Tennis Star Andy Murray Joins Fight against Killer Disease

British tennis star Andy Murray is used to facing battles on the tennis court and has begun one this week, as he bids to reclaim a Wimbledon crown he won so famously back during his highly successful period of 2012-13, when he also captured Olympic Gold.

However, one major, global battle that the World number 2 has been proud to join is the fight against the deadly malaria disease.

In 2013 Medical Specialists® Pharmacy reported how Murray had lent his support behind the non-profit charity organisation Malaria No More in a bid to raise both awareness and monetary donations to help the cause, such as funding for vital malaria treatment and mosquito nets.

This year, Murray will be proudly wearing the Malaria No More logo on his sleeve, showing his huge devotion to fighting a tropical disease that is present in around 100 countries worldwide and placing 40% of the world’s population at work.

According to the World Health Organization, about 3.2 billion people – nearly half of the world’s population – are at risk of malaria. Moreover, in 2015, there were roughly 214 million malaria cases and around 438 000 people died from the disease. Increased prevention and control measures have led to a 60% reduction in malaria mortality rates globally since 2000. Sub-Saharan Africa continues to carry a disproportionately high share of the global malaria burden. In 2015, the region was home to 89% of malaria cases and 91% of malaria deaths.

Speaking to the Huffington Post, Murray gave a passionate account of why he is working with the charity and gave a harrowing account of the very real and serious risk to life that malaria poses to millions of people worldwide.

“There’s no tournament on earth like Wimbledon and, after winning here three years ago, I’m looking forward to returning with the home advantage and the incredible support of my fans, and giving it my best shot.

“This year I’m proud to be wearing Malaria No More UK’s logo on my sleeve. I’ve supported the charity’s work to end malaria deaths for seven years now. Two things compelled me to get involved: firstly the devastating impact of malaria on children. This disease claims a young life every two minutes, yet it is preventable and it costs less than a pack of tennis balls to treat and help save a life.

As a new dad this really hits home. You can’t help but imagine how different things would be if you lived in parts of Africa where malaria is the number one killer of young children in your community. It’s unthinkable, yet every day more than 800 children lose their lives because of a mosquito bite. In this day and age, this should not be happening.

“I was also attracted to the malaria campaign because of its single-minded focus, raw ambition and drive to achieve the goal to end malaria deaths in our lifetime. These are qualities that I admire and identify with. With the malaria fight – and from my personal experience – resolute commitment and persistence deliver results.

“For malaria, there’s been record progress to save lives, with child deaths slashed by more than half, saving more than six million lives between 2000 and 2015. That’s more than the entire population of Scotland! This progress is thanks to increased financial commitments and global efforts, supported by UK leadership, which have allowed more prevention (including mosquito nets) and better diagnosis and treatment of the disease.

“I was really interested to hear in April the World Health Organization announce that the European Region hit its 2015 target to wipe out malaria. It’s hard to picture malaria across Europe, but only a hundred years ago you were at risk of catching the disease in nearly every country in the world, so this is huge progress. It gives me hope for the future – we really can be the generation to make malaria no more.

“This September will be a big milestone for the progress to continue as countries will make their pledges to the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, TB and Malaria, the world’s biggest funder of programmes to fight and end these three preventable killers. With renewed commitment and enough funding, eight million more lives could be saved by 2020. I hope all countries, including the UK, will show continued boldness and leadership with strong pledges to save lives.

“In the fight against malaria, when funding has been reduced or stopped many countries have seen the disease return with a vengeance. We cannot afford to stand still or let any ground slip when so many lives and futures are at stake.

“Ending malaria is an incredible and achievable goal that we can all get behind – join me and support Malaria No More UK so that one day in our lifetime no parent anywhere will lose their son or daughter to a preventable disease like malaria. Donate to save lives at malarianomore.org.uk/donate.”

Experts warn humid weather is catastrophic for hayfever sufferers

If you’re waking up to tears flowing this morning, there’s a chance it might not necessarily be because of England’s inevitable and embarrassing exit from Euro 2016 at the hands of Iceland – it could be your hayfever symptoms flaring up.

The recent random mix of sunshine, rain and increasing temperatures might be great for those trying to grow their garden plants or crops, but unfortunately its bad news for hayfever sufferers, with health experts warning that the pollen season will be getting longer.

Unpredictable weather has resulted in pollen levels lingering in the ‘very high’ status and the MET office is estimating this will be the case for the rest of the summer.

With the number of people  developing hayfever and other types of allergies, experts now warn that the amount of people with hayfever could double and reach a staggering 31.8 million people.
Moreover, in recent times there have been scientists that have warned of an ‘allergy epidemic’ within the developed world.

New figures from Prevalin Allergy have demonstrated not only a rise in the total number of people stating they are having hayfever symptoms, but the symptoms themselves seem to be getting worse.
According to a survey conducted by Prevalin, the average person realises that their sneezing, runny nose and itchy throat could be caused by an allergy to pollen, after 2 years.

Prevalin’s survey also found that nearly half (45%) of those suffering with hayfever have made the error of trying to use a decongestant or cold medicine to alleviate their symptoms, when in fact this only irritates the lining of their nose further.

Dr Ellie Canon commented: “The changing global environment can have an impact on how we respond to our surroundings, and people may see their symptoms get worse over time.”

She added: “The pollen season is extending and more and more people could see themselves suffering with sneezing, itchy eyes and a runny nose throughout the summer. We need to look at new ways of treatment so everyone can control these symptoms.”

Health experts are warning that as the planet gets warmer, more plants will begin to emit pollen into the air and flowers will bloom for a longer period of time.

“Something I see frequently is patients mistaking their hay fever symptoms for a common cold, and treating them as such. The trouble is that, when you use a decongestant or other over-the-counter cold remedy to treat hay fever, if it’s not indicated for hay fever then you can irritate the lining of the nose further,” said Dr Ellie.

“As symptoms get worse and last for longer, its important people know how to treat them correctly.
“While it can be tricky to tell the difference, the dead giveaway for hay fever is itchiness. If you find yourself experiencing itchy eyes, ears, mouth or throat, it’s probably hay fever you’re dealing with.”
Omega pharma, the company that manufactures the Prevalin Allergy range, have just released Prevalin Allergy Plus, a nasal spray with a unique double action formula that provides fast relief at the onset of symptoms, getting to work in a mere 3 minutes – 5 times faster than hayfever tablets.

Like all products in the Prevalin Allergy range, the new treatment is drug and steroid free, meaning it’s suitable for athletes, pregnant and breast feeding women.

Bea Warner, Brand Manager at Omega Pharma, says: “Hayfever is becoming increasingly common and, for many people, increasingly debilitating.

“Thankfully, drug and steroid free Prevalin Plus contains an extra layer of defence to help protect you, with an anti-allergic therapeutic oil that helps reduce sensitivity to pollen.

“It’s something completely different, and offers those who have given up on summer because of hayfever the chance to enjoy it like they used to!”

Obesity crisis means 40 million Brits could be overweight by the year 2035

Future generations could be faced with severe health problems and shorter lifespans if action is not taken now to tackle an obesity crisis that is threatening to spiral out of control, according to a new report.

The Obesity Health Alliance has estimated that about 40 million adults in the UK could be classed as overweight or obese within 2 decades, with over 7.6 million new cases of disease by 2035. Being overweight is defined as having a body mass index (BMI) of between 25 and 29.9, whilst obese is defined as having a BMI of 30 or more.

Widespread weight gain in Brits may result in 4.62 million cases of type 2 diabetes, 1.63 million cases of coronary heart disease, and 670,000 new cases of cancer, warned the new study.

This isn’t even taking into account other major health issues that can arise from piling on the pounds, not including conditions such as high blood pressure (hypertension), liver disease, osteoarthritis, or chronic kidney disease, which can all plain a huge burden on already stretched NHS resources.
Furthermore, becoming obese may then ignite other issues like poor and unhealthy eating, low self-esteem and mental health problems.

However, with swift action, a small change now could make a big difference in the future. Even just a 1% change in the number of people gaining weight every year up until 2035 may avoid around 77,000 cases of disease including 45,000 cases of type 2 diabetes in the year 2035 alone.

Therefore, the Obesity Health Alliance is urging the Government to create a substantial childhood obesity strategy immediately to combat the obesity epidemic. Measures the group want introducing include a restriction on junk food TV advertising prior to the 9pm watershed, tightening online marketing to align with broadcast regulations, as well as setting targets for industry to reduce the amount of sugar and fat in food.

Alison Cox, Cancer Research UK’s director of prevention and member the Obesity Health Alliance, said: “These numbers are shocking. And it’s difficult to think of the impact this will have on public health and an already strained NHS. Without bold action, the next generation will face more disease and live shorter lives.

“Kids are bombarded with advertisements for unhealthy food and if we are to give our children the chance for better and healthier lives, it’s vital the Government’s childhood obesity strategy restricts this kind of marketing.”

Modi Mwatsama, Director of Policy and Global Health at the UK Health Forum and member of the Obesity Health Alliance, said: “This study is a wakeup call for the Government and shows a daunting future if no strong action is taken against the obesity epidemic.
“We can’t expect industry to make changes on their own and people need help making healthier choices. Companies will have to be held accountable by Government. The Government must lead the way by creating a level playing field with independent, regulated targets for reducing the amount of sugar, fat and salt in food. Without Government action, our children face a life of disease and early death.”
According to the European Association for the Study of Obesity, here are some key facts to remember about it:

• Worldwide obesity has nearly doubled since 1980.
• In 2008, more than 1.4 billion adults, 20 and older, were overweight. Of these over 200 million men and nearly 300 million women were obese.
• 35% of adults aged 20 and over were overweight in 2008, and 11% were obese.
• 65% of the world’s population live in countries where overweight and obesity kills more people than underweight.
• Overweight and obesity are the fifth leading risk for global deaths. At least 2.8 million adults die each year as a result of being overweight or obese.
• 44% of the diabetes burden, 23% of the ischaemic heart disease burden and between 7% and 41% of certain cancer burdens are attributable to overweight and obesity.
• More than 40 million children under the age of five were overweight in 2011.
• Obesity is preventable.

Obesity will not just happen to somebody overnight. It is something that develops gradually over time, mainly due to poor diet and lifestyle choices.

NHS choices have listed the main dietary pitfalls that cause people to gain weight, which include:

• Eating large amounts of processed or fast food – that’s high in fat and sugar.
• Drinking too much alcohol – alcohol contains a lot of calories, and people who drink heavily are often overweight.
• Dating out a lot – you may be tempted to also have a starter or dessert in a restaurant, and the food can be higher in fat and sugar.
• Eating larger portions than you need – you may be encouraged to eat too much if your friends or relatives are also eating large portions.
• Drinking too many sugary drinks – including soft drinks and fruit juice.
• Comfort eating – if you have low self-esteem or feel depressed, you may eat to make yourself feel better.

Lack of physical activity is a key factor behind obesity, with many using their cars to get around and doing less walking or cycling. Moreover, we are becoming a nation of TV and computer game addicts, instead of getting out and doing regular exercise.


The Department of Health recommends that each week adults should be engaging in at least 150 minutes (2 and a half hours) of moderate-intensity aerobic activity, such as cycling or fast walking. However, this doesn’t need to be done all in one go. For example, you could exercise for 30 minutes a day for 5 days in the week.

Medical Specialists® Pharmacy are able to provide help for those trying to lose weight, with our fantastic range of obesity treatments such as Xenical and Orlistat. Used in conjunction with a balanced diet and exercise, these treatments are very effective in enabling people to lose weight and regain confidence again.

Selling unlicensed and counterfeit drugs lands Tooting man with 3 year prison sentence

Medical Specialists® Pharmacy cannot stress this enough; crime does not pay. Maybe it will pay initially, in the form of illegal gains made from unsuspecting customers, but criminals will inevitably always get caught and stopped dead in their tracks.

This has been proved truer than ever this week with reports that a man from Tooting has been heavily sentenced after being found guilty of importing and selling unlicensed erectile dysfunction medicines, hair loss medicines, and money laundering.

The 47-year-old man was handed a sentence of 3 years in prison for money laundering offences, in addition to 12 months for selling unlicensed medicines, with the 2 sentences to be served concurrently.

The man had previously admitted his guilt relating to offences under medicines, trade mark and money laundering legislation at Southwark Crown Court on 13th May.

After Investigators from the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) conducted an investigation into the man  – known as ‘Paul K’ – they found clear evidence that ‘K’ had laundered more than £114,000.

‘K’ was found to be the main culprit in a massive conspiracy to receive and supply unlicensed medicines and spread the illegal funds from this endeavour around the UK.

MHRA officials had successfully seized dangerous unlicensed and counterfeit drugs in 2011 and 2012, which resulted in a painstaking operation to trace ‘K’ and the group he was leading.
MHRA’s Head of Enforcement, Alastair Jeffery said:

“This case shows how organised criminal networks use sophisticated methods to import and supply counterfeit medicines from overseas.

The group conducted an international operation to make money from unregulated products, and laundered over a hundred thousand pounds in the process.

We have tirelessly tracked and monitored the group, demonstrating our determination to prevent them from recklessly endangering the safety of others.

Unlicensed products are a serious safety risk to the public, and you should not let criminal enterprises play the lottery with your health. Visit your GP if you need treatment, and obtain prescription and pharmacy medicines from a legitimate high street store or online pharmacy.”

8 Tips for Boosting General Health and Wellbeing

On the whole, Britain has been basking in glorious sunshine now for the last month – except for the odd few typical days of British heavy rain. With summertime usually comes a nationwide health kick. Perhaps it is to fit into those skimpy healthy clothes and look better on the beach, or maybe the sun just improves peoples’ moods to the extent that it provides a motivational spur to change lifestyles for the better.

Whatever it is, summertime is commonly the time of the year when people make positive changes to their general health, whether it be dietary or simply getting out the house more and going for walks in the sunshine.

With this in mind, Medical Specialists® Pharmacy have decided to run through some tips for improving general health and wellbeing, which everyone can use as a starting point for long-term health benefits.

. Become more active

Great weather means more people will have the urge to get out the house and move about. Keeping fit and active is great for your waistline and general appearance, but exercise is great for the heart too. Previous studies have suggested that 7 in 10 of us are not engaging in physical activity and thus are increasing the risk of heart disease. Keeping active helps to lower blood pressure; a risk factor for heart disease, boosts good HDL cholesterol that is responsible for moving fat away from arteries and back to the liver for processing, and will help to improve circulation by stopping blood clots from forming which can cause a heart attack or stroke. A brisk walk for 30 to 40 minutes completed 3 times each week should ease cardiovascular risk.

. Consider a Mediterranean diet 

The Mediterranean diet has repeatedly been linked to huge health gains such as ideal for weight loss, reducing the risk of cancer, high blood pressure, Parkinson’s disease, Alzheimer’s disease, as well as being beneficial for the skin with various anti-aging boosts.

The diet is usually comprises of a daily consumption of plenty of fruit, vegetables, beans (legumes), grains, pasta, olive oil and nuts. It also contains moderate amounts of chicken and fish, with a small amount of red wine allowed as this has been shown to boost the health benefits of the diet, helping to thin the blood safely while providing its benefit through the antioxidant resveratrol.

. Cut down on salt intake

A diet high in sodium can lead to serious health problems. Sodium increases blood pressure as it causes the body to keep hold of excess fluid and blood volume increases, creating an added burden on the heart with increased pressure in the arteries. It is generally recommended that an adult should not consume more than 6g/1 teaspoon of salt each day. Certain foods are high in hidden salts and you should try to limit how much of them you eat. These include: baked beans, canned vegetables, cheese, crisps, pizzas and ready meals.

. Drink more water

Everyone needs to be getting 6 to 8 glasses of fluid per day and water is an essential part of your diet as well as being an incredibly healthy and inexpensive way of quenching your thirst. It contains zero calories or sugar, meaning it will not damage the teeth. Try to avoid empty calories from fizzy drinks, energy drinks or juices with added sugar. Not everyone enjoys plain water, so try sparkling water or add a slice of lemon or lime, or adding no-added-sugar squash.

. Eat plenty of fruit and veg 

It’s recommended that we eat at least 5 portions of fruit and veg per day, comprising of a wide variety as they contain different combinations of vitamins and minerals. Fear not though, it is actually easier than it may sound. Merely a 150ml glass of unsweetened 100% fruit juice or smoothie counts as 1 portion, with vegetables cooked into dishes – i.e. into bolognaise sauce – can also count. Chopping up fruit to put on top of your morning cereal is another quick and easy way to bolster fruit intake.

. Get enough sleep

Past studies have shown that the gap between getting just enough and too little sleep may have a negative impact on a person’s health, mood, weight, and even their sex life. The majority of adults require about 7 to 8 hours of good quality sleep each night, on a regular schedule. Those finding it hard to get enough sleep should alter their routine to accommodate for sleep. It isn’t just important to get a certain number hours of sleep, the quality of sleep is vital too in order to feel rested when you awake.

. Limit alcohol intake

Drinking more than the recommended units of alcohol per day (3-4 for men, 2-3 for women) can have a detrimental impact to your heart health. Excessive alcohol can raise the quantity of a type of fat in the blood known as triglycerides and also lead to abnormal heart rhythms, high blood pressure, heart failure, stroke and obesity. Excess weight may then even cause type 2 diabetes. For those concerned that they are drinking too much and want to reduce their alcohol intake, Medical Specialists® Pharmacy can provide alcohol dependency treatment Selincro (nalmefene) to suitable patients.

. Stop smoking

Smoking damages the lining of the arteries, limiting the space for blood to travel through. The carbon monoxide in cigarettes also reduces the amount of oxygen able to get to the heart and other areas of the body, forcing the heart to work much harder to supply the body with the oxygen it requires. The dangers of smoking are further explained on the British Heart Foundation’s website, but remember that smokers are at double the risk of suffering a heart attack compared to those that have not previously smoked, and smoking is the primary reason for a wide range of different types of cancer. Smoking cessation treatments such as Champix can help people quit smoking for good and reduce the risk of cancer and major heart problems.

We hope these 8 tips get you on the road to a healthier lifestyle which will both boost your energy, but also cut the risk of developing serious health problems in the future. Obviously, there are countless ways to improve health and wellbeing, but at Medical Specialists®, we believe that sustaining these 8 factors are particularly vital for your long-term general health.

British men warned about buying dodgy and dangerous fake Viagra online

Medical Specialists® Pharmacy have worked tirelessly for many years to warn men about the dangers of buying cheap and potentially fatal fake Viagra pills, both online and from that dodgy geezer down the pub.

If price is the concern with men, it need not be anymore! Since Pfizer’s Viagra patent expired in 2013, other drug manufacturers can now produce ED treatments that contain Viagra’s active ingredient, sildenafil. To put it into context, prices of generic sildenafil from Medical Specialists® work out from as little as £1.54 a tablet through an online consultation, and just £1.35 if the patient already has a private prescription ready to send to the pharmacy.

Therefore, there is no excuse for following the lead of one 36-year-old man from Herefordshire, who last week spoke to the Daily Mail Online about his “horrible” experience as a way to warn other men about the dangers of buying inexpensive and fake Viagra pills online.

The countless warnings the Manchester-based pharmacy has given over the years – such as describing the filthy environment the pills are produced in and listing some of the toxic ingredients sometimes added to the ingredients of the counterfeits – has therefore been validated with the unfortunate male featured in the Daily Mail.

The low price of these poorly made knock-off erectile dysfunction (ED) tablets might appeal to people in a day and age where money is tight, but why put your life at risk for the sake of a few quid?
Another reason why men might be driven to buying cheap impotence pills online – on top of some money saved – could possibly be the potential embarrassment of speaking to a doctor about problems ‘down there’.

There is no reason to be afraid of speaking to a GP though, he or she will have previously spoken to thousands of men suffering with similar issues and it will be nothing new to them. Erectile dysfunction is a very common condition, especially prominent in older men. Furthermore, around half of all men between the ages of 40 and 70 will have it to some degree.

Of course, there are obviously men who will flat-out refuse to see a doctor face-to-face and fortunately there are genuine online pharmacies out there such as Medical Specialists®, who provide online consultations where men can answer a series of medical questions and have this reviewed by a GMC-registered doctor. The doctor will assess the patient’s suitability for that particular drug using the answers provided, and the patient will be contacted if there is an issue raised or if further information is required.

The man in question featured in the Daily Mail story had come out of a long-term relationship and was getting back into the dating scene. However, the 36-year-old chef began his dinner-date with a young woman, and soon began to suffer with something a little more than ‘nerves’.

The father-of-two felt his heart rapidly beating, his head thumping and he was pouring with sweat. Things were so bad he even feared he was having cardiac arrest.

It soon hit home that the symptoms were his own doing. Feeling optimistic about the night’s proceedings, the man had swallowed a small, blue, diamond-shaped pill before the date, one of 10 ‘Viagra’ pills he had bought online for £25. Bearing in mind that Viagra is manufactured in boxes of 4 and 8 tablets, this is the first clue that all is not what it seems.

“Before I even got to the date, I started to feel really hot and sweaty,” he said. “I thought it might be nerves — but then my heart started going really fast, I got a headache and felt a bit woozy.”

“I felt horrible for two days,” he said. “I couldn’t sleep, my nose was blocked, I was dehydrated and I had red blotches all over my face.” After a quick check online, he quickly realised his ED medication didn’t resemble a genuine Viagra pill and he had been sold fakes.

“I crushed them up and flushed them all down the toilet, because there was no way I was going to take them again,” he said.

“I only took them as a back-up. I’d never had any problems before, but I just wanted to be sure. I would never buy anything like that online again, and I wouldn’t recommend anyone else to do so either.”

Not surprisingly, the date didn’t go too well. Instead of a passion-filled evening, the man found himself alone in bed at home and considering a trip to A&E.

Hopefully men around the country will take heed from this man’s experience, but unfortunately figures demonstrate how the illegal market in fake or unlicensed erectile dysfunction pills has increased in recent years.

In the last year alone, officials have seized in excess of £11 million worth of these types of drugs. This represents a rise of 3 times the amount seized from the year previous and a 15-fold increase on the £740,000 haul apprehended during 2013.

For those concerned about how to spot a fake online pharmacy from a real one, Medical Specialists® has already listed some of the most common red flags to be aware of when browsing online.

As mentioned earlier, there is no need to be embarrassed about experiencing ED. It is a common condition that more men are finally starting to feel comfortable talking about. Men need not seek out their mate down the pub for pills that could contain any number of dangerous chemicals, or buy cheap fakes from illegal websites, especially when genuine Viagra or genuine generic sildenafil ED treatments can be obtained from a well-respected, fully registered MHRA-approved pharmacy like Medical Specialists®, from as little as £1.35.

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.”