going on here? Abuse? Absolutely.

While these drugs do have an accepted and useful place in medicine they have become more of a “lifestyle” or “recreational” drug. Many physicians may provide samples to individuals who ask, or just write the prescription because they don’t want to embarrass or make their patients uncomfortable by asking specific questions regarding the drug use.

There is another way to get the medication. How many of us have received spam e-mail offering access to these drugs via Internet pharmacies? This practice opens up a whole additional world of potential problems dealing with not only the source of the product received, but what the product actually is. One would have to wonder how a product can be purchased from overseas for $3 a tablet when in the U.S. it is over $10 from a legitimate source.

For the man who is popping these drugs recreationally, the real question is why does he needs them in the first place. Is it a problem with health, or is it a problem with a relationship? These drugs can mask an underlying medical issue, such as cardiovascular disease or sleep disorder.

An additional problem may occur when these drugs are mixed with other drugs such as cocaine, ecstacy and methamphetamine. This can inhibit an individual’s judgment to engage in risky sexual behavior. Caution should be exercised in the use of these medications. The use of these products with drugs such as nitroglycerin, a medication used in the treatment of angina, can cause a potentially life threatening drop in blood pressure.

While these drugs are effective for individuals who truly need them, they are not the best option for the individuals who just want to enhance the moment. Discuss your situation with your primary care physician.

Steve Mullenix (R.Ph) co-owns The Pharmacy in Mount Olive with his wife, Sherry Mullenix (J.D., R.N.). They can be reached at 631-1201.