England's oldest Viagra user on NHS is 102, figures reveal as thousands of over 80s using performance-boosting pill
A record 250,000 prescriptions for the performance-enhancing "blue pill" were given to over-80s in the last year, including the sprightly centenarian.
1
Figures revealed a man, aged 102, was prescribed Viagra by the NHS
Credit: Getty
According to
Prescriptions for drugs such as
and Cialis were up 100,000 on the year before.
And that could be just the tip of the iceberg with many opting to buy the drug privately.
The NHS in England alone spent more than £20million helping men dealing with
erectile dysfunction.
Read more Health news
Figures also revealed that those in their 60s were given the highest number of Viagra pills.
The
NHS
said erection problems are 'very common' in men over 40 and become more likely with age and illness.
It comes as older people are increasingly using dating sites and hook-up apps looking for sex.
Perhaps the most famous elderly Viagra user was Hugh Hefner, the founder of Playboy.
Most read in Health
Known for throwing wild and extravagant parties at his luxury mansion, the magnate's hearing loss has often been blamed on taking the pills.
The most common side effects are headaches, feeling sick, indigestion and dizziness but many people have no side effects at all or only mild ones.
Sildenafil, the active ingredient in Viagra, was first developed in the 1990s to treat hypertension and angina.
But during clinical trials, the side-effect of increased erections was discovered and it was approved for medical use in 1998.
The NHS warns that a recent heart attack or stroke could make taking the pill more dangerous.
But it advises that most men aged 18 and over can take sildenafil safely.
Inside UK's fake Viagra epidemic…agonising three-day effects, 50p hits and deadly drugs, drywall & ink used as 'fillers'
Frank Furedi, professor of sociology at the University of Kent, has previously said that elderly men are fast becoming "generation Viagra".
He said: "
Contemporary culture sends out the signal that
is for life.
"
A lot of elderly man feel they must have a full-on sex life by any means necessary.
"
Studies suggested it could potentially prevent back pain and fractures in old age and even reduce the risk of dementia.
It was also revealed last month that men from Yorkshire need the most help in rising to the occassion, according to new figures.
NHS
stats show men in the North used
the little blue pills
much more often than in the South last year.
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