Viagra sniffer dogs Search For Counterfeits

Two specially trained sniffer dogs are being used by Pfizer, the company that developed and markets the male impotence treatment Viagra, to sniff out counterfeit Viagra tablets for the customs authorities in Finland, according to Pfizer It is the first time sniffer dogs have ever been used in Finland to find fake medications, which can be detected even if they’re well-packed.

The dogs – Springer, a mixed breed of spaniel and Border collie, and Willem, a pointer, were trained in the Holland. They have already been dubbed “Viagra dogs.”

According to Pfizer, the dogs cannot detect the two other brands of male impotence medication Cialis and Levitra, as these are made of a different, though similar molecule and would have a different smell to the dogs than Viagra, whose generic name is sildenafil citrate.

Counterfeit erectile dysfunction medication may be not only harmless sugar pills but instead could contain dangerous active ingredients that could harm and even kill those who take them.

The Impact of expiring Viagra patents on consumers

Pfizer is the pharmaceutical corporate giant behind Viagra, the globally popular and successful erectile dysfunction medication, which has earned Pfizer billions of dollars since it was first marketed in 1998. Over the last 13 years Pfizer has enjoyed legal protection from copycat generic drugs thanks to patents on Viagra and its active ingredient Sildenafil, which have kept competition low and prices for Viagra high.

Now Pfizer’s patents are starting to expire. Its Brazilian patent expired in June 2010 and the patent for New Zealand expired this month, whilst the US patent will expire in March 2012 (pending a trial). The sales figures of Viagra are expected to take a hit as increased competition from generic versions of the drug legally enter the market but what will be the impact on the consumer?

The first obvious answer is that falling prices is a good thing for the consumer. The high price of Viagra and other erectile dysfunction drugs, such as Cialis and Levitra, has meant that access to drugs for a condition that affects 1 in 10 men worldwide has been limited to those who can afford it. A significant drop in the price will bring it within financial reach for many more men.

However, in New Zealand Dr Bert Rauber has raised concern that cheaper anti-impotence medication may have an adverse effect on health. He is concerned that lower prices will cause increased demand and put pressure on GPs to prescribe the cheaper medicines without first conducting testing for potential underlying causes.

“The concern is that if more are asking for it they won’t look at the bigger picture.”  States Dr Rauber, who runs an erectile dysfunction clinic in Hamilton. The bigger picture being that erectile dysfunction is often viewed as an early warning sign of deeper underlying medication conditions, such as diabetes, prostate cancer and heart disease. If it becomes cheaper for doctors to prescribe erectile dysfunction medication then it is possible that the testing for these diseases and the subsequent necessary treatment maybe delayed or missed altogether.

In New Zealand Auckland-based Douglas Pharmaceuticals has already released a cheap generic drug, while Pfizer has offered its own generic, ‘Avigra’.  According to Dr Rauber the price has dropped from $25 to $8 a tablet. The relative affordability may result in more men seeing it as a lifestyle drug with which to improve their sexual prowess in the bedroom rather than because they have genuine erectile dysfunction.

“Now it’s cheaper, there’s going to be a lot of guys running around saying `I want a harder erection’, but they don’t actually have any erectile dysfunction. They have, in their own mind, a poor erection, but it’s subjective isn’t it?” says Dr Rauber.

Durex dismiss condom shortage

Durex have reassured the UK regarding fears that condom supplies were under threat yesterday, even though a legal row with a major Indian manufacturer remains unresolved.

The statement came as Reckitt, which also produces Dettol, Cillit Bang and Air Wick, reported a 14 per cent increase in adjusted operating profit to £1.1bn in the six months to June. 

TTK Lig, which is thought to produce more than 50 % of Durex's condoms, stopped  its supply in May, following a dispute with its parent company Reckitt Benckiser over pricing and distribution rights. Durex said there were still "plenty" of its condoms available, despite a City analyst warning that retail supplies were waning and after a High Court bid to force TTK to resume supply failed.

Alex Smith, an analyst at Citigroup, said industry sources suggested the Indian supply disruption was being felt in the UK at retailer level. However, a spokesman for Durex Condoms yesterday dismissed the claims, saying other factories had stepped up production to help make up for TTK.

Bigger bums in Britain cause increase in large toilet seat sales

The obesity epidemic in Britain is now so bad that we are being forced to splash the cash on larger sized toilet seats.  The Derby-based business “Gordon Ellis & Co”, has reported that their sales have doubled in the last two years for their expensive American imported “Big John” seats which they sell for £200.  These larger seats are 19inches wide, in comparison to a normal sized seat which is 14inces in width, and can withstand a whopping maximum weight of 60 stone.

Steven Evanson, Director of Gordon Ellis & Co said: “People are getting bigger, wider, and heavier. Why shouldn’t they have a comfortable time when they go to the toilet” He further added, “We tell them, ‘your bums aren’t too big – your toilet seat isn’t big enough’.” Clearly with rapidly expanding sales, the toilet seats have been a success and one customer from Manchester is pleased with her purchase: “My husband required a little more room and was breaking many toilet seats a year – the Big John put an end to that.”

As we have previously reported (http://www.medical-specialists.co.uk/news/2011/07/19/survey-shows-over-half-of-britain-are-%e2%80%9cfat%e2%80%9d-2/), figures show that roughly half of Brits are in the “overweight” category and with one in every 11 deaths being linked to weight issues; the problem is a serious one.

If you want to lose those extra pounds, Medical Specialists can help! Offering prescription and non-prescription genuine branded medications such as Xenical and Alli, we now boast even lower prices and have a vast wealth of knowledge and understanding about our patient’s feelings and the problems they incur.

Lady Gaga losing her hair?

According to sources, Lady Gaga has started to apply the popular anti-baldness product Rogaine (known in the UK as Regaine), to her rapidly thinning and damaged locks. This follows years of abuse that she has subjected her hair to, with the flamboyant singer almost as famous for her wacky colourful hair styles and fashion choices as she is for her music.

Apparently it was during her worldwide “Monster’s Ball” tour that the worrying first began to creep in about the alarming rate of her dwindling locks. It was rumoured that she lost her temper backstage as she began to comb her hair and large chunks of it fell out. An unknown source had this to say “Over the years Lady Gaga has put her locks under a lot of stress. She’s poured so much chemical over them that it’s damaged her follicles. She’s hoping that by using Rogaine, she can repair some of the harm”.

The pop star, famed for her collection of wigs, may have to rely on them in the future more often until her therapy of Rogaine (Regaine) begins to take effect. She has commented on her hair problems in the past “I had to get a chemical haircut because my blonde hair is falling out”.

For women who are experiencing problems with hair loss, at Medical Specialists we can help you.
We offer a numerous array of options best suited to your needs.  Available without a prescription, from our Chemist Shop, you can now purchase Regaine for Women. This is specially formulated containing a 20mg/ml of the active ingredient Minoxidil – a clinically proven treatment and is applied direct to the scalp to treat women’s thinning hair.

In addition, with a prescription or via a consultation with one of our Doctors, you can buy Dianette now at even lower prices. Studies have shown that Dianette used for 6-9 months clearly decreases hair loss and hair thinning. Dianette has an ability to block androgen activity at the pilosebaceous unit. Because of this ability, Dianette can successfully be used to treat Androgenetic Alopecia or scalp hair loss in women caused by androgen activity. Dianette has been shown to stop further female pattern hair loss and increase hair thickness within about a year of regular use.

New Research by the Journal of Periodontology Suggests a Link between Oral Hygiene and Erectile Dysfunction

Research conducted on behalf of the Journal of Periodontology suggests a link between periodontitus, a severe form of gum disease, and erectile dysfunction. The study involved 70 individuals of which it was estimated around 80% suffered simultaneously from both conditions, with notable heightened erectile dysfunction in those suffering from severe periodontitus.

Researchers are keen to expand the study on a larger scale with longitudinal follow-up in order to further ascertain the link between the two and how this may affect men with either health concern. The research highlights the importance of good oral health in men and particularly in those suffering from erectile dysfunction. Though the findings are preliminary, it is clear that an increased awareness of good oral hygiene is apparent in men experiencing ED problems.

These findings bring a number of common erectile dysfunction issues to the surface once more. Firstly, the link between a disease such as periodontitus and ED is a relatively difficult concept of association and one which may also affect the general health of sufferers; a fact not necessarily welcomed by men who may find it difficult to seek treatment for the latter condition.

Dr Nigel Carter, Chief Executive of the British Dental Health Foundation made the following comments regarding the new research; “To associate gum disease, the major preventable cause of tooth loss in adults, with such a taboo subject amongst males is not something that should be taken lightly, if in theory, four out of five men who suffer from erectile dysfunction have poor oral health, the effect it could have on their general health poses a serious risk to those involved.”

Secondly, the reluctance of men suffering from erectile dysfunction to seek advice and treatments is an ongoing issue, an issue Medical Specialists are keen to resolve by offering confidential, medically accredited advice. Research such as that published in the Journal of Periodontology in to cause and prevention of the condition is thoroughly welcomed by the company;

David Bailey, managing director of Medical Specialists comments; “The more we know medically about erectile dysfunction, the more we can work to develop and supply effective treatments to combat this often debilitating condition. The result of this study confirms the correlation with gum disease and now we can take positive steps to reduce the risk of becoming a potential sufferer of erectile dysfunction.”

Medical Specialists would urge men to visit their dentist regularly as well as their doctor to ensure the healthy functionality of both areas. Prevention of potential gum disease in men is recommended by Dr Nigel Carter, who suggests a routine of brushing twice daily, regular visits to the dentist and a reduction of sugary foods and drinks.

Erectile Dysfunction can only be treated effectively with medical advice, recognised treatments and an understanding of the condition by sufferers. Medical Specialists offer all three: securely, confidentially and discreetly. Managing Director David Bailey confirms; “We are proud to employ GMC Doctors and RPSGB Pharmacists to offer expert advice,” he explains, “we supply Viagra, Cialis and Levitra, the leading treatments for erectile dysfunction, which can be dispersed and delivered within a 24 hour period. There is no need to suffer in silence with this condition.”

Famous sufferers of erectile dysfunction such as Sir Stirling Moss, agree that men should seek help and treatment for the condition rather than feel embarrassed or suffer in silence. In an interview with BBC News in 2006, Sir Moss admitted he suffered from the condition and had tried a variety of available treatments such as Viagra UK, Cialis UK and Levitra UK and found Levitra suited him best.

Sir Stirling’s experimentation is common among sufferers. It is important to ascertain the correct treatment for the individual, a fact that Medical Specialists highlight with exacting medical questions in order to prescribe the correct treatment for the individual. Sufferers may choose from Viagra, Cialis or Levitra and can vary their treatment accordingly.

Lastly, encouragement from famous names such as Sir Stirling Moss and others encourages men to seek help. An Online Pharmacy such as Medical Specialists can provide expert medical advice and treatments with little embarrassment to the sufferer, helping to reduce the stigma associated with erectile dysfunction.
Furthermore, the supply of recognised treatments Viagra, Cialis and Levitra UK ensures customers are continually supplied with the best treatments available in the United Kingdom. Erectile dysfunction can be treated and Medical Specialists can help in all respects of problems associated with this condition.

New figures show rise in STIs in the over 50s

Dr Sean Cummings a Harley Street clinic that specialises in Sexual Health, has claimed that sexually transmitted infections in the over 50 year olds are now more common than first realised.

He has described the story of a mother of three in her late 50s who visited his clinic after having been a divorcee of 5 years, had been active on the dating scene. She had been involved with a “friend of a friend” and also a gentleman she had met through a dating website. Both relationships were sexually active. Dr Cummings explains more about the situation “She had started experiencing discomfort – discharge, and pain on urinating, which is why she had come to see me. They had never used condoms as, she explained “I never did with my husband. I was on the pill then, and I went through the menopause years ago – I thought there was no reason to”.”

Dr Cummings then ran some tests and had to deliver the unfortunate news to her that she was actually suffering from gonorrhoea, a sexually transmitted infection (STI). “She was upset, embarrassed, but also shocked. At her age she didn’t really think she had anything to worry about”. Many of Dr Cummings patients are respectable men and women in their 50s and 60s, recently single for the first time in potentially several years. He also notes that a typical patient is a newly sixty something woman who has returned from holiday where she has had an affair and contracted an STI, or middle aged men who have picked up an infection from an extramarital affair.

In addition, the Health Protection Agency has been warning about the rapidly increase in STIs among the slightly older generation. Latest figures published show that gonorrhoea is up 8% in a single year and 14% since 2001, and genital herpes has risen by 15% in the last year and an incredible 142% in ten years. Chlamydia infections have also increased by 9% in the past year, and by 138% in the past ten years.

If you are suffering from the common STI, herpes, Medical Specialists can help you.  We now offer the antiviral medication “Valtrex”, which can help in reducing the risk of spreading genital herpes. However, you must also use safe sex practices. This includes always wearing a condom made of latex and avoiding sexual contact when you have an outbreak or think you are about to get an outbreak.  Valtrex will not cure herpes, but will lessen the symptoms. It helps to slow the growth and spread of the herpes virus so that the body can fight off the infection.

Healthy Gossip - Social media health news website

Healthy Gossip have recently re-designed their popular website, which focuses on health news from around the globe.

Healthygossip.com works in the same vein as Digg, by users submitting health news and voting on the most popular stories of the day.

So far Healthy Gossip is the only user submitted social media site which is dedicated to providing health news online, and according to their directors traffic has increased to the website by 500% over the past year alone.



Finding health related stories on Celebrities, men and women's health, weight loss, medicine can be challenging and may have you trawling the web for hours on end, hopefully Healthy Gossip could provide a useful website for people looking for information.

Survey shows over half of Britain are “fat”

Analysts “Bioglan” have published a survey which shows almost half of the population are overweight or obese.  The survey shows that the Scottish are the heaviest, with 52% being classed as overweight or obese.  Northern Ireland, the North East, and the South East are bottom in the table, all tied with just 46%.

The survey would appear to indicate that East Anglia is the healthiest region in the UK.  Only 6% eat 2 or more takeaways per week, compared to the whopping 31% of Londoners who are gorging on more than 2 takeaway meals every week. In addition, only 7% of East Anglians claim to drink 14 or more alcoholic drinks per week in comparison to the heaviest drinkers in the North East and North West, whereby 13% of both regions admit to drinking more than 14 drinks every week.

Interestingly though, the survey is not entirely doom and gloom. It does show improving attitudes and habits to maintaining a good level of health.  For instance at least 60% of people in all regions claim that they go to the gym at least once a week, which is a positive sign. Moreover, there are many experts who claim that the Body Mass Index (BMI) that is used to calculate the level of an individual’s body fat, is unfair and prejudiced against those with high muscle mass.

However, for those looking to lose extra pounds, Medical Specialists can help! Offering prescription and non-prescription genuine branded medications such as Xenical and Alli, we now boast even lower prices and have a vast wealth of knowledge and understanding about our patient’s feelings and the problems they incur.

Condom campaign for young men in Jersey

Young men in Jersey aged 16-21 are being encouraged to use condoms, as part of a new sexual health campaign

called Protect and Respect. It has been developed by the Jersey Condom Distribution Scheme in response to research showing condoms as the most popular method of contraception among young people.

But only 19% of  men take up the offer of free condoms in Jersey. The campaign will involve a website and a Facebook page. And posters will be put up at secondary schools, sports centres, football clubs and youth centres.

The Jersey Condom Distribution Scheme said: "Condoms are the only barrier method of contraception that can protect against both sexually transmitted infections and unplanned pregnancy. "It is hoped that the campaign will not only encourage young men to use condoms consistently and correctly, should they choose to have sex, but also raise awareness that they can get free condoms from a range of services in Jersey."

For further information on sexual health and where to buy condoms online please click the highlighted link.

Pregnant women who smoke are putting babies at risk of severe birth defects

New report shows Mothers who smoke during their pregnancy are putting their babies at risk of severe birth defects

A study has indicated that smoking during pregnancy is putting the baby at risk of being born malformed.  The study, initiated at the University College London (UCL), analysed approximately 174,000 instances of malformation together with 11.7 million healthy births. The experts based their conclusions on 172 research papers that have been published in the past 50 years.

Mothers who smoke during their pregnancy are increasing the risk of having a baby with missing or deformed limbs by 26%. In addition, there is a 28% increased risk for clubfoot, 27% for gastrointestinal defects, 33% for skull abnormalities, 25% for eye defects, and 28% for cleft lip/palate.

With roughly 17% of women in England and Wales smoking during their pregnancies (around 120,000 of the 700,000 babies born each year), clearly the data from the study should be a huge encouragement for women everywhere to give up the cigarettes.

Professor Allan Hackshaw, lead author from the study, commented “People may think that few women still smoke when pregnant. But the reality is that, particularly in women under 20, the numbers are still staggeringly high. Maternal smoking during pregnancy is a well-established risk factor for miscarriage, low birth weight and premature birth. However, very few public health educational policies mention birth defects when referring to smoking and those that do are not very specific – this is largely because of past uncertainty over which ones are directly linked.”

He further added “Now we have this evidence, advice should be more explicit about the kinds of serious defects such as deformed limbs, and facial and gastrointestinal malformations that babies of mothers who smoke during pregnancy could suffer from. The message from this research is that women should quit smoking before becoming pregnant, or very early on, to reduce the chance of having a baby with a serious and lifelong physical defect.”

Islington has highest rate of herpes in the UK

A report on herpes in the UK has shown that those who had diagnosed 178 cases of shingles per 100,000 in 2010 to 13% more than in the area of ​​the second worst and meaning 356 in total.

Only cases diagnosed at sexual health clinics could be recorded in the studio, so the actual infection rate was much more likely to be higher.  Dr Eva Jungmann, senior consultant at the Center of Arc, a sexual health clinic in Holloway Road, Archway, said: “Some people with herpes is very hard to bear, and get frequent recurrences. There is a great health risk but poorly can affect people psychologically and socially. “A cause of ulcers, also increases the likelihood of transmitting or acquiring HIV.”

Islington also has the third highest rate of gonorrhea in the UK – which has seen a 26% increase since 2009 – and was in the first seven areas of syphilis and genital warts, according to figures released by the Agency for Health Protection. Chlamydia is most common, with 584 diagnosed cases per 100,000 people.

Dr. Jungmann said Islington is likely to be greatly affected by sexually transmitted diseases are more common in less affluent areas.  He added: “health education activities for youth and outreach projects have been reduced – so I would not be surprised to see further increases.”

STI rates in London as a whole are 50 percent higher than the rest of the country, but recurrent outbreaks of the virus that can be treated with medications such as Valtrex. For more information on where to buy Valtrex online, please click on the highlighted link.

Greyhound trainer gives his dogs Viagra in race-betting scam

Anthony Fowler, 61 greyhound trainer, gave his dogs Viagra and Marijuana in a race betting scam. Mr Fowler said they would “run their heads off” when he gave them Viagra at unlicensed meetings and he would place bets on them to win. But when he wanted them to lose he would feed them Marijuana because it would slow them down.

Viagra

This would improve the betting odds on his dogs and he could then give them Viagra or Nandrolone the testosterone based drug used by athletes to improve performance to increase speed at another race.
Now he has been convicted of two charges of causing unnecessary suffering to a dog and two charges of administering drugs knowing it might cause injury.

John Ellwood, prosecuting for the RSPCA, told the court: “He admitted in interview that he fed his greyhounds cannabis when he wanted them to lose races. He did so by boiling the cannabis.
“When he wanted the dog to win the race he injected it with a drug which turns out to be Nandrolone, which is a testosterone derivative.

“He explained Nandrolone and travel sickness pills would affect the way the dogs would run. In particular, he showed the officer Viagra tablets which, according to him, make them ‘run their heads off’.”

Mr Ellwood said police ­interviewed Fowler in September last year after receiving reports he was involved in selling cannabis. Fowler told the officers he was drugging his dogs and police informed the RSPCA.
Fowler was later interviewed by an RSPCA inspector – by which time his greyhound Jake had died.

He explained the dog had injured its shoulder at a race meeting and a vet said fixing the shoulder would be costly. Mr Ellwood said cannabis could cause convulsions and hallucinations in dogs. Viagra could cause inflammation of the blood vessels.

Fowler had initially denied charges against him but he changed his plea to guilty at Hartlepool magistrates. No mitigation was given and Fowler, of Stockton-on-Tees, is due to be sentenced after a probation report has been prepared. He declined to comment after the case. The court did not explore how much he was alleged to have made from his scam.

Speaking after the case, Trudy Baker, founder of Greyhound protection group Greyt Exploitations, said: “I have never heard of Viagra being used before. But there been eight cases of dogs testing positive for cocaine in the last three years. “The industry is self-regulating. It is just not done properly.”

Cialis overtakes Viagra as market leader

Viagra has finally been knocked off its No.1 position in the global market for erectile dysfunction medication by Cialis. In March Viagra claimed about 39% of the market whilst Cialis captured 41% according to IMS Health data. This is a historical “first” and a remarkable milestone for the makers of Cialis, Eli Lilly, considering that Pfizer created the market for erectile dysfunction drugs when they first produced Viagra back in the late 1990s.

The worldwide sales of Cialis totalled $1.7 billion in 2010, representing an increase of 9 percent on the previous year. This included sales outside the USA of over $1 billion. The differences between Viagra and Cialis may be the reason why Cialis has eventually caught up with and now overtaken Viagra’s market share.

With Viagra the user takes it when they need it and the effect wears off after 4 hours. However, with Cialis there are a few more options. The stronger dosages of 10mg and 20mg have an effect which lasts for 36 hours. In France it is know as “le weekender” since its user can take one tablet which lasts the whole weekend. Alternatively, the lower dosages of 2.5mg and 5mg are meant for daily use giving users a better chance of reducing the potential side effects that may occur with regular Cialis 10mg or 20mg tablets.

It is possible that Cialis holds a psychological advantage over Viagra since it is a pill that is either taken once and lasts for a longer period of time (le weekender) or is taken on a daily basis and thus becomes seen as something akin to brushing your teeth in the morning. Either way the theory is that it does not remind the user of their failings whenever they have sex.

Another more tangible theory is that Viagra’s sales are increasingly being eroded by competition from cheap generic copies – a trend that is likely to be exacerbated when their patent on Viagra expires in March 2012. Some analysts believe this may also erode sales of Cialis with Morgan Stanley analyst David Risinger predicting Cialis sales in 2015 of just $1.4 billion.

However, City analyst John Boris predicts Cialis sales in 2015 of $2.2 billion. This scenario is based on the fact that Cialis could maintain a higher price than Viagra because the generics will not have the extended time effect of Cialis. This is because the patent on Cialis will not expire until 2017.

Furthermore, Eli Lilly is coming up with more innovative ideas to keep Cialis sales rising. In Europe they are pushing Cialis as a medication for hypertension, whilst in the U.S. they are currently seeking approval for it to be used as a treatment for middle-aged men with enlarged prostates.

STI numbers triple over 10 years ‎

Cases of sexually transmitted infections have tripled in a decade, according to new figures in Scotland. Increases were recorded in genital herpes, Chlamydia, gonorrhoea, syphilis and HIV across Scotland between 1999 and 2009.

The sharpest rise was in cases of genital Chlamydia which can lead to infertility. Reported diagnoses increased from 5,676 to 18,277, according to Scottish Government figures. The Conservative party, which obtained the details, said the increases paint a "hugely worrying picture" of sexual health.

Diagnoses of genital herpes increased from 933 to 2,627 over the decade, while cases of gonorrhoea increased from 538 to 1,021. Figures for infectious syphilis were not available for 1999 but showed an increase from four cases in 2000 to 189 in 2009. The number of HIV-infected people increased from 156 in 1999 to 360 in 2010. For the decade from 1999, the total number for all five infections went from 7,303 to 22,540.



For protection against sexually transmitted infections you must always where a condom. Latex condoms, when used consistently and correctly, are highly effective in preventing transmission of HIV, the virus that causes AIDS. In addition, correct and consistent use of latex condoms can reduce the risk of other sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), including discharge and genital ulcer diseases. For further information on where to buy condoms online please click the highlighted link.


Once you have caught an STI such as herpes wearing a condom alone will no long stop you from suffering from flare ups. Treatment is needed such as Valtrex when can stop the infection from appearing all together if taken correctly. For further information on where to buy Valtrex online please click the highlighted link.

Justin Bieber gets a safe gift from NVo Condoms

Justin Bieber recently have been given a years worth of condoms as a gift from NVo Condoms. 

So why the shipment of safety? NVo mailed the Bieb 365 condoms after hearing that his romance with teen Disney queen Selena Gomez is getting hot and heavy. An insider from the Bieber team recently said, “Justin’s been told straight up that if he’s having sex, he had better use protection.” 

Nuvo gives away over 200,000 condoms a year to prevent teen pregnancy and STDs.

For further information on where to buy condoms online please click out highlighted link

Viagra fact or myth questions answered.

VIAGRA IMPROVES YOUR SEX DRIVE: Myth. It can improve erection problems in most men who use it. But it won't increase your sex-drive or urge, if that's what's up. In other words, it may well put lead in your pencil. But it won't find a long-lost pencil case.

Viagra

VIAGRA WAS ORIGINALLY A DRUG FOR ANGINA: Fact. Researchers were investigating men's hearts when they discovered that the drug actually improved erection quality. Result? An abrupt change of tack. And that means blokes with heart problems can relax when using Viagra - so long as it's been recommended by their GP. After all, if it was originally a heart treatment, it's not likely to hurt, is it?

VIAGRA'S THE ONLY TREATMENT WORTH TAKING FOR ERECTILE DYSFUNCTION: Myth. In fact, there are two other pill treatments these days: Cialis and Levitra. And there are non pill options, too, ranging from injections, through vacuum devices, to psychosexual counselling. Remember, too, that some men don't need treatment at all - the odd failure to rise to the occasion may just be because of temporary knackeredness.

GRAPEFRUIT JUICE INTERFERES WITH VIAGRA: Fact. It can also mess up the other pill treatments - by increasing their blood flow. So most experts advise avoiding necking the magic pills with grapefruit juice.

VIAGRA'S AVAILABLE ON THE NHS: Myth. Not for most men, it's not. A few are entitled to an NHS prescription - such as those with MS, diabetes, Parkinson's disease and prostate cancer. The rest have to cough up to keep their pecker up.

GP

VIAGRA CAN MAKE YOUR VISION GO BLUE: Fact. Strange, but true - very rarely. It's temporary and harmless, though. More common side effects include flushing, indigestion and a dripping nose. Oh, and headache - just pray she doesn't say, "So have I."


VIAGRA GIVES YOU AN INSTANT ERECTION: Myth. Some of the older treatments - like injections - did this. But if you pop the pill and just wait for the old chap to stand to attention, you could be waiting all night. Because the drug simply primes you for action - you still need the usual foreplay to get you going.

YOU CAN BUY VIAGRA ON THE INTERNET: Fact. Of course you can, but only buy from an online pharmacy such as www.medical-specialists.co.uk

VIAGRA'S ONLY USED FOR ERECTION PROBLEMS: Myth. In fact, it's also used for some lung diseases and altitude sickness. And, supposedly, it helps jet lag as well - though that particular research was restricted to hamsters.

New erectile dysfunction medication awaiting FDA approval

Vivus Inc. have announced that they have submitted a “New Drug Application” (NDA) to the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), for a new medication to be entered into the lucrative $4 billion erectile dysfunction market.  The new drug, named “Avanafil”, may take several months for its FDA approval to be confirmed and will be thrust into an increasingly competitive market that already includes Viagra, Cialis, and the newly introduced Levitra Orodispersible tablets.

Clinical trials with Avanafil have taken place involving over 1,350 subjects, with 50mg, 100mg, and 200mg dosage strengths being analysed. The NDA submitted by Vivus is backed up by including data from Phase 3 trials and these trials were said to have proved the drug’s safety and efficacy. Results showed that patients who had taken the 200mg dose, had achieved an erection sufficient for penetration in 77% and 63% of the trials, in comparison to just 54% and 42% in patients dosed placebo. In addition, many patients were able to have successful intercourse in a mere 15 minutes of taking Avanafil.

With the patent for Viagra due to expire in 2012, the market for impotence medication will become very interesting in the following year and we may yet see many more new and exciting products being introduced.

Only 15% of men admit to premature ejaculation

Premature ejaculation (PE) can be a common problem for men at any age throughout there lives, and with a recent study in Malaysian only 15% of men confessed to have experienced it.
Another 14 per cent had "probable PE", said consultant urological surgeon and Monash University Sunway campus clinical associate professor Dr George Lee. He said a recent Asia-Pacific study showed that PE affects approximately 30 per cent of men in this region. "The Asia-Pacific PEPA (Premature Ejaculation Prevalence and Attitude) study showed that 15 per cent of Malaysian men confessed to having PE and 14 per cent probable PE," he said.

In simple terms, premature ejaculation is when a man ejaculates within about one minute from the point of penetration. This usually causes distress among sufferers.

Dr Lee said the average time for a man to ejaculate from the point of penetration is between four to eight minutes. "Some men ejaculate much faster than the average time and this has a huge negative impact on their self-confidence and relationship," he said at an NST Live session recently. He said men who were bothered by this may suffer from PE. "Open and honest communication with their partner is the step in the right direction," he said, noting that unlike erectile dysfunction (ED), the prevalence of PE remains constant from age 18 to 80.

He said ED was when a man could not get an erection to have sex or can't keep an erection long enough to finish having sex. PE is by far the biggest complaint that men have about their sexual performance. They want to last longer during intercourse to prolong the pleasure, for themselves and their partners.
Dr Lee said many men who see their doctors for sexual dysfunction cannot differentiate between PE and ED and, therefore, are given the wrong treatment and never go back to see their doctors again. "We are fortunate that more and more research is ongoing to help identify treatment strategies, to improve men's sexual and overall health." When asked if PE could be treated, Dr Lee said since the 1950s, PE had been treated with stop-start, and squeezing techniques.

This was popularised by sexologists Masters and Johnson. However, such treatment has poor efficacy and low compliance. "Fortunately, there is pharmaceutical treatment for PE these days," he said.
Among the treatments include topical cream to numb the penis and medications to increase 5HT neuro transmitters. However, he said, topical creams were very undesirable as they numb the vagina too. Treatment can also include behavioural, pharmaceutical interventions and use of dapoxetine. Another treatment that can be used is a pill called Priligy that is capable of increasing the duration of intercourse by three to four folds in scientific trials.

Priligy

On whether alternative methods, including the use of "Gambir Sarawak" would work, Dr Lee said it only numbed the penis. "The effect from its use is not well received." He said the use of Tongkat Ali definitely did not work for PE. "Some Chinese traditional medicines claim to improve the interval of intercourse, however, there are no clinical trials to support it, he said.

Dr Lee said the psychological impact of PE was also substantial for the partners of those with the condition.
"It is only a cause for divorce if the couples do not address the issues." Dr Lee said the real cause of PE was unknown. Some believe it is caused by psychological trauma during sexual maturity.

Drug raid leaves shop owners in county jail

Police raided an off-license in Tampa USA Wednesday with hope to arrest two men over the illegal sale of Viagra. According to records Feroz and Salima Bhojani of Lutz owners of the Ok liquor store were arrested Thursday afternoon and now face prescription drug charges.

On three separate occasions undercover police bought a Viagra pill from the stores drive through for $16. On Wednesday officers Carried out a warranted search on the store and found Viagra and Cialis pills and clerk Douglas Arp was arrested. Salima Bhojani age 47 was charged with possession of a prescription drug without a prescription and possession with intent to sell a drug without a prescription. Feroz Bhojani age 58 was charged with dispensing prescription drugs without a prescription.

On Thursday night both were in county jail with bail set at around $2,000 each.

Are diet soft drinks really less Fattening

Research has shown drinking diet soft drinks may actually cause weight gain rather than help with weight loss. A study found that there was a 70 per cent increase in waist measurement on those people that drank diet soft drink compared to those that didn’t. Research from the university of Texas health and science centre tracked 474 women and men all aged 65 to 74. As a group those people drinking diet soft drinks had a 70 per cent greater increase in waist circumference compared to those who didn’t drink any at all. 

Those who drank two or more diet soft drinks a day had a 500 per cent increase in waist circumference compared to those who did not drink any. A major risk factor for diabetes, cancer, heart disease and chronic health conditions is abdominal fat. After looking into other factors which contribute to weight gain e.g. age, physical activity and smokers there results of this study were found to be true. A quote from Professor Helen Hazuda said “Data from this study and others suggest that healthier promotions such as diet drinks and artificial sweeteners may be ill advised”

For further information on weight loss please visit our Xenical and Alli pages

Childhood obesity linked to liver disease

More than half a million children could be at risk of liver disease due to obesity, is the warning from government expert Professor Martin Lombard, the Department of Health’s national clinical director. Government estimates indicate that around 500,000 of children below the age of 15 are suffering from “non alcoholic liver disease”. This is a condition where fat builds up in the liver cells causing inflammation and swelling and in some cases, it can lead to potentially fatal cirrhosis of the liver.

Excessive alcohol intake is commonly associated with the disease but Sarah Matthews, from the British Liver Trust, believes that, “Even though alcohol is regarded as the key cause of liver disease in the UK, weight-related liver damage is set to become a huge public health problem where, if the projections hold true, obesity could overtake alcohol as the biggest single driver of cirrhosis in the future.”

Recent Government figures highlight that 30% of children between the ages of 2 and 15 years old are classified as overweight or clinically obese. This figure is expected to double by 2050. Professor Lombard believes there is a danger of the next generation dying young and states, “We know that with childhood obesity on the rise we can expect more children to be at risk of fatty liver disease in the near future.”

The Chief Medical Officer of England, Professor Dame Sally Davies, says that children and their parents need to be aware of the health risks of obesity with fat being stored around vital internal organs and not just on the body surface. However, she says that young people who are overweight and obese can combat fatty liver disease by making simple changes to their lifestyle.
She adds: “There is good evidence that gradual weight loss through healthy eating and regular exercise can reduce ill health, such as diabetes and the amount of fat in a liver.”

There is no treatment for the disease but the condition is reversible through weight loss and improvements in diet. Weight loss for adults however can be helped by medication, such as Xenical and Alli which act as fat absorbers blocking out a third of fat in food eaten in a patient’s diet, leading to steady weight loss. However, it should be stressed that a person must be prepared to adopt a healthier diet and exercise in conjunction with the medication for it to be truly effective and sustainable.

Google+ Spam Campaign Promoting Viagra

In what loss to be the first major cyber criminal drug campaign exploiting the Google+ brand, spammers are sending out fake Google+ invitations that in reality point to online pharmacies selling illegal generic versions of Viagra. The messages look similar to the real emails that users may receive from friends who are already members of Google+.

However, clicking on the links will not take you to the new social network, but instead take you to a Canadian Pharmacy website promoting illegal Viagra, Cialis and Levitra online. In the case of the site shown below, they even have a special July 4th promotion – just in case you were hoping for additional fireworks on the night.

The spammers are no doubt hoping that the email will be too hard to resist for many people eager to see Google’s new social network, although just how many users will be tempted to buy illegal drugs online is unknown.