US: Viagra abuse linked to HIV
Anti impotence drugs like Viagra could be forced to carry warnings about possible links to sexually transmitted infections, Reuters reports.
According to the Reuters news service, San Francisco health officials have petitioned the US Federal government to respond to the knock-on effects of Viagra abuse by gay men.
A San Francisco health department spokesman said anti-impotence drugs increased gay men’s abilities to have more sex, sometimes with more partners. Drugs like Viagra also countered the temporary impotence caused by other drugs such as crystal meth, he said.
We think that, because of the increased duration of erection, the increased blood flow, it actually increases the physical risk of getting an STD or HIV infection when having sex with an infected partner, the spokesman told Reuters.
A Pfizer spokesman told Reuters the company would oppose the extra labelling saying people needed to take personal responsibility for their sexual behaviour. Pfizer had already created an extensive education campaign about the drug, he said.
