Singpore: Viagra may soon be sold here
The Straits Times
SEP 21 1998
Guidelines on the anti-impotence drug's use have been sent to
the Health Ministry and, if approved, the pill will be sold under
prescription
By EVELYN YAP
SUGGESTED guidelines on the use of Viagra have been sent to the
Health Ministry and, if approved, the anti-impotence drug is expected
to go on sale here before year's end. The Straits Times understands that
the pill will cost about the same here as in the United States, where it is
made. The Pfizer-made drug costs about US$10 (S$17) in the US.
The Singapore Urological Association's honorary secretary, Associate
Professor Kesavan Esuvaranathan, said it has submitted its proposals.
The consultant urologist at the National University Hospital added that
the little blue pill will be available only by prescription.
He said: "You cannot buy it over the counter; neither should you
receive it for free from friends."
This is because a careful evaluation of a man's impotence needs to be
made before he uses the drug, he said.
This evaluation process, and the steps doctors should take in examining
a man before prescribing Viagra are among the topics in the
association's proposals to the government.
Included, too, are the precautions and risks that come with Viagra's
usage. For instance, patients with heart disease and are on nitrates used
for chest pains should not take Viagra.
This is because a combination of the two drugs can cause a big drop in
blood pressure or "shock".
In the United States, 69 men died after taking Viagra, nearly all of them
with heart diseases.
Prof Kesavan was one of a panel of four doctors at a public talk on
erectile dysfunction or impotence at Suntec City yesterday. The talk,
which was the first to release information on Viagra to the public, also
covered the causes of impotence.
A total of 500 people paid $2 each to attend the hour-long talk in
English. A talk held concurrently in Chinese drew another 300.
Three-quarters of those who attended were men in their 40s and 50s.
Many were on their own, several came with friends and a handful with
their spouses.
While most appeared fit, showing off firm if somewhat paunchy torsos
in fitting T-shirts and jeans, there were several balding men and
grey-haired senior citizens. During the talk, they were seen craning their
necks to get a better glimpse of slides on how the penis functioned and
how blood supply engorged the area to cause an erection.
The organisers, knowing they would not rise to ask questions, allowed
questions to be handed up on slips of paper.
At least 40 questions were asked and two key concerns were if
masturbation caused impotence and whether premature ejaculation
meant erectile dysfunction.
No, doctors said, masturbation was an "expression of unsatisfied
physical desire".
And early ejaculation can be helped by withdrawing and squeezing the
head of the penis for half a minute just before ejaculation, or wearing a
condom, or applying an anaesthetic jelly.
VIAGRA: What guidelines cover
THE evaluation process and the steps doctors should take in
examining a man before prescribing Viagra.
The precautions and risks that come with Viagra usage. |
