They may not have decided what to buy their loved ones for Christmas but it seems plenty of men are gearing up for a very happy festive period according to sales data for erectile dysfunction drugs.
Pharmacies have reported a spike in prescriptions for popular medication to sustain erections.
Reports suggest there has been an increase in demand by as much as up to 61 per cent, compared with a typical month.
According to figures released by Oxford Online Pharmacy, the last week of November and early December consistently shows the highest peaks for prescriptions in pills such as Viagra.
The store also claims it is expecting sales of a new generic version of Cialis – that lasts up to eight times longer than Viagra and costs as little as £2 – to rocket.
Most major pharmacies – including Superdrug, LloydsPharmacy and Boots – are set to stock tadalafil this month after Cialis’ patent in the UK ran out last week.
Experts believe the rise in sales is two fold – many will be looking forward to more spontaneous sex but there will be others who will need help due to the stress of Christmas which can impact men physically.
Pressure at Christmas can impact on men physically, explains pharmacist (stock image)
Oxford Online Pharmacy revealed it sells 657 prescriptions in an average month. Between November 20 and December in 2015 it sold 1,060 – a rise of 61 per cent.
Last year it was 933 – a rise of 41 per cent. Therefore, the firm plans for sales to roughly double around this period.
Owner Stuart Gale, said: ‘Christmas can be a pressure pot of financial worries and emotional stress and for men this can impact them physically, manifesting as a difficulty achieving and maintaining an erection.
‘Medication to treat this condition is limited on the NHS and this, combined with the removal of stigma around ED, and the emergence of legitimate online doctor and pharmacy services, has led to more and more men going online to access treatment.’
With Cialis costing £7.22 per tablet, Mr Gale is expecting the generic version it now sells from £2.49 a pill to prove popular.
‘Now that we are stocking tadalafil, we are particularly expecting demand for that to go through the roof,’ he said.
‘Because it has a longer lasting effect, it allows men to have more spontaneous sex without the interruption of having to take a pill and wait for it to work.
‘Many will feel this is ideal over the Christmas period, so they can relax with their loved one and enjoy some intimacy.
‘Although the medication lasts for up to 36 hours, it does not mean a man will have an erection throughout that time – it should only happen when he is sexually stimulated.’
Tadalafil may become available on the NHS
Since the price fall, tadalafil could soon be available on prescription on the NHS.
Branded drugs such as Cialis and Viagra are not widely available for impotency sufferers on the NHS, except in certain circumstances.
Cialis, or tadalafil, works in a similar way to Viagra, in that it increases the flow of blood to the penis, helping men achieve and maintain an erection.
However, the biggest difference between the two is the amount of time their effects last.
Tadalafil allows men to achieve erections for up to 36 hours after taking a tablet
Viagra remains effective for four to six hours, whereas 36-hour lasting tadalafil is nicknamed the ‘weekend pill’ for its longer half life.
Superdrug, LloydsPharmacy and Boots have confirmed they will be shortly stocking it but have not yet revealed their prices.
You must still have a prescription from your GP to obtain tadalafil, even online.
The branded medicines are currently only available on the NHS for people with erectile dysfunction with certain conditions including diabetes, multiple sclerosis, Parkinson’s disease and prostate cancer.
The NHS website states they are also sometimes available for men experiencing ‘severe distress’ as a result of impotency, but only after an assessment at a specialist centre.
When asked if the drug will be made more widely available for ED sufferers, an NHS England spokesperson said: ‘Anything that lowers costs is welcome, and we are currently consulting on extending the presumption that people should be able to buy their own over the counter medicines direct, where appropriate.’
Warning over fake meds
Mr Gale warned customers over the danger of buying controlled medicines from websites that do not ask for a prescription.
He said: ‘There can be a temptation to acquire the medication without prescription and we often hear stories of people experiencing the adverse effects of doing so.
‘We want to remind those seeking medication online of the easy steps they can take to verify a website’s legitimacy.’
Legitimate online pharmacies feature the logos of the official regulatory bodies governing the industry.
These are: The GPhC (General Pharmaceutical Council), The MHRA (Medicines & Healthcare products Regulatory Agency) and The CQC (Care Quality Commission).
Logos will be live links and will take the user through to the pharmacy’s registration pages.
Mr Gale said ED can knock men’s self-esteem and impact on relationships.
‘Often men suffering with ED get stuck in a spiral of fear of failure,’ he said. ‘If symptoms are driven by psychological issues, knowing they are physically able to respond to their partner can greatly improve any negative feelings they may have towards sex.
‘ED treatments can provide the necessary kick-start to get everything going again, giving them one less thing to worry about this holiday season.’
VIAGRA VERSUS CIALIS
Both Viagra and Cialis work in the same way as they are PDE-5 inhibitors but contain different active ingredients
Both Viagra and Cialis are PDE-5 inhibitors. They relax the smooth muscles in the blood vessels supplying the penis. This relaxation increases blood flow to aid an erection.
However, Viagra and Cialis have different active ingredients. In Viagra it’s sildenafil, while in Cialis it is tadalafil.
Some men may react better to one active ingredient than the other.
However, both sildenafil and tadalafil work via the same mechanism so you should never take the two drugs together.
Tadalafil is faster-acting than sildenafil. You can take tadalafil as little as 30 minutes before you plan to have sex; whereas sildenafil must be taken at least one hour before sex.
You should also take Viagra on an empty stomach. If you have a large meal shortly before taking a pill, it will slow down the rate at which it takes effect.
In contrast, you can take tadalafil before or after eating.
The biggest difference between Viagra/sildenafil and Cialis/tadalafil is the amount of time their effects last.
Viagra remains effective for four to six hours, whereas tadalafil typically allows you to achieve erections for up to 36 hours after taking a tablet.
Although tadalafil lasts for up to 36 hours, this does not mean you will have an erection throughout that time – it should only happen when you are sexually stimulated.
Source: Lloyds Pharmacy