Latest news with #sildenafil
CTV News
09-07-2025
- Health
- CTV News
Health Canada issues warning about unauthorized sexual enhancement products
Health Canada's offices at Tunney's Pasture, in Ottawa is seen on Wednesday, Jan. 29, 2025. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Justin Tang Health Canada issued a warning Wednesday about unauthorized sexual enhancement products sold in Kitchener, Toronto and Etobicoke. The agency said the products, which go by a variety of different names, were found to contain sildenafil or tadalafil. Both are erectile dysfunction drugs that require a prescription from a doctor. Health Canada said the products were not approved by the agency, meaning they have not been 'assessed for safety, effectiveness and quality.' They could contain ingredients not listed on the label, and possibly at doses that exceed the maximum amount recommended. Anyone who used the drugs is advised to contact their health care provider if they have any concerns. A list of the products, and the locations where they were sold, can be found on Health Canada's website.
Daily Mail
05-07-2025
- Health
- Daily Mail
Man aged 102 becomes oldest in Britain to be prescribed Viagra on NHS - one of a record 250,000 over-80s getting the little blue pills on the taxpayer
A 102-year-old man has become the oldest man in Britain to have been prescribed Viagra on the NHS. Figures show that the randy man was one of 250,000 over-80s to be handed the blue pill on the taxpayer's dime. However, according to an analysis by the Mirror, there could be a greater number of elderly men quietly forking out to buy the bedroom-boosting pill privately. According to data from 106 clinical commissioning groups across England, last year, the health service issued 4.71million prescriptions to help men in the bedroom - costing a jaw-dropping £16.9million. Men in the 60s were the most common age group to get the 'blue pill'. It comes as new data suggests dating sites and apps have increasingly catered to older people looking for some action. Viagra's most famous user was Playboy founder Hugh Hefner, who continued to take the pill well into his 80s before dying aged 91. It was said it caused his hearing loss, one of several known side effects along with dizziness and changes to vision. The drug's active ingredient, sildenafil, was originally developed to treat high blood pressure in the lungs but was later found to boost blood flow elsewhere in the body, helping men maintain erections for up to two hours. It now also features in Hezkue, the world's first oral spray for erectile dysfunction, launched recently in the UK and costing £60 a bottle. The NHS advises that most men over 18 can safely take sildenafil, though it warns that those who have suffered a recent heart attack or stroke could face serious side effects. Frank Furedi, professor of sociology at the University of Kent, previously said of older Viagra users: 'Contemporary culture sends out the signal that sex is for life. 'A lot of elderly men feel they must have a full-on sex life by any means necessary. They are fast becoming "generation Viagra".'
South China Morning Post
05-07-2025
- Health
- South China Morning Post
Chinese study uncovers cancer-fighting potential of impotence drugs like Viagra
Men around the world dealing with sexual impotence have been treated for years with the drug sildenafil, sold under brand names including the well-known Viagra A new Chinese study now suggests that the drug may perhaps also help to save lives. Sildenafil could combat cancer by strengthening a group of key anti-tumour immune cells, according to the study by researchers from China's Westlake University, Zhejiang University, Peking Union Medical College and Shanghai Institute of Immunology. Dendritic cells, which act as the 'intelligence agents' of the immune system, can become severely depleted or functionally impaired as the tumour progresses. According to the researchers, sildenafil could reverse the process and help to restore the cells. The researchers, led by Westlake cancer immunology specialist Zhou Ting, published their findings in the peer-reviewed journal Nature on June 25. In an article posted on its social media account the same day, the university hailed the discovery as a possible new 'form of tumour immunotherapy strategy'.
Daily Mail
02-07-2025
- Health
- Daily Mail
Now available - 'Viagra' spray that can trigger male arousal in just 10 minutes...would you try it?
A world-first oral spray that combats erectile dysfunction within roughly 10 minutes has launched in the UK, and costs £60. Called Hezkue, the liquid contains sildenafil, which is the same active ingredient in the iconic little blue pill, Viagra. However, because it is a liquid spray, clinical studies found it can work within as little as 12 minutes. Absorption can begin within five minutes of taking the spray, and on average it can trigger male arousal sufficient for sex within 25 minutes. It's a fraction of the time compared to the tablet forms of sildenafil which can take up to an hour to kick in. The pharmaceutical firm behind the product, Aspargo Labs Inc, say the product, which is sprayed into the mouth, also allows for dosage flexibility. The prescription-only medicine comes in two strengths; a recommended starting dose of 50mg, and a stronger solution of 100mg. Each 30ml bottle contains enough medicine for 24 doses, meaning that if the standard dosage of four 'pumps' is taken, it can last for six sex sessions. The product also been given the green light in Spain, Germany, Ireland and the Netherlands, and the company has applied for approval in the US. This means the spray has a price-per-use cost of £10. However, if the medicine has proved to be ineffective at the standard dose, clinicians may advise to try six pumps up to a maximum dose of eight. The manufacturers of Hezkue say that it is 'discrete and portable' as unlike tablets there is no need for a glass of water to take the product, and it is 'easy-to-carry'. It is exclusively available via a medical consultant prescribing it from the Pharmacy2U Online Doctor and Lloyds Pharmacy Online Doctor services. They are also looking to expand to Switzerland, other parts as the EU, as well as Latin America and the MENA regions, which includes the Middle East and North Africa. It is thought more than four million men in the UK suffer from ED, also known as impotence—which is when a man has difficulty getting or maintaining an erection. Sildenafil was first developed in the 1990s as a heart disease medication, but trial participants noticed it had an unusual side effect—frequent erections. In second place, was those aged between 16 and 24, with one in three experiencing over half of all sexual encounters. Despite popular belief, it isn't older men who experience erectile dysfunction the most, according to a recent study of 1,000 men by Click2Pharmacy. Less than half of men aged 55 or above struggled with impotence and less than one in five (18.2 per cent) experienced it more than half of the time, they found. Surprisingly, it was most common in young men, between the ages of 25 and 34, with three quarters having experienced it. Of the same age, 40 per cent experienced impotence during more than half of sexual encounters. In 2023 there were 4.57million NHS prescriptions in England for sildenafil, and other types of drugs. This was a new record level high, which experts said was likely due to due to tumbling drug prices and patients being less embarrassed to ask for help. NHS chiefs spent a total of £16.4million providing drugs to treat erectile dysfunction in 2023, about £3.60 per script, though pack sizes can vary. Even though there has been a record high number of prescriptions, the cost to the taxpayer was actually lower than that recorded in 2014. The condition isn't just all in men's heads—according to the British Association of Urological Surgeons, 90 per cent of cases stem from underlying physical issues. These experts found the most common underlying causes were heart disease (40 per cent), diabetes (33 per cent) and hormone problems (11 per cent). Other treatments to improve they highlighted were weight loss, increased exercise, and lifestyle change like drinking less alcohol. While most cases of erectile dysfunction are isolated and nothing to worry about, repeated or sustained impotency should be checked out by a GP. On the latest product, Michael S. Demurjian, Chairman and CEO of Aspargo Laboratories, Inc., said: 'It offers patients a new solution not seen in other available treatments, including traditional options such as pills, gels, injections, and strips.' Group Chief Medical Officer Kieran Seyan for Pharmacy2U and Lloyds Pharmacy Online Doctor added: 'We see first-hand how many people are seeking discreet, accessible ways to address their health concerns. Hezkue is an innovative alternative to traditional tablets.' In response to the new product release, Professor David Ralph, Urologist at University College London said: 'ED is a common and often distressing condition that can significantly impact a man's quality of life and emotional wellbeing. 'While effective treatments exist, barriers such as timing, convenience, and patient adherence can limit outcomes.
The Sun
20-06-2025
- Health
- The Sun
Sex drug Viagra has surprising new health benefit and could help 3 million ageing Brits, say scientists
SEX aid pill Viagra helps stiffen your skeleton, a study suggests. The little blue tablet was found to increase production of vital bone cells — so could one day prevent back pain and fractures in old age. Researchers found sildenafil, which is branded as Viagra, helped human stem cells transform into osteoblasts, the bone-building cells. These are vital as the human skeleton regenerates and is completely replaced roughly once every ten years. As we age, we lose more bone than we build, increasing the risk of breaks or osteoporosis, which makes bones brittle and painful. The Peking University team's follow-up tests on mice also suggested sildenafil would prevent bone loss. Dr Menglong Hu and Dr Likun Wu said: 'Our findings offer new insights into the physiological effects of the medicine. 'Sildenafil enhanced stem cell osteogenic differentiation and inhibited bone loss — it may usefully treat osteoporosis.' More than three million Britons suffer osteoporosis. Other treatments exist but the researchers said it would be handy to have more cheap and readily available drugs. They said: 'Any new drug must be evaluated. This is time-consuming, expensive and risky. But sildenafil is approved and safe.' Viagra was invented as a heart drug in the 1980s before it was found to help with erectile dysfunction. Studies have since suggested it might also reduce dementia risk. Why You Should Think Twice Before Popping Viagra Just For Fun (1)
