http://www.asiaone.com/Health/Men%27s+Matters/Story/A1Story20090713-154522.html
Tue, Jul 14, 2009
The Straits Times
Sex pills: Can they become addictive?
Young, virile men are popping pills meant for people with erectile dysfunction (ED).
'You know it helps, so whenever you need it, you just pop one in.'
Claiming that the tablets give them a 'kick' out of sex, they disregard warnings by doctors that such a habit can be psychologically addictive.
John (not his real name), for example, took Viagra 'out of curiosity' and found he liked the more satisfying sex it seemed to give him. 'I lied that I had anxiety issues to get my GP to prescribe Viagra. It was easy,' said the 28-year-old bachelor.
The Sunday Times spoke to eight doctors and found that younger men like John are asking for these pills even when they do not need them.
The three oral drugs approved in Singapore for the treatment of erectile dysfunction or impotence are Viagra, Cialis and Levitra. They are not meant for sex enhancement or to act as an aphrodisiac.
Related:
» Pill popping for pleasure
A big reason Viagra - the little blue pill launched in 1998 - and the other two brands that followed became best-sellers is that ED affects many men.
Dr Gan Tek Kah from Singapore Men's Health Clinic said: 'Statistics show that 50 per cent of men above 50 will have some form of ED, from mild to moderate to severe.'
Since 1998, Pfizer has sold an estimated 1.8 billion of its Viagra pills to 35 million men worldwide. More than 3.5 million pills have been sold here so far.
Levitral's manufacturer Bayer declined to reveal figures but said sales in Singapore had 'increased over the years since its launch in 2003'.
Cialis' spokesman could not be reached for comment. The drug was launched in 2003.
Doctors say the drugs benefit men with certain medication conditions. They also help men who, as they age, find their lowered level of testosterone driving down their sexual drive or libido.
Mr T.K Lim, 59, for example, found that his diabetes kept him from achieving an erection. So he went to a doctor.
'Viagra saved my life,' said the married clerk, who had first tried herbal concoctions. 'It was the only thing that worked.'
Dr Gan said he has seen a 30 per cent increase in prescription of these pills at his clinic, compared to five years ago.
Professor Peter Lim, senior consultant urologist and president of the Society for Men's Health Singapore, said there has been a 400 per cent to 500 per cent hike in demand, compared to the late 1990s.
Prof Lim said he even sees more patients aged 80 or older coming forward.
The doctors contacted also said more young men with anxiety issues or stress are turning to these pills. Dr Michael Wong, a senior consultant urologist, said: 'A big group is newly-weds who can't perform because expectations are too high.'
Then there are the 'young studs' who want enhanced sexual pleasure. They see Viagra and the other brands as sex pills.
Will such regular pill-popping give rise to addiction?
Doctors said the three prescription brands are not known to be physically addictive.
But they added that the issue of 'psychological addiction' can arise.
'People could strongly associate the medication with sexual pleasure,' said psychiatrist and sex therapist Calvin Fones. 'There might be an exaggerated reliance on them and the users feel they cannot do without them.'
These people, Dr Fones said, 'give the tablets too much credit' and pop them each time they engage in sex.
Sex addicts, usually men, use sex as a form of release from stress and self-esteem issues at work and in their marriage. 'A number of these sex addicts use the pills to keep going,' said Dr Wang.
Prof Lim said those addicted to such pills tend to be younger men who want to enhance their staying power so they can have many sex sessions a night.
'They want to keep doing it and could well use a higher dosage each time,' he said. 'This is psychological addiction.'
The doctors felt that such pills should be prescribed only to men with ED issues. But these pills may be easy to come by, as John found.
Also, many of those with addiction issues tend to get their supply online, over the counter overseas or in Desker Road and Geylang.
But over the past 17 months, 10 Singaporeans have died from taking illegal, often fake, sex pills.
The doctors said abuse of ED drugs could lead to men paying for commercial sex and thus exposing themselves to HIV risks through sex with multiple partners.
The drugs may also cause marital woes resulting from men's infidelity and tension between couples as a result of a change in sexual habits and patterns.
'A lot of the time, sexual response has to do with self-confidence and psychological issues,' said Dr Fones. 'Men who enhance their confidence instead will be surprised to find they can have satisfying and enjoyable sex without the pills,' he added.
This article was first published in The Straits Times.
Tue, Jul 14, 2009
The Straits Times
Sex pills: Can they become addictive?
Young, virile men are popping pills meant for people with erectile dysfunction (ED).
'You know it helps, so whenever you need it, you just pop one in.'
Claiming that the tablets give them a 'kick' out of sex, they disregard warnings by doctors that such a habit can be psychologically addictive.
John (not his real name), for example, took Viagra 'out of curiosity' and found he liked the more satisfying sex it seemed to give him. 'I lied that I had anxiety issues to get my GP to prescribe Viagra. It was easy,' said the 28-year-old bachelor.
The Sunday Times spoke to eight doctors and found that younger men like John are asking for these pills even when they do not need them.
The three oral drugs approved in Singapore for the treatment of erectile dysfunction or impotence are Viagra, Cialis and Levitra. They are not meant for sex enhancement or to act as an aphrodisiac.
Related:
» Pill popping for pleasure
A big reason Viagra - the little blue pill launched in 1998 - and the other two brands that followed became best-sellers is that ED affects many men.
Dr Gan Tek Kah from Singapore Men's Health Clinic said: 'Statistics show that 50 per cent of men above 50 will have some form of ED, from mild to moderate to severe.'
Since 1998, Pfizer has sold an estimated 1.8 billion of its Viagra pills to 35 million men worldwide. More than 3.5 million pills have been sold here so far.
Levitral's manufacturer Bayer declined to reveal figures but said sales in Singapore had 'increased over the years since its launch in 2003'.
Cialis' spokesman could not be reached for comment. The drug was launched in 2003.
Doctors say the drugs benefit men with certain medication conditions. They also help men who, as they age, find their lowered level of testosterone driving down their sexual drive or libido.
Mr T.K Lim, 59, for example, found that his diabetes kept him from achieving an erection. So he went to a doctor.
'Viagra saved my life,' said the married clerk, who had first tried herbal concoctions. 'It was the only thing that worked.'
Dr Gan said he has seen a 30 per cent increase in prescription of these pills at his clinic, compared to five years ago.
Professor Peter Lim, senior consultant urologist and president of the Society for Men's Health Singapore, said there has been a 400 per cent to 500 per cent hike in demand, compared to the late 1990s.
Prof Lim said he even sees more patients aged 80 or older coming forward.
The doctors contacted also said more young men with anxiety issues or stress are turning to these pills. Dr Michael Wong, a senior consultant urologist, said: 'A big group is newly-weds who can't perform because expectations are too high.'
Then there are the 'young studs' who want enhanced sexual pleasure. They see Viagra and the other brands as sex pills.
Will such regular pill-popping give rise to addiction?
Doctors said the three prescription brands are not known to be physically addictive.
But they added that the issue of 'psychological addiction' can arise.
'People could strongly associate the medication with sexual pleasure,' said psychiatrist and sex therapist Calvin Fones. 'There might be an exaggerated reliance on them and the users feel they cannot do without them.'
These people, Dr Fones said, 'give the tablets too much credit' and pop them each time they engage in sex.
Sex addicts, usually men, use sex as a form of release from stress and self-esteem issues at work and in their marriage. 'A number of these sex addicts use the pills to keep going,' said Dr Wang.
Prof Lim said those addicted to such pills tend to be younger men who want to enhance their staying power so they can have many sex sessions a night.
'They want to keep doing it and could well use a higher dosage each time,' he said. 'This is psychological addiction.'
The doctors felt that such pills should be prescribed only to men with ED issues. But these pills may be easy to come by, as John found.
Also, many of those with addiction issues tend to get their supply online, over the counter overseas or in Desker Road and Geylang.
But over the past 17 months, 10 Singaporeans have died from taking illegal, often fake, sex pills.
The doctors said abuse of ED drugs could lead to men paying for commercial sex and thus exposing themselves to HIV risks through sex with multiple partners.
The drugs may also cause marital woes resulting from men's infidelity and tension between couples as a result of a change in sexual habits and patterns.
'A lot of the time, sexual response has to do with self-confidence and psychological issues,' said Dr Fones. 'Men who enhance their confidence instead will be surprised to find they can have satisfying and enjoyable sex without the pills,' he added.
This article was first published in The Straits Times.
