Over-counter help for men
Men have access to erectile dysfunction treatment at pharmacies after a worldfirst move to make the medication available over the counter.
Erectile dysfunction treatment Silvasta (sildenafil) has been available over the counter without a doctor’s prescription for the last two months.
Drug manufacturer Douglas Pharmaceuticals has gained approval from Medsafe’s Medicines Reclassification Body to have it reclassified and accessible through trained pharmacists.
Clinical psychologist and relationship therapist Nic Beets of Glendowie hopes it will encourage more men to seek help.
‘‘Making it more available is a good thing.
‘‘What we know is, rather than going to their doctor and having a conversation, people will spend lots of money on drugs bought online that actually aren’t going to work at all.
‘‘Whether they’re willing to have a conversation with their chemist rather than their doctor I don’t know, but I hope so.’’
Beets says more men are prepared to talk about the problem than was the case 20 years ago but it is still a tough subject to broach for many.
‘‘For a lot of men there is an enormous amount of their sense of self bound up in their sexual functioning.
‘‘So not being able to get an erection or sustain an erection, for a lot of men it really makes them feel bad about themselves – they are less of a man, less valuable, less wanted.’’
This then has wider implications for relationships, he says.
‘‘Sadly a significant minority of partners then take it personally: ‘If my man can’t get an erection it’s because I’m not sexy enough, I’m not attractive enough’.’’
Central city pharmacist Ban Quillinchi has had a number of men enquiring about the drug since it became available.
Sildenafil has been on the New Zealand market as a prescription medicine for 14 years.
Quillinchi says better access to the drug is an important step forward.
‘‘From my experience working with business people in the city in the last six years I’ve noticed that men in particular don’t like to go to their doctor,’’ she says.
‘‘But men have been happy to sit and have a chat about it, even if it means they are not going to buy it.
‘‘They will still talk about their problem which is a good step towards addressing it.’’
Silvasta is only available to men aged 35 to 70.
When someone inquires about the drug they have a private consultation with a pharmacist involving a screening checklist which includes a blood pressure and heart rate check.
A pharmacist can then prescribe the drug if the person meets the criteria.
Quillinchi says the consultation can uncover underlying medical conditions which men have been putting off discussing with a doctor.