Like the discovery of penicillin by Alexander Fleming or the modern study of neurophysiology by Luigi Galvani, Viagra too revealed its medicinal wonder by chance 10 years ago. In 1985, scientists in a small town of Sandwich in Kent were working to find a chemical composition for a pill to fight angina and hypertension. Years later they discovered Viagra by accident. These facts relating to the “blue revolution” were told by Dr. John Dean, President-elect, International Society for Sexual Medicine, at the 10th anniversary celebration of Viagra organized by African Gulf Society for Sexual Medicine here earlier this month. In 1993 first placebo trial of Sildenafil, which later came to be known as Viagra, began on 3,000 patients. The US Food and Drug Administration approved Viagra on March 27, 1998. For first three months after its approval by FDA, 2.9 million prescriptions were issued. And since then, Viagra – like its medicinal effect – has seen a meteoric rise. “It's important for men, for wife. It is important for the Mideast,” said Dr. Dean. Why Viagra is important for the Mideast was explained by Dr. Amr Momtaz Jad, Consultant Urologist and Andrologist in Riyadh. Obesity, hypertension, diabetes are some of the factors that may lead to erectile dysfunction (ED). Incidence of these diseases is high in the Mideast – especially in Saudi Arabia – because of the lifestyle. Considering the fact that ED patients also suffer from many other diseases like cardiovascular problems, safety of Viagra is of prime concern for its makers Pfizer. “Seventy-five percent of cardiac patients have ED. Fifty percent of those who suffer from angina have ED,” said Dr. Tarek Anis, President Pan-Arab Society for Sexual Medicine. He said 10 years of the success of Viagra means, the drug is safe, effective, unique and original. The precautions the speakers at the gathering suggested were that it should not be taken over the counter, its dose should be prescribed and that it should not be taken with nitrates. Dr. Amr in his address emphasized the importance of sex education to get rid of many unfounded taboos. “Sex education,” he said, “is different from sensual education.” __
