Viagra skin patch in development – And it works faster than tablets!

People usually wear plasters to stem blood flow, but imagine putting one on to actually get something into the bloodstream?

For that is the idea behind a new way to treat erectile dysfunction in men, with scientists at universities at Cairo and Saudi Arabia looking at getting viagra into the blood, acting in a similar way to a smoking patch.

Men suffering with impotence problems would theoretically be able to wear the viagra skin patch on their upper arm or the abdomen, and perhaps most importantly for men, will kick-in within just a matter of seconds or minutes. Viagra can take between 30 minutes to an hour to work.

This means it will get men in the mood for sex even quicker than the time it takes them to get into the bedroom and take their clothes off!

Moreover, after taking the tablet version of viagra, some men occasionally experience various non-life threatening side effects such as blurred vision, slight headache, indigestion and muscle pain. The new erectile dysfunction skin patch would mean an end to these unwanted effects.

The team involved in the research at King Abdulaziz University in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, along with scientists at Cairo University, utilised a new drug delivery method, known as transferome technology.
A tiny patch measured at just 1cm squared was created, comprised of minute particles of sildenafil citrate (the active ingredient in viagra) which is coated with thin layers of fat and chemicals that will enable the skin to absorb the drug.

The patch was then tested on rats in order to judge just how much – if any – of the medicine would manage to penetrate the skin. The patch used on the rats only contained 1 milligram of viagra, which means bigger patches would need to be fashioned to accommodate for doses of viagra prescribed to men, which can range from 25mg to 100mg.

In a report in the journal Drug Design, Development and Therapy, scientists said the results demonstrated that viagra particles successfully transmitted through both the outer and inner layers of the skin.
In a report on the findings they said: “This could be a promising delivery system for the drug.
“The skin is an alternative route to the oral one, prolonging the effect and reducing variability.”
Although the patch has only been tested on rats thus far, there are hopes for future clinical trials on humans.

Since viagra first became available in 1998, its popularity has skyrocketed and has boosted the love lives of millions of men across the globe. After viagra became a huge success, its chunk of the market was somewhat reduced following the 2003 FDA-approvals of both levitra (vardenafil) and cialis (tadalafil) for the treatment of erectile dysfunction.

According to official health statistics, over 3.5m prescriptions were dispensed in England during 2015 alone for medicines to treat erectile dysfunction.

The manufacturers of viagra, Pfizer, were forced into lowering the hefty price of viagra after seeing its patent expire in 2013 and this led to many generic sildenafil products entering the market, drugs that contained exactly the same active ingredient of the branded viagra, but could be sold to patients for just a fraction of the price.

However, men might not want to completely ditch their oral medications just yet. The British Society of Sexual Medicine’s Dr Geoff Hackett warns that the patches will actually hit patients hard in the wallet compared to existing treatments.

“It might be a nice way of delivering the drug,” he said.

“But I can’t see how a patch likely to cost around £10 is going to replace a pill that’s a fraction of the price.”

Unlicensed male impotence medicines seized in the UK

Over the years, Medical Specialists® Pharmacy have reported countless instances of people being heavily prosecuted for their dealings with counterfeit drugs.

It is worth bearing in mind, counterfeiters are inevitably always tracked and traced by the relevant authorities and eventually punished with severe fines and long prison sentences.

Many countries’ governments are so fed up with the huge problem of dangerous fake medicines in circulation, that they are almost adopting a zero-tolerance policy and will not hesitate to imprison anyone for up to 10 years or more…Yet apparently this still doesn’t deter some people from trying to make money off the health of the unsuspecting public that buy these poorly-produced ‘medicines’.

One of the most commonly imitated type of drug is erectile dysfunction (ED) medications, i.e. Viagra, Cialis, Levitra, etc., prescribed to men suffering with impotence, and it has been reported that a large haul of ED drugs have been seized in the latest UK sting.

Almost £1 million worth of unlicensed erectile dysfunction medicines have been seized from a property in Datchet, Slough, resulting in the arrest of a 37-year-old male.

The as-yet unnamed 37-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of possession of an unauthorised medication, knowing or believing it would be supplied to another person, and has now been bailed until 10 February 2016.

MHRA Head of Operations, Danny Lee-Frost gave a warning for those thinking of trying to make money from counterfeit drugs, and explained the dangers present for those that take a counterfeited drug. He said:

“Selling unlicensed medicines is both illegal and poses a serious health hazard. Anyone thinking of committing this fraud should be under no illusions – we will come and find you.
“Criminals involved in the illegal supply of medical products aren’t interested in your health – they are only interested in your money.

“People should think very carefully before purchasing pills on the internet because you have no idea what you may be taking or where they come from. To protect your health, visit your GP, get a correct diagnosis and buy medicines from a legitimate high street or registered pharmacy which can trade online.

“Unlicensed medicines can be dangerous as they can contain impurities, wrong ingredients, and there is no way of knowing if they are manufactured to ensure acceptable standards of quality and safety.
“MHRA will continue to work with UK law enforcement agencies to crack down on those who put the public health at risk.”

Here at Medical Specialists® Pharmacy, we only supply genuine branded medication such as (Pfizer) Viagra, we only dispense medication after a patient has undergone a consultation with one of our fully registered GP’s, who will make sure the medication is both right and safe for you. In addition to that we are fully registered with the National Pharmacy Association and the General Pharmaceutical Council.

Medical Specialists® are fully aware that there are thousands of illegal websites plaguing the internet that offer ‘discounted’ and ‘genuine’ medicines. We speak to many patients who are clearly very reluctant to obtain medicines online. With this in mind, here are some important factors to be alert of when browsing through different websites:

. No requirement of a doctors’ consultation for prescription medication.

. Long delivery times, sometimes up to several weeks. This is due to the drug being imported from a foreign country before it gets to you.

. The price of the medication is a lot cheaper than what would be expected, sometimes by as much as 70%.

. The website does not list any contact details, e.g. a telephone and fax number, email address, company address or details of its pharmacists, doctors, etc.

. A registered Pharmacy such as Medical Specialists® Pharmacy will have the GPhC green cross logo together with its Pharmacy number. This number can be checked to see if it does actually exist.

. The company registration and VAT number should both be clearly stated on the website. Both of these are a legal requirement.

Man jailed for 16 weeks for selling dangerous ‘herbal’ male impotence drug

On Friday a 58-year-old man was slapped with a 16 week prison sentence at Wood Green Crown Court for selling an unlicensed and dangerously potent erectile dysfunction (ED) drug which contained more than four times the recommended dose.

The man, from Barnet, became of interest to the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) as far back as 2009 following a caution for possession with intent to supply ‘Jia Yi Jian’.

Jia Yi Jian is a so-called ‘herbal’ male impotence medicine that was actually discovered to contain a shockingly high dose of tadalafil – the active ingredient in prescription-only ED drug Cialis – in addition to over four times the common dose of sibutramine, a slimming treatment that is no longer available.

Sibutramine was pulled from circulation back in 2010 due to widespread fears about health risks associated with the drug. However, mixed with tadalafil, there is the risk of serious health problems such as increased heart rate, heart attack and stroke.

Following that 2009 caution, the man was stopped in his tracks at Heathrow Airport in 2010 after inspectors discovered an incredible 51,600 tablets of ‘Herbal Viagra’ which he had been bringing into the country from China.

The herbal tablets were anything but that, and again comprised of prescription-only medicine tadalafil. A private prescription or a doctor’s consultation with a registered pharmacy such as Medical Specialists® Pharmacy is absolutely essential to ascertain a patient’s health and suitable for that, or indeed any medicine. Counterfeiters or those selling unlicensed drugs do not follow any procedure like this and are breaking the law and putting lives at risk.

Following an MHRA investigation, the man was given a 32-week suspended prison sentence. Then, after MHRA officers searched the man’s home, in excess of 5,000 tablets were unearthed disguised in boxes labelled as ‘Diet tea’. The haul included the aforementioned Jia Yi Jian.

The recent 16 week sentence was imposed after the man was found to have breached his suspended sentence, for which resulted in an 8 week sentence, which was added to another 8 weeks for selling unlicensed drugs without any authorisation. He was also hit in the pocket, incurring a £600 court change to be paid within 12 months.

MHRA Head of Enforcement, Alastair Jeffrey commented: “We will continue to seek out and prosecute the kind of criminals who recklessly endanger public health by selling illegal unlicensed medicines. Products such as these which are adulterated with high levels of pharmaceutical ingredients present a real health risk. It is vital that people who are suffering a medical condition don’t take shortcuts buying online, speak to your doctor to get the appropriate treatment.”

You’d be forgiven for thinking that the majority of counterfeit or unlicensed drugs would contain very little – if any – of the primary active ingredient, in this case tadalafil from ED medication cialis. However, this case goes to show that not only are some dubiously sold medicines containing the active ingredient, they may even contain potentially fatal high doses, and why patients should only go to a legitimate and fully-registered pharmacy.

If taken in excess, tadalafil overdose symptoms can include chest pain, irregular heartbeat, feeling lightheaded, fainting or nausea. In addition, patients suffering with male impotence should never combine Cialis with other ED medication like sildenafil (Viagra) or vardenafil (Levitra).

Medical Specialists™ now offer exciting ‘second generation’ impotence treatment Spedra

Since the release of Pfizer’s Viagra way back in 1998, men across the globe suffering from the common condition known as erectile dysfunction (ED) have been spoilt for choice with regards to treatment options.

Sildenafil citrate – marketed as Viagra – was subsequently joined by Levitra (vardenafil) and Cialis (tadalafil), followed by variations such as the Cialis Daily tablets and Levitra ODT (Orodispersible). And now the ED market finally welcomes an exciting new addition to its vast array of treatments, in the form of Spedra (avanafil).

Spedra is available today from Medical Specialiasts™ Pharmacy, priced from as little as £23.17 for 4 x 50mg tablets. No prescription? No worry…Our in-house Doctors will write a prescription for you, which is then dispensed by our in-house Pharmacists, and sent to you within 24 hours.

Menarini, a private company headquartered in Florence, are manufacturers of Spedra and are touting the new treatment as the very first ‘second-generation’ medication for ED. This is due to the fact patients within the clinical trials did not report back to have experienced some of the side effects associated with the other PDE-5 inhibitors, i.e. blurred vision or slight hearing loss.

Spedra has been shown to have an impressive success rate of 77% and is rapidly becoming well known for being the quickest acting male impotence treatment there is. Those being prescribed it for the first time may find they start on 100mg, but there are also 50mg and 200mg doses of the drug. The maximum recommended dosing frequency is once per day. Like the other ED treatments, Spedra’s full effect is felt with prior sexual stimulation (foreplay) – just like you would engage in any way if you were not taking a medication for ED.

Taken orally, Spedra belongs in the same family of medicines as Viagra, Levitra and Cialis. Just like the existing ED drugs, Spedra belongs to a class of medicines known as PDE-5 (Phosphodiesterase type 5) inhibitors and is suitable for men who have trouble getting or sustaining an erection for sexual intercourse.

Whereas the existing treatments can take anywhere between 25 minutes to an hour to take effect, clinical trials have demonstrated the impressive prowess of Spedra, which kicks-in with firm erections after just 15 minutes, according to many of the men participating in trials. The new treatment will shave vital minutes off compared to its counterparts, ideal for more ‘spur of the moment’ love making.

Spedra has been shown to remain effective for between four and five hours, a time duration similar to that of Viagra. It should be noted that this does not mean you will have an erection for between four and five hours, but that you will have ability to achieve improved erections that duration. Like other ED treatments, Spedra may take longer to become effective if taken following a large meal.

Promescent spray for premature ejaculation set to become a huge hit

A new over-the-counter spray for men suffering with premature ejaculation (PE) could be set to take the world by storm after becoming available in the North American market.

Promescent is the name for the spray which is being referred to as an ‘anti-Viagra’ and as a miracle cure for PE; a condition that can cause deep emotional distress for the male, yet is often ignored in comparison to erectile dysfunction whereby there are a vast array of treatment options such as Viagra, Cialis, Cialis Daily, Levitra, and more.

Absorption Pharmaceuticals are the brains behind the revolutionary topical PE spray, applied to the under-shaft of the penis just 10 minutes prior to sex and will also not transfer to the sexual partner’s vagina if it is washed off, according to Absorption, who give detail on their website what makes Promescent stand out from the crowd.

They say: “Promescent’s absorption technology, in conjunction with the metered-dose spray bottle, enables men to deliver a specific and reproducible amount of lidocaine through the stratum corneum of the penile skin to the dermis and control ejaculation latency. Promescent allows men to easily manage penile sensitivity in order to maintain optimum sexual satisfaction…”

As mentioned above, Promescent contains lidocaine; a topical anaesthesia and this is the same active ingredient as another hugely popular PE spray that is already available in the UK – Stud 100.

Depending on the dose and penis sensitivity, Promescent can last from anywhere ranging from 30 minutes to 1 hour. This should undoubtedly leave both man and woman very satisfied indeed.

The International Society for Sexual Medicine state that PE happens when a man reaches his peak and releases semen soon after penetration. This could be within a minute, but for some men it could be as soon as 15 seconds. For those with a skewed idea of what constitutes ‘premature’ due to a misleading concept of sex from the pornographic industry, it is worth bearing in mind that the average ejaculation time is between an estimated 4 to 8 minutes.

Dr. Ron Gilbert, leader of the research team that developed the spray, commented in an interview that the amount of spray used is quite variable. “One of the nice things about the medication is the dosage can be changed easily,” he said.

“With Promescent the FDA has approved 3 to 10 sprays so you’re able to very, very subtly change the effect, because if four sprays isn’t perfect you can go up to five or six. We hear from patients where this product has brought them from a situation where the bedroom is a place where there’s all this anxiety and disappointment – to where they feel really empowered.”

Jeff Abraham, CEO of Absorption Pharmaceuticals, speaking to CNBC, said: “How can these billion dollar companies in the ED space not come up with a product?”

Mr Abraham recently rejected a $30 million offer for his company on the belief that the market for premature ejaculation treatments could eclipse that of the one for erectile dysfunction treatments – meaning Absorption will be worth a whole lot more than $30 million!

If you are one of the many millions of men around the world who are having premature ejaculation problems, Medical Specialists Pharmacy are able to prescribe Priligy to suitable patients following an online consultation with one of our doctors. Priligy is an oral tablet taken prior to the sexual activity and acts quickly within 60 minutes, only taken when you need it. In addition, we offer Stud 100 spray, obtainable from our chemist shop. Stud 100 delays ejaculation by reducing the sensitivity of the penis, significantly prolonging intercourse and providing greater satisfaction for both partners.

Coleshill in Warwickshire is dubbed the Viagra capital of England

According to the tourism website Within Warwickshire, the market town of Coleshill in North Warwickshire ‘boasts a number of quirky curiosities’ and interesting attractions, such as one of the finest and biggest church steeples across the county. This is the Church of St Peter and St Paul, which has an incredible 52-metre steeple dating back to the 13th century.

Unfortunately, the church steeple may take on a new, if slightly humorous, significance after Coleshill has been given the moniker of the ‘Viagra capital of England’, having the highest number of NHS prescriptions per 1,000 men in the country for the erectile dysfunction medication.

New NHS figures show that the residents of Coleshill, which according to a 2001 census has a population of just 6,343, are the biggest Viagra consumers in the country. The stats show that 55 in every 1,000 men in Coleshill are being prescribed Viagra by their GP, in addition to other popular anti-impotence medications such as Cialis and Levitra.

The sleepy market town was way ahead of its closest contender for the title of ‘Viagra capital’ – Wychavon, across the border in Worcestershire, where there are 43 prescriptions issued for every 1,000 men.

The rest of the top 5 comprised of Dartford in Kent, in third place (42 per 1,000 men), followed by Hastings in East Sussex (41 per 1,000 men) and East Lindsey in Lincolnshire (40 per 1,000 men).

So why has Coleshill managed to claim the title it has? A local landlord believes the number of pubs in the town may be a contributing factor. Simon Kennedy, 38, spoke to the Sunday Times and said: “It’s a strange one. It is an old coaching town and there are a lot of pubs. I don’t know if that might be a factor. Perhaps they need some assistance after visiting all the pubs? There are only a couple of chemists in the town so they must be well stocked up on Viagra.”

Some residents are happily quick to speak about their use of Viagra. Al Gorman, a male stripper, admits to using Viagra, and raved about the wonders of the little blue pill: “It boosts my private life and my work life."

The divorced father of three says: “I use Viagra all the time. I want to perform well and don’t want to let anyone down. I’m not surprised we have more users than anywhere else in the country, because we’re more fun.”

Martin Raybone, a 63-year-old insurance assessor, added: We’re a fun bunch in Coleshill and it seems most of us enjoy happy, healthy sex lives. We have nothing to complain about here – there’s no aggro, no litter and we’re no Victor Meldrew brigade. People have well-paid jobs and decent pensions, and we like to go out or stay in and have a good time.”

Meanwhile, at the other end of the scale, the lowest number of people receiving prescriptions for erectile dysfunction medication were in areas such as London, Cambridge and Newcastle-Upon-Tyne. Although, it could be that those living in cities are more like to acquire such medications through private means such as Medical Specialists Pharmacy, in order to avoid a possible excruciatingly embarrassing face-to-face visit with a GP and the efficiency and speed of obtaining Viagra, Cialis, etc. through the internet and then delivered to their chosen destination the very next day.

Debunking some of the common myths about erectile dysfunction

Here at Medical Specialists Pharmacy we deal with thousands of patients every year, many of whom are men of varying ages seeking help with their erectile dysfunction (ED).

Therefore, we hear many assumptions, myths and misconceptions about the subject, and why men suspect they have developed impotence. We have even experienced a certain degree of shame and embarrassment from some men who seek our help, which should not be the case at all as erectile dysfunction is a fairly common health problem.

Since Pfizer’s Viagra burst onto the market in 1998, it has been followed by Eli Lilly’s Cialis and Bayer’s Levitra, all of which offer men a relatively safe and effective treatment to combat erectile dysfunction. As their popularity has skyrocketed in the subsequent 15 years since Viagra emerged, the unrealistic expectations and myths have also increased, which further add to an uncertainty about erectile dysfunction.

Here we breakdown the most common myths and dispel each of them:

MYTH: Erectile dysfunction only occurs in older men.

FACT: Although it is something that happens to approximately 4 in 10 men over the age of 40, erectile dysfunction can actually affect men of all ages and as Medical Specialists reported earlier this week, it is now becoming more prominent in younger men.

MYTH: Erectile dysfunction is just ‘part and parcel’ of getting older.

FACT: The condition may be more common in older men and more stimulation may be required compared to in years gone by, but there is no reason for men to simply accept their sex lives are over once they reach a certain age. Maintaining a healthy lifestyle and through the help of oral medications like Viagra, men can still enjoy sex well into their senior years.

MYTH: Erectile dysfunction is not medically serious and is simply an upsetting annoyance.

FACT: The inability to achieve and sustain an erection, although annoying and sometimes distressing for those who want to enjoy sex, may actually be the early signs of an underlying health condition such as diabetes or heart problems such as high blood pressure and atherosclerosis – where the arteries become hardened. Atherosclerosis can result in a potentially fatal heart attack. Erectile dysfunction may mean atherosclerosis is already present in the heart or brain. Typically, many men with erection problems also have one or more risk factors for atherosclerosis, including:

. High cholesterol levels.
. High blood pressure.
. Diabetes.
. Smoking.
. Obesity.

MYTH: Erectile dysfunction means you are not attracted to your partner.

FACT: There could be a multitude of reasons for the inability to achieve and maintain an erection for sex. Not being attracted to the other person could be one, but it is a lot more likely to be another reason, including:

. Lifestyle choices such as smoking and alcohol consumption.
. A hormonal imbalance.
. Neurological disorders such as Parkinson’s disease and multiple sclerosis.
. Emotional problems such as stress, anxiety and depression.
. Medications to treat the emotional problems listed above, such as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) have been known to cause sexual side effects. Severity can depend on the particular drug and dose, but may ease over time as the person’s body adjusts to the drug.
. The after-effects of surgery for prostate and bladder problems.
. Diabetes – An estimated 35 to 50% of men with diabetes also have erection problems.

MYTH: Those with other medical conditions besides erectile dysfunction cannot take any ED medication.

FACT: Generally, erectile dysfunction medications do not interfere with other medical conditions or medications.  However, men suffering with heart related conditions or taking nitrate drugs should only take ED medications under undergoing a physical examination and seeing their GP first.

More younger men are now suffering from erectile dysfunction

Erectile dysfunction (ED), also known as male impotence, is a very common condition affecting almost half of men between 40 to 70 years of age on at least one occasion.

The inability to achieve and maintain an erection satisfactory for sexual intercourse is often mistakenly assumed to be an ‘older’ man’s condition and something that surely could not affect a male under the age of 40…wrong!

In fact, Medical Specialists Pharmacy deals with thousands of patients every year who are requesting ED treatments such as Viagra, Cialis, and Levitra. The stigma attached to this genuine health problem seems to be finally subsiding as men banish their worries and embrace these highly effective treatments.

And now, a new study published in the The Journal of Sexual Medicine has revealed that approximately a quarter of men under the age of 40 are seeking treatment to combat erectile dysfunction, and almost half (48%) of these men were actually suffering with severe ED.

“Erectile function, in general, is a marker for overall cardiovascular function — this is the first research showing evidence of severe erectile dysfunction in a population of men 40 years of age or younger’ Irwin Goldstein, editor-in-chief of The Journal of Sexual Medicine, commented in a statement.

Goldstein continued: “Clinically, when younger patients have presented with erectile dysfunction, we have in the past had a bias that their ED was primarily psychologic-based and vascular testing was not needed. We now need to consider regularly assessing the integrity of arterial inflow in young patients — identifying arterial pathology in such patients may be very relevant to their overall long-term health.”

Prevalence of ED would seem to increase in correlation with age; however studies of younger men have painted a confusing picture of the true extent of the problem, with prevalence rates varying from between 2 and 40%.

Therefore, Paolo Capogrosso, MD, of the University Vita-Salute San Raffaele, in Milan, Italy, and a team of researchers assessed the clinical and sociological factors of 439 men who had attended one particular academic outpatient clinic requesting first-time medical assistance for impotence problems between January 2010 and June 2012.

From the 439 men, it was found that 114 (26%) were aged 40 or under. Younger patients were determined to have a lower average body mass index, a higher average level of testosterone in their blood, in addition to a lower rate of any other medical issues. However, they generally smoked more cigarettes and took more illicit drugs compared to older patients; both have been known to contribute to impotence problems in men.

Another common problem for men – premature ejaculation – was found to be more prominent in younger men, whilst Peyronie’s disease (where scar tissue causes a bending/deformity of the penis) was more common in the older patients.

More studies may have to be conducted that cover a much large, varied demographic, but the findings of this study could suggest that the condition may be affecting a lot more younger men than health experts predict.

It could be that some men may not wish to share their problems with anybody else, especially their own GP, and this may explain why at Medical Specialists we are seeing a rapidly increasing number of men turning to us for help in treating something that can be deeply distressing and can have a major impact on a man’s self-esteem and relationship with his partner.

For information on how to obtain the previously mentioned treatments for erectile dysfunction; Viagra, Cialis and Levitra, in addition to premature ejaculation treatments such as Priligy and Stud 100 spray, visit the Men’s Health area of the Medical Specialists Pharmacy website.

‘Viagra for women’ may be available in 2016

In just three years’ time, it could be that men are not the only sex who get a helping hand in the bedroom, as Dutch scientists are developing two new drugs to cure the loss of a woman’s desire, one of which is a testosterone-based therapy to heighten pleasure.

The revolutionary new drugs Lybrido and Lybridos, or ‘Female Viagra’ as they are being nicknamed, are being developed by Dutch and US firm Emotional Brain, who claim either could be on bedside cabinets across the world by 2016, being used to boost a woman’s sexual desire and increase feelings of satisfaction in the bedroom.

Currently, men hugely benefit through medicines such as Viagra, Cialis or Levitra for impotence, in addition to Priligy and Stud 100 spray for premature ejaculation. Women’s bedroom issues are often overlooked and ignored, but not for much longer!

The creators Emotional Brain were founded in 2001 primarily to pioneer innovative health care. A lot of their work is targeted at researching women’s sexual health. The twelve years following, many experts have tried to find causes for Female Sexual Dysfunction (FSD) and targeted therapy to treat the problem.

Unfortunately, previous treatments have been found relatively ineffective as female libido is commonly linked to psychological issues and not merely physical factors.

Emotional Brain believes they may have created something to beat the problem through two-in-one pills that will target both the body and brain.

The pills will be sized smaller than a typical aspirin and Lybrido will be comprised of a Viagra-like drug coated in a testosterone and will have a minty taste. Both components may be weak to combat low libido separately, but the testosterone-coating that melts in the mouth followed by a delayed-release of the Viagra-type substance.

Lyrbridos however will have its Viagra-like molecule replaced buspirone; an anti-anxiety medication that increases levels of the hormone serotonin. Unlike Viagra, Lybridos targets brain areas associated with sexual desire, encouraging the brain to realign with intimacy.

U.S. trials have finished involving more than 200 women have recently been completed, and Emotional Brain founder Adriaan Tuiten states the results from both drugs are ‘very, very promising’.
Dr Tuiten was prompted to research into female emotions after having his heart broken by an ex-girlfriend whilst he was in his 20s. It is his belief that the treatments will be a massive hit especially amongst women who have been married for many years and for whom sex may have lost the appeal and become stale over time.

Dr Tuiten says up to 43% of women experience a low sex drive at some point in their lives and has alleviated fears that the new drugs wills turn women into sex-crazed nymphomaniacs, stating that the treatments will work at simply increasing low-libido to more ‘normal’ levels.

Statins may help to combat Erectile Dysfunction

Cholesterol-busting statins such as Crestor (Rosuvastatin) and Lipitor (Atorvastatin) are currently prescribed to nearly a tenth (7 million) of the population in the United Kingdom with high cholesterol; however could they also be used as a treatment for the millions of men around the world who suffer from erectile dysfunction (ED)?

Statins are inexpensive with the pills costing around the equivalent of just 40p per day. For high cholesterol they work by increasing good/protective cholesterol (HDL) and lowering bad cholesterol (LDL) and triglycerides. The higher your cholesterol level, the bigger the risk you have of suffering from a stroke or heart disease and thus increasing the overall risk of having a heart attack due to your arteries being clogged up with the fat-like substance cholesterol.

ED, also known as male impotence, is a common condition that affects  about four in ten men over the age of 40 and around one in ten men across the UK suffer with the problem at some point in their life. Revolutionary medications to treat ED such as Viagra, Cialis and Levitra have dramatically managed to help the situation for millions of men in the previous decade. Unfortunately there are some men who take them and see little or no improvement. Erection problems can severely impact a man’s self-esteem and even can cause stress that damages his health and relationship with his partner.

Past research has highlighted the possibility of erectile dysfunction being a precursor for heart disease. Therefore, researchers at Tanta University in Egypt decided to conduct a study into statins and ED. They recruited 60 men suffering with erectile problems – all of whom had not responded to Viagra.

The men were separated into three groups, being given 80mg of atorvastatin (Lipitor) each day or a vitamin E supplement or a placebo. Vitamin E was chosen as it is widely believed to also help men in the bedroom by aiding blood flow to the groin.

Any possible improvements in the men’s ability to achieve and maintain an erection were monitored after six weeks.

The study’s findings are explained in the International Journal of Impotence Research, and show those men who experienced the most improvement with their erectile problems were those taking a statin every day. The men were analysed by doctors using a 25-point scale known as the International Index of Erectile Dysfunction. The statin atorvastatin helped to achieve an average increase of score by 53% on the index.

The researchers believe the atorvastatin helps to increase the generation of nitric oxide. This causes blood vessel walls to relax and results in much better blood flow which in the pelvic region, would lead to improved erections.

Dr David Edwards, a GP who runs a male sexual health clinic at the White House Surgery in Chipping Norton, Oxfordshire, said the findings were ‘interesting’, commenting: “A lot of men stop taking them because the data sheet lists erectile dysfunction as one of the potential side-effects. But there is increasing evidence that a high dose of statins can improve vascular blood flow, which might help some men.”

Opioid painkillers could cause sexual problems for men

Doctors are being advised to inform male patients who are prescribed opioid painkillers that it could affect their sex life. More specifically, these types of medications could leave men at a much higher risk of suffering with erectile dysfunction (male impotence).

The warnings stem from a new study pioneered by lead author Dr Richard A. Deyo, an investigator with the Kaiser Permanente Center for Health Research, whose findings are published in the 15 May online issue of the journal Spine.

The study findings indicate that taking opioid prescription painkillers for the treatment of back pain could lead to the development of erectile dysfunction (ED). Dr Deyo comments: “Men who take opioid pain medications for an extended period of time have the highest risk of ED. This doesn’t mean that these medications cause ED, but the association is something patients and clinicians should be aware of when deciding if opioids should be used to treat back pain.There is no question that for some patients opioid use is appropriate, but there is also increasing evidence that long-term use can lead to addiction, fatal overdoses, sleep apnea, falls in the elderly, reduced hormone production, and now erectile dysfunction.”

Opioids connect to opioid receptors within the brain, spinal cord, and places around the body. They restrict the ability of pain messages being transmitted to the brain, thus decreasing how much pain we feel. Opioid drugs include codeine, methadone, morphine and oxycodone. They are primarily used to relieve moderate to severe pain which isn’t subsiding after taking other, usually weaker, pain medications.

Dr Deyo and his colleagues decided to conduct their study after acknowledging that many men with chronic pain can also develop erectile dysfunction from a number of reasons including: age, smoking, depression, or opioid-related hypogonadism (low testosterone due to painkiller use).

However, they realised there is very little information regarding any potential correlations with erectile dysfunction in men who are suffering with back pain, and any crucial risk factors that can come into play.

The researchers were curious to find out if men prescribed painkillers, were also later prescribed testosterone replacement or ED treatments such as Viagra, Cialis or Levitra.

To do this, they studied 11,327 males from Oregon or Washington who were enlisted in the Kaiser Permanente health plan. All men had visited their doctor during 2004 complaining of back pain.
Pharmacy records spanning six months prior and six months after the back pain complaint were analysed to see if and/or when the men had been prescribed opioids and testosterone replacement or ED medications.

From the men who were taking low-dose opioids for a period of at least four months, it was found that 12% had also received prescriptions for testosterone replacement or ED medications.

However, it was discovered that over 19% of men who took high-dose opioids (classed as more than 120 mg of morphine-equivalent) for the same amount of time, were then also prescribed testosterone replacement or medications for ED. Dr Deyo says: “That could well be an underestimate, because many don’t bring it to their doctor’s attention, would be embarrassed or wouldn’t connect it to medication.” In addition, 6.7% of the men with back pain had received ED prescriptions, but had not been prescribed any opioids.

Dr Deyo concludes: “Opioid use and erectile dysfunction seem to go together, but we have to be cautious about saying one causes the other.”

U.S. Viagra and Cialis counterfeiter gets two years in prison

Awni Shauaib Zayyad, 56, of Wilson, N.C. has been handed a two year prison sentence in relation to five federal offenses regarding the possession and sale of counterfeit erectile dysfunction (ED) Viagra and Cialis pills in the Charlotte area. When sentencing Zayyad, Chief U.S. District Judge Robert J. Conrad Jr also stated that he must serve two years under court supervision after his release from prison and pay $10,000 fine and $500 special assessment fee.

Zayyad was first apprehended by Charlotte-Mecklenburg police on U.S. investigators were made aware of Zayyad’s illegal activities back in June 2010 after he sold over 500 counterfeit Viagra tablets to a Charlotte convenience store where police were already undergoing surveillance for similar dealings.

Zayyad’s residence was subsequently placed under surveillance before investigators proceeded to follow him on a four hour drive to Charlotte on Aug. 23 2010 where he was about to sell more dangerous fake pills to the same convenience store. Unfortunately for Zayyad, law enforcement agents stopped him in Mecklenburg County before he arrived. Inside the vehicle which was registered to his wife, Zayyad was found to be in possession of 500 fake Viagra pills and over 200 fake Cialis pills.

In court it was explained that Zayyad had possessed and/or distributed in excess of 2,000 counterfeit Viagra pills and nearly 400 counterfeit Cialis pills whilst he was being investigated in 2010 by the authorities. The counterfeit fake pills he possessed were actually found to contain active pharmaceutical ingredients (API) of the ED medications, though in varying and incorrect strengths and with unknown non-API additives.

It was established that the fake erectile dysfunction pills had an accumulated wholesale value of more than $40,000.  As explained many times by Medical Specialists Pharmacy, the court was also made fully aware of the dangers of congesting counterfeit pills to the health of those who take them especially when counterfeit prescription medications contain active ingredients of unknown strength, extra added substances and produced in unknown, untraceable and often unhygienic disgusting premises.

He was eventually found guilty by a jury in February 2012 of numerous offenses including: one count of conspiracy to traffic counterfeit prescription medications bearing counterfeit trademarks, two counts of trafficking counterfeit prescriptions bearing counterfeit trademarks and two counts of selling and holding for sale counterfeit prescription medications with intent to defraud and mislead.
Demonstrating the seriousness of dealing with counterfeit medications, Zayyad must now self-report to the Federal Bureau of Prisons upon designation of a federal facility. There are no chances of parole with a federal sentence.

If you are a male suffering with erectile dysfunction, safety and peace of mind is assured by obtaining genuine erectile dysfunction medication such as Pfizer’s Viagra from a reputable and trusted source such as Medical Specialists Pharmacy. We are fully registered with the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC) and also a member of the National Pharmacy Association (NPA). Our team of Doctors are registered with the General Medical Council (GMC) and our Pharmacists are registered with the Royal Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain (RPSGB).

Viagra and other medications for male impotence such as Cialis or Levitra are obtainable with or without a prescription. If you do not have a prescription, you can undergo a private and confidential online consultation with one of our Doctors and if suitable, they will write you a prescription. This is passed to our in-house Pharmacists, and dispensed and dispatched to you at your home, your place of work, or where ever you choose, discreetly within 24 hours.

Husbands with higher-earning wives more likely to use Viagra

Are you a married man who is earning less money than your wife? If so, your chances of suffering with erectile dysfunction and thus taking Viagra, Cialis or Levitra, are greater. These are the claims from a Danish study recently published in the Personality and Psychosocial Bulletin which analyses the way a man’s sexual desire is connected to cultural and social conventions.

Interestingly, the study emanates from Denmark – a country known for its highly popular political thriller ‘Borgen’, which depicts a fictional female prime minister who runs the country whilst her husband remains at home to care for their children. A role reversal on the stereotypical TV shows of years gone by usually show the wife as the housebound partner who looks after the children.

According to the research team involved in the study, Denmark is one of the most progressive countries in the world in terms of women’s rights and loss of male pride could be an even bigger issue in other areas of the world.

The authors comment: “When women out-earn their husbands, it challenges the traditional social norms of the man as economic provider and female income as supplemental.”

For the study, Danish and U.S. researchers looked at prescription data and salaries from approximately 200,000 married Danish couples between 1997 and 2006.

This analysis found that Viagra and other medications to treat male impotence (erectile dysfunction) were particularly prominent within households where the woman was the primary breadwinner.

Remarkably, the pattern was even evident in couples whereby the woman was only bringing home slightly more money than her husband.  Men were not the only one requiring some form of treatment though and their high-salaried wives seemed to be more dependent on anxiety and sleeping tablets – perhaps meaning their careers had taken their toll.

Commenting on their findings, the authors say: “Even small differences in relative income are associated with large changes in erectile dysfunction medication usage when they shift the marriage from a male to a female breadwinner.”

Perhaps intriguingly, the trend was not apparent for couples where the wife had been the bigger earner at the beginning of the relationship.  Instead, it was seen in those in which the female had developed a bigger salary than the male during the course of their relationship – suggesting that the men may have had felt a dent to their pride and self-esteem. Stress, depression and other such similar problems are all known to be just some of the causes of erectile dysfunction.

In addition, researchers also discovered that a salary disparity in roughly £10,000 favouring the woman, doubled the chance of the man using Viagra.

Concluding their study, the authors state: “We in no way suggest that the trend towards female breadwinners is socially harmful; greater equality and opportunity for women present undeniable economic and social benefits. Nor do we argue that all men will respond to upward income comparisons negatively; many husbands are proud of and attracted to high-earning wives. Yet recent evidence suggests that gender roles have changed little over the past 20 years. If social norms against female breadwinners continue to be strong, increasing female income will produce real costs in marriage, including the anxiety, insomnia and erectile dysfunction identified here.”

Can ginseng improve Erectile Dysfunction?

For the millions of men around the world who suffer with erectile dysfunction (ED), medications such as Viagra, Cialis and Levitra provide effective treatment and enable them to live happy and fulfilled sex lives.

However, a herbal option could also benefit those who are battling male impotence according to the findings of a South Korean study.

The plant ginseng, which mainly grows in Eastern Asia (Panax ginseng), has been utilised for thousands of years in China as a booster for overall general health – increasing wellbeing and stamina, has been shown to help control blood pressure, in addition to lowering stress levels in both men and women. An American ginseng (Panax quinquefolius) also exists, however some argue it is less stimulating than the Asian ginseng. It is the plant’s root that provides the medicinal benefits, comprising of numerous active substances – either ginsenosides or panaxosides.

Ginseng has long been used as an aphrodisiac in China even though very little scientific evidence exists that supports its claims to boost sexual performance as previous tests were conducted on mice only.
However, the results of the Korean study would suggest that tablets manufactured from the plant’s root are actually able to assist in helping men with erectile dysfunction; a condition that effects about one in every ten men at some stage during their life.

As a man gets older, the chances of suffering with ED become greater and it is believed that around 50% of men over the age of 40 suffer from it, increasing to an incredible 70% in those over the age of 70.

For the study, Scientists from the Yonsei University College of Medicine in Seoul, South Korea, enlisted 119 men who had all suffered with ED for at least three months, ranging from mild to moderate in severity.

Half of the group were given four tablets every day for eight weeks that contained 350mg of Korean ginseng berry extracts. The other men were administered identical ‘dummy’ placebo pills for the same time period.

Using the widely accepted measuring scale known as the International Index of Erectile Dysfunction (IIEF)-15), scientists noted that in the men who were taking the ginseng tablets, there was a ‘small but significant’ improvement in their sexual function in comparison to the men in the control group taking the dummy pills. The IIEF-15 comes in the form of 15 questions regarding erectile function and sexual satisfaction.

When publishing the results in the International Journal of Impotence Research, researchers commented: “Korean ginseng berry extract improved all domains of sexual function. It can be used as an alternative to medicine to improve sexual life in men.”

It could be too early to tell if Korean ginseng is definitely an answer for the millions of men around the world who are suffering with erectile dysfunction. The herb is unlikely to affect the massive demand for medically proven and recognised impotence treatments – Viagra, Cialis and Levitra. In addition, NHS Choices have published a thoroughly detailed article, questioning the claims of the study and suggesting that the authors were being overly generous when stating that ginseng can be used to improve sexual function, putting a positive spin on the results.

If you are a male and do have problems achieving and maintain an erection, relying on ginseng may not be the best option available. Instead, the aforementioned male impotence treatments (Viagra, Cialis and Levitra) have a much higher chance of helping with this problem.

All three are available from Medical Specialists Pharmacy with or without a prescription. If you do not have a prescription, you can undergo a private and confidential online consultation with one of our Doctors and if suitable, they will write you a prescription. This is passed to our in-house Pharmacists, and dispensed and dispatched to you at your home, your place of work, or where ever you choose, discreetly within 24 hours.

Cialis: No longer just Viagra’s little brother

If you are one of the many millions of men around the world suffering from male impotence, known as ‘erectile dysfunction’, your first ‘port of call’ for an effective treatment option may possibly be Pfizer’s Viagra. With its moniker of ‘the little blue pill’, Viagra (Sildenafil) was discovered to have erection boosting qualities purely by chance following clinical trials on patients with high blood pressure.  On March 27, 1998, Viagra became the first oral treatment approved to treat erectile dysfunction (ED) in the United States and since then it has gone on to become a massive global success. This is because of its potency and fantastic ability to actually be effective at the condition it claims to help.  It is almost automatically affiliated with male impotence these days by some men who are suffering with sexual dysfunction.

However, should this be the case? It may come as a surprise but there are in fact there are other options available to men, such as the Eli Lilly’s Cialis (Tadalafil), which is rapidly making a name for itself as ‘The Weekend Pill’. This is because the people behind Cialis claim that it is superior to Viagra as its erection-boosting qualities can last much longer – up to 36 hours in some cases, in comparison to Viagra’s usual effectiveness of four to five hours. If this wasn’t enough, Cialis usually gets to work faster than Viagra and some men have reported effects beginning from as little as just 15 minutes!

Like Pfizer’s Viagra, and Bayer’s Levitra (another popular impotence medication), Cialis belongs to a class of drugs known as a ‘Phosphodiesterase-5 (PDE-5) inhibitor’. All three PDE-5 inhibitors work in a similar way in that there has to be some sexual stimulation for the medication to be effective. This obviously means that Cialis will not give you an erection as soon as you take the yellow tear drop shaped pill, but instead will work wonders at relaxing the penile arteries during foreplay, allowing blood to flow to the penis and help to achieve an erection.

For several years, Viagra was the one and only option for men with erectile dysfunction. This was until 2003 when Bayer and Eli Lilly received Food and Drug Administration approval for Vardenafil (as Levitra) and Tadalafil (as Cialis) respectively, to treat ED. There are probably many men though who associate Viagra as the only choice for them and this may be due to the fact it was the first treatment to become popular, many years prior to Cialis. It is worth bearing in mind though that Cialis does have some advantageous factors to certain patients. In addition, in recent years sales of Cialis have rapidly soared as more and more men are becoming aware of its prowess in the battle against impotence and it has moved out of Viagra’s shadow to become massive in its own right. So big in fact that Cialis has sponsored numerous golf events, including the America’s Cup and the PGA Tour, and was once able to boast being the title sponsor of the PGA Tour Western Open tournament.

Both the 10mg and 20mg Cialis are believed to be effective for 36 hours, hence the ‘weekender’ nickname it has earned over the years. Because of this time-frame it can work during, theoretically men can go for two days without being required to take another pill – specifically benefiting those who do not wish to directly associate taking a pill with having sex.

This is also where ‘Cialis Daily’ comes into the equation. The slightly lower dose 2.5mg and 5mg versions of Cialis are in fact the only European Commission-approved ED treatments designed as a single daily therapy – taken approximately the same time each day for consistency. The lower strength versions of Cialis are particularly ideally for men in sexually active long-term relationships. Beneficial in that the mild dose will be in your body each day, it means you do not have to take a tablet each time you have sex. Your body should begin to adjust to the medication’s ingredients and resulting in very little side effects, if any.

Medical Specialists Pharmacy understands the decision about which ED medication is right for you can sometimes be a little difficult. This is why we have previously created a side-by-side comparison of Cialis, Cialis Daily, Viagra, Levitra and Levitra ODT, which we hope will provide more insight  regarding the similarities and differences between them.

All are available today from Medical Specialists at low prices – obtainable with or without a prescription. If you do not have a prescription, you can undergo a private and confidential online consultation with one of our GMC-registered Doctors and if suitable, they will write you a prescription. This is passed to our in-house RPSGB-registered Pharmacists, dispensed and then dispatched to you. This can be at your home, your place of work, or where ever you choose, discreetly within 24 hours.

More evidence emerges to show a gum disease and erectile dysfunction link

Erectile dysfunction (ED) and heart disease have been closely associated with each other in recent years. As science has developed leaps and bounds, numerous studies over the years have provided evidence to show that many men who have difficulty achieving and sustaining an erection, will show early signs of atherosclerosis; a hardening of the arteries. Links have also been established between heart disease and the severe gum disease known as ‘periodontitis’.

This is a condition whereby inflammation and infection occurs within tissue supporting your teeth and is the result of gingivitis being left untreated. It is a very serious condition sometimes resulting in tooth loss, and infection of gums and the jaw bones. Periodontitis is the main culprit for adult tooth loss and it is estimated annually in the United Kingdom that there are six cases of severe periodontitis for every 100,000 people. If left untreated, it may increase the risk of serious health problems such as heart attack and stroke.

However, an intriguing study of patients in Turkey published in The Journal of Sexual Medicine, suggests that men with ED are three times more likely to have gum disease than men who do not suffer from impotence. The Turkish researchers examined 80 male patients with ED and 82 male patients without it. Non-smokers were specifically chosen for the study as smoking is known to be a massive cause for both ED and gum disease. In addition, all patients involved were aged between 30 and 40 years of age to dismiss the prospect of age as being risk factor.

Before determining any results from their study, scientists took into account things such as education status, household income and body mass index (BMI), with both groups being similar in these regards. After all these important points were taken into account, the link between ED and bad oral hygiene still stood up.

In total, 52% of men suffering with ED also had inflamed gums, whilst 23% of men in the control group had periodontal disease. Therefore, it was estimated that men shown to have severe periodontal disease were actually 3.29 times more likely to suffer from ED their counterparts with healthier gums. The men’s sexual performance was assessed using the International Index of Erectile Function, whilst the plaque index and tests on the gums were used to check patient’s oral health.

The lead author for the study, Doctor Faith Oguz, of Inonu University in Turkey, said: “Erectile dysfunction is a major public health problem that affects the quality of life of some 150 million men, and their partners, worldwide. Physical factors cause nearly two-thirds of cases, mainly because of problems with the blood vessels, with psychological issues like emotional stress and depression accounting for the remainder. Chronic periodontitis is a group of infectious diseases caused predominantly by bacteria that most commonly occur with inflammation of the gums. Many studies have reported that chronic periodontitis may induce vascular diseases, such as coronary heart disease, which have been linked with erection problems.”

The Turkish study only looked at men aged between 30 and 40 years old however. ED can affect men of all ages and it is estimated that a staggering two thirds of men over the age of 70 have quite severe symptoms.

The causes of male impotence is a subject that Medical Specialists Pharmacy has previously discussed in great detail and following requests from our patients, we ran a side-by-side comparison of each of the treatments available for men. Viagra, Cialis and Levitra are available today at Medical Specialists, at low prices. All are obtainable with or without a prescription. If you do not have a prescription, you can undergo a private and confidential online consultation with one of our Doctors and if suitable, they will write you a prescription. This is passed to our in-house Pharmacists, and dispensed and dispatched to you at your home, your place of work, or where ever you choose, discreetly within 24 hours.

Viagra aids sexual function in prostate cancer patients

It was only eight days ago that Medical Specialists Pharmacy explained in detail just how high blood pressure and obesity can contribute to an increased prostate cancer mortality. Prostate cancer is our feature again today with news that the potent erectile dysfunction medication Viagra can drastically improve sexual function in patients both prior to and after their radiation treatment.

Though prostate cancer itself is not linked to the inability to achieve and maintain an erection, the treatments that are available have been connected to male impotence. The three main types of therapy for patients are: Removal of the entire prostate gland by surgery, radiation therapy (external via an external-beam or radioactive seed implants) and hormone therapy. All three can contribute to impotence in a varying degree of severity.

Prostate cancer develops in the prostate, a gland in the male reproductive system. It is the most common cancer diagnosed in men and each year in the UK there are 36,000 men who are diagnosed with prostate cancer. It was over two years ago that it was revealed that Sildenafil (Viagra’s active ingredient) may be used as a method of actually fighting the prostate cancer itself, but now research has been done which shows Viagra is massively beneficial in helping prostate cancer patients maintain healthy and happy sex lives.

The new research has been carried out by a team led by study lead author Dr Michael Zelefsky, vice chair for clinical research programs in the department of radiation oncology at Memorial Sloan-Kettering’s Cancer Center.

The team decided to analyse men suffering with prostate cancer that had not spread who had been treated by an external-beam radiation therapy and/or permanent implantation of radioactive seeds.
Over a six month time period, the participants were either given  a daily dose of 50mg of Viagra, or an ineffective placebo. Patients were asked to answer questionnaires prior to their initial radiation treatment, and again at six, 12 and 24 months after treatment. Questions were targeted as quizzing the men about any possible erectile function, intercourse satisfaction, orgasmic function, sexual desire and overall sexual satisfaction.

Dr Zelefsky commented on the findings of the study, saying: “Men who received the drug showed significantly improved overall sexual function, including improved erectile function. Results like this are important because they demonstrate that drug therapy used before and after radiation treatment may lessen the risk of impotence, a common side effect of radiation therapy. Future studies will be needed to further define the drug’s role and the optimal duration to prevent loss of sexual function after treatment.”

If you are suffering from erectile dysfunction, you do not have to suffer alone and in silence any longer. Medical Specialists Pharmacy offer a wide range of treatments for this condition and back in August  we ran a comparison of Viagra, Cialis and Levitra. This will hopefully equip men with the knowledge they need to understand the differences between the medications.

Viagra and other medications for male impotence such as Cialis or Levitra are obtainable with or without a prescription. If you do not have a prescription, you can undergo a private and confidential online consultation with one of our Doctors and if suitable, they will write you a prescription. This is passed to our in-house Pharmacists, and dispensed and dispatched to you at your home, your place of work, or where ever you choose, discreetly within 24 hours.

New erectile dysfunction drug in the pipeline

Apricus Biosciences Inc. has entered into an exclusive license agreement with Takeda Pharmaceuticals International, to market Vitaros, a treatment for erectile dysfunction in the UK. The marketing authorization application for Vitaros, was accepted by the European Medicines Agency (EMA) for review in June 2011 and the license is anticipated in 2013.

European health regulators approved a marketing application for Vitaros last year. According to market researcher IMS Health, the erectile dysfunction (ED) market in the U.K. was valued at 202 million euros in 2011.

“We look forward to expanding the reach of our Vitaros product for erectile dysfunction in the U.K., the second largest ED market inEurope”, Apricus’ chief executive Bassam Damaj said in a statement.

Apricus say that, “Vitaros is a topically delivered formulation of alprostadil delivered with Dodecyl 2-N, N-(dimethylamino)-propionate hydrochloride (DDAIP HCl), Apricus’ proprietary NexACT delivery technology, for the treatment of erectile dysfunction.

When absorbed through the skin, alprostadil, a vasodilator, directly boosts blood flow, thereby causing an erection. The NexACT technology is designed to enhance the delivery of an active drug, to improve therapeutic outcomes and cut down systemic side effects, associated with oral and injectable medications.

Vitaros has received marketing authorization in Canada and is being marketed by Abbott Laboratories Ltd. In theUSA, commercial rights to Vitaros have been licensed to Warner Chilcott. Agreements have also been signed with Sandoz-Novartis in Germany, Bracco inItaly, Elis Pharmaceuticals in certain Middle East, and Neopharm inIsraelfor marketing the erectile dysfunction therapy.

This application for Vitaros to the EMA comes hot on the heels of Stendra (avanafil), which received approval inAmericafrom the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Stendra is the latest in line to try and steal Viagra’s crown as the best selling erectile dysfunction drug, however whilst Stendra has been approved in America, it has yet to receive approval in the UK and Europe.

Currently in the UK we have available Viagra, Cialis and Levitra, which are approved for the treatment of erectile dysfunction. Here at Medical Specialists, we have helped many men suffering from erectile dysfunction through our discreet, online consultation process. One thing for sure is, if the likes of Stendra and Vitaros receive approval in the UK in the coming years, then we here at Medical Specialists will be stocking it, to provide our patients with the widest choice and range of erectile dysfunction drugs.

The causes of Erectile Dysfunction and how to beat it

At Medical Specialists Pharmacy we have a constantly growing patient base spanning tens of thousands of people that are seeking our help from all across the globe.  Male and female hair loss, acne, hirsutism, and sexual health are just a few of the issues that we provide solutions for.

One very common problem that we provide help with is erectile dysfunction (ED). Also known as ‘male impotence’, it is the inability to achieve and maintain an erection that is sufficient for satisfactory sexual intercourse. More prominent that many would assume, it affects roughly four in ten men over the age of 40, and it is estimated that approximately 49% of men aged 70 are suffering with varying degrees of ED.

There are numerous causes that can all contribute in some way to a male slowly beginning to develop symptoms of ED. These include physical causes/diseases such as obesity, diabetes, kidney disease, cardiovascular disease and hormonal problems such as an underactive thyroid. In addition there are psychological impacts that can lead to ED and these include relationship problems, depression, low self-esteem, stress, anxiety and even the fear of sex or ‘sexual failure’; particularly common in new relationships when the couple have yet to have sexual intercourse.

So what are the treatments and prevention methods for men with ED? If you have the condition, your GP can analyse your lifestyle choices and risk factors for erection-hindering health issues such as cardiovascular disease or diabetes, and refer you to a screening for these. Your doctor may also ask questions about your home and working life, relationships etc. to determine what psychological factors may be causing the ED, and could even offer sexual counselling for those who could find the therapy advantageous. Speaking to a psychologist or counsellor may help to reduce your stress and worries, fully getting to the root of your problems so you can tackle them head-on.

There are also simple lifestyle alterations that you can make which can all help to decrease the chance of you experiencing erectile dysfunction. For example, quitting smoking is a major beneficial thing to consider doing as soon as possible as smoking impairs the arteries, resulting in a restriction of blood supply to the penis. Starting a regular exercise regime could work wonders and this will promote better cardiovascular health and get blood pumping around the body more efficiently. Moderating your level of alcohol consumption is also a definite must in regards to better erections. Not only does drinking alcohol cause the short-term problem commonly referred to as ‘brewer’s droop’, it is believed that prolonged alcohol abuse can contribute to irreversible sexual dysfunction for men in the long-term too due to its destructive nature on the nervous system.

For a lot of men suffering with impotence, the most standard and effective form of treatment remains with the popular medications Viagra, Cialis and Levitra. Since the ground-breaking Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval of the Pfizer-manufactured Viagra in 1998 for the treatment of ED, sales of the medication sky-rocketed to astronomical levels and in 2008 its annual sales peaked at an enormous US$1,934 million. Five years after Viagra’s FDA approval, tadalafil (sold as Eli Lilly’s Cialis) and vardenafil (sold as Bayer’s Levitra) were both given the green light for commercial sale and have since taken a substantial slice of Pfizer’s market share.

The US pharmaceutical giant Pfizer has released a new erectile dysfunction drug called Viagra Chewable or Viagra Jet. It comes out as an alternative to regular Viagra tablets for those men who find it difficult to swallow Viagra tablets with water. Unfortunately though, if you are looking to buy Viagra Chewable online, they are not available in the UK as yet, but hopefully Medical Specialists Pharmacy will be one of the first Online Pharmacies in the UK to know when it does, so watch this space!

Food for thought: 6 foods for stronger erections

Obesity is one of the main causes for erectile dysfunction in males. The strong link between the two has been widely suspected for generations but in recent years there has been clinical trials and evidence carried out to prove that men being overweight or obese can impact their ability to achieve or maintain an erection. This then causes a detrimental effect to the man’s sex life, can worsen confidence and even put strains on his relationship with his partner.

While we are officially still in summer and many Brits are jetting off abroad to enjoy hotter climates, the desire is high for both males and females to achieve that perfect beach body to catch the eye of the opposite of sex. In this regard, we advise you to be sexually aware and this is a subject we have highlighted previously.

However, to achieve this perfect ‘beach body’, this will probably involve plenty of healthy eating, exercise and willpower! For males however, just consider this – what if you could achieve a great body AND eat for a better erection at the same time. The wonders that medications such as Viagra, Cialis and Levitra do for men with erectile dysfunction has been well documented for numerous years, but many men will probably be unaware that there are also certain healthy foods that can boost your libido, erection and overall sexual performance…satisfying both you and her!

For males who are concerned about their weight and sex lives, we give you a rundown of some of the top healthiest foods than can both benefit your waistline and your ability to achieve an erection:

. Dark chocolate

Yes, you read that correctly! Dark chocolate can provide many massive benefits. For instance, it is known to be more filling than milk chocolate and helps to prevent cravings for more unhealthy foods. Dark chocolate also helps to reduce the level of the stress hormone cortisol in your body and contains high levels of ‘phenethylamine’, a relaxing chemical that can also increase sexual pleasure. If all that wasn’t enough, the cocoa in dark chocolate is rich in flavonoids; dilating chemicals that aid with blood flow to the penis.

. Bananas

Often the source of embarrassment when eaten in public due to their resemblance for an erect penis, the irony won’t be lost on men to learn that they can in fact help in achieving that very thing! The fruit is very rich in potassium which is fantastic for the heart and maintain good blood circulation, which is obviously essential for a strong erection. Potassium will also help keep sodium levels ‘normal’ and reducing the risk of high blood pressure. Bananas are also a great source of Vitamin B and thus keeping your level of energy up and the production of testosterone, leading to a higher sex drive.

. Chillies

Help to keep the heat and spice in your sex life by eating chilli! Have you ever experienced a rush of blood to your face and flushing when eating chillies? That’s because they work magnificently at expanding blood vessels, and thankfully not just to your face. When it comes to sex they also work wonders by pumping blood into the penis too, and they act very quickly. However, do not over-consume on chilli peppers as they can irritate your stomach and bowels.

. Salmon

Fantastic for weight loss as fish generally have almost no carbohydrates in them and are great when teamed with vegetables, salmon is also good for erections too. The omega-3 fatty acids contained in oily fish such as salmon, help to make your nervous system operate better and are great for a healthy heart and blood flow to the penis due to the huge circulatory-enhancing benefits they have.

. Watermelon

This fruit has been highlighted as being a natural Viagra-like food for a while, and it is not hard to see why. Viagra works by helping to relax the blood vessels in your penis, allowing blood to flow into your Corpus Cavernosum and Spongiosum when you get sexually excited. Many experts claim that watermelon works in a similar way due to it containing the chemical ‘citrulline’. Citrulline kickstarts the production of the amino acid arginine, which helps to relax and dilate blood vessels, improving blood circulation just like Viagra.

. Pomegranate

Men looking for an improvement in sexual performance could benefit from drinking a glass of pomegranate juice. Californian scientists made this claim back in 2007 after their study showed that 47% of the men they had analysed, had seen improved erections after consuming pomegranate juice over 2 four-week periods with a two-week interruption in between. Pomegranate juice is loaded antioxidants in comparison to many fruits, which help to regulate blood flow and promote blood vessel dilation.