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To: Anthony Wong who wrote (159)	6/2/1998 1:10:00 PM
From: Anthony Wong	Respond to of 1722

BBC - Brazilians snap up Viagra Tuesday, June 2, 1998 Published at 05:10 GMT 06:10 UK The drug has been dubbed a wonder pill by some but criticised by others Brazilian men have rushed to buy the anti-impotence drug Viagra on the first day of its official launch in the country. Supplies of the American made drug reportedly sold out within hours of going on legal sale, forcing pharmacies to call for new shipments. One chemist in Rio de Janeiro said he found two men waiting outside his shop when he opened for business at seven o'clock in the morning. Viagra is only available in Brazil with a doctor's prescription. But according to BBC correspondent Liz Throssell in Miami a black market has been flourishing. Sex boasts The correspondent said Brazilian men often joke about their sexual appetite - and prowess. It is therefore not surprising that Viagra has awakened such interest in the country. A box of four pills costs around $50 - a lot of money for many Brazilians. But it seems the stimulus attributed to Viagra knows no price. The huge demand has already led to a flourishing black market, with people smuggling Viagra in from neighbouring countries like Bolivia and Paraguay, and then re-selling it for around $700. 'Drug safe' The drug's makers, Pfizer, insist it is safe. But in the excitement surrounding the pill, it seems some men have been taking Viagra without medical supervision. At least two Brazilians, who were also being treated for heart problems, are said to have died after using the drug. The correspondent said such indiscriminate use worried the Brazilian authorities so much that they were forced to bring forward Viagra's official launch. But with reports in the local media calling it an elixir of youth and happiness, some Brazilians might be tempted to overdose in the pursuit of pleasure. Deaths reported At least six men have died after taking Viagra but it is not clear whether any of the deaths were caused by the drug. Others have reportedly been hospitalised. The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) said it and Pfizer were investigating the causes of the deaths. The FDA said the deaths had been reported by Pfizer as part of routine reporting requirements. Meanwhile, the Israeli Government has lifted its one-week ban on Viagra, following clarification from the US FDA about the deaths. The drug has not yet been approved for widespread consumption in Israel, but people can now bring it into the country and those with a prescription for it can have it prescribed by doctors with the Health Ministry's agreement. news.bbc.co.uk

To: Anthony Wong who wrote (159)	6/2/1998 1:16:00 PM
From: Anthony Wong	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 1722

BBC - Viagra mania sweeps the world Tuesday, June 2, 1998 Published at 16:23 GMT 17:23 UK Viagra: men can't wait to get their hands on it ... except in Germany Within a month of becoming available to the public in the US, Viagra has become a household name. The drug to beat impotence remains on the unapproved list in most countries, but men all over the world are prepared to go to great lengths to get hold of Viagra. Proof that travel stimulates In Japan organised tours are available to Hawaii. A blood test from a Japanese doctor is faxed to Hawaii where a prescription is handed over. The shortest trip is four days - most of the men are in their fifties and travel alone. Italian men are queuing up to buy the drug in San Marino in north central Italy. The tiny republic is one of the few places in Europe where the impotence remedy is available on prescription. Italians seem to be having little trouble getting help from their doctors - one leading oncologist in Rome has said publicly that he is recommending the drug to some of his male patients who are terminally ill. They should be enjoying life, he says, until the very last moment. The health authorities in Israel have decided to reverse a ban on imports, saying they are satisfied with a US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) all clear after recent health scares. Middle East caution But elsewhere, Viagra has been receiving a negative reception from the authorities. In Egypt sales of the drug have been banned until the side effects are fully tested. The move came after three men were hospitalised but there is now a booming blackmarket in the drug with MP's calling for heavy fines to combat the illegal trade. Four Saudi men are reported to have been treated in intensive care units of private hospitals after taking the new anti-impotence drug Viagra. One of the patients, aged 50, is said to have suffered a heart attack but was later released. Viagra is due to be made available by prescription later in the year, a health ministry official said. Palestinian health officials have also advised doctors not to distribute the drug. German tumescence But in Germany, there is a stiffening of resolve not to join the rush - at least publicly. A survey published in Die Bild national newspaper revealed that 91% of German men stand proud, insisting they have no need of Viagra with just 8% conceding they would limp into the pharmacist, leaving 1% unsure. Tell that to the Swiss - the drug is legal there and they report men crossing from neighbouring EU countries to stock up. news.bbc.co.uk