AUTHORITIES in Britain have announced that erectile dysfunction drug Viagra (sildenafil) will be available over the counter with the advice of a pharmacist.
Viagra Connect (sildenafil 50mg) will be formally classified from a Prescription Only Medicine (POM) to a Pharmacy Medicine (P) making it available without prescription for use by men over 18 who have erectile dysfunction.
The UK Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) said the decision followed a "reassuring assessment of the safety of Viagra Connect" as well as a positive outcome from a public consultation earlier this year.
The medicine will be sold from pharmacies following a discussion with a pharmacist, who will "be able to determine whether treatment is appropriate for the patient," the MHRA said.
The agency said making Viagra more widely available would help direct men who might not otherwise seek help into the health system and away from the risks that come with buying medicines from websites operating illegally.
Viagra Connect will not be sold to those with severe cardiovascular disorders or certain other conditions, who must continue to be supervised by a doctor if taking the erectile dysfunction drug.
The MHRA said over the last five years its investigators had seized over 50m worth of counterfeit erectile dysfunction medicines.
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