Viagra (sildenafil) has reached its 20th anniversary two years ago with more than USD 1.8 billion sales worldwide. Originally developed as a blood pressure treatment, Viagra has helped millions of men in dealing with Erectile Dsyfunctions (ED)s.
Based on NHS data published by the Guardian, there were 2.9 million prescriptions for sildenafil in 2016 in the UK, compared with 1 million in 2006.
Despite rising sales, there has been more than 2,500 Viagra-related cases reported by the UK Medicines & Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) – which include cases related to:
- Cardiac disorders – 292 cases
- Nervous system disorders – 324 cases
- Eye disorders – 193 cases
- Gastrointenstinal disorders – 131 cases
These noticeable side effects from Viagra are widely reported from Pfizer’s official website and many other sources.
Beyond the UK shores, there are more than 1,000 lawsuit cases against Viagra (sildenafil) have been filed in the US – mainly on cases related to melanoma, a type of skin cancer – thus causing more fear on the safety of Viagra’s usage over a prolonged period of time.
In recent years however, we found a steady growth of people seeking for alternative natural viagra such as Tongkat Ali, Panax Ginseng, Maca, Horny Goat Weed or even Yohimbine – in line with the increasing herbal sales globally.
The potential benefits of natural viagra continue to be a topic of interest and nonetheless attracted many scientists to validate its health benefits and safety.
Most scientific studies on herbs such as Tongkat Ali showed that the mechanism of action stem from improving testosterone hormones which are primarily responsible in improving libido and other sexual organs.
This change of consumer landscape may have caused by concerns on safety risks and reported cases on Viagra. However, the responsibility lies on UK consumers to access credible information and verify the authenticity of those products.
We will leave that final decision to you.
