JEDDAH: Pharmacists in Jeddah are competing to promote four well-known medications to treat impotency, to earn commissions from pharmaceutical companies, but some are doing so without the required doctors' prescriptions. A tour of pharmacies by Okaz/Saudi Gazette showed that 65 percent dispense medicines without a prescription. Only 35 percent comply with health directives requiring the desired prescriptions. No place for shyness Dr. Ridha Mahmood Matbouli, a consultant at King Abdulaziz Hospital, said it is dangerous for patients to purchase impotency medication without consulting a doctor. This is often done because they are too embarrassed to see a medical professional. “This category of patients believe that the experiences and advice from friends will help them choose the suitable type of medicine, especially since they are the same age,” he said. “They are ignoring the fact that they could be exposing themselves to great danger, especially because the person suffering from impotency ignores his medical history and possible consequences of mixing medicines if they are suffering from other diseases like diabetes, hypertension and heart problems. These people also do not have their cases studied by specialists so they don't have the suitable medicine prescribed for them.” Matbouli said there are many causes of impotence. Some are psychological and others are natural, caused by conditions such as arteriosclerosis or damage to the nerves and tissues. Impotence is relatively common among diabetics and obesity increases its probability, he added. Matbouli stressed there is no room for shyness in such matters and advised sufferers to seek the help of specialist doctors. Proper treatment would have a positive impact on their health and ensure psychological stability in their marriages. Causes of erectile dysfunction Dr. Muhammad Abdul Aziz, a consultant in treating erectile dysfunction, agrees with Matbouli. “The use of these medicines without medical diagnosis and without seeing the pertinent specialist doctor is fraught with many risks,” he said. “The condition differs from one patient to another and the doses differ from one patient to another. Taking these medicines on the basis of advice from friends and their experiences, which might be successful from their personal perspective, deprives the patients from pinpointing the causes of the disease and prescribing the type of medicine, especially since the concentration of various medicines differ.” Abdul Aziz said 40 percent of men over 40 suffer from different degrees of erectile dysfunction, which can continue for a short period and disappear, if it is caused by psychological issues. Abdul Aziz concluded that “visiting the doctor would specify the required treatment and prevent the adverse effects of the random use of medicine”. Inspection teams Dr. Sami Muhammad Badawood, Director of Health Affairs in Jeddah, agreed that taking prescription medication without seeing a doctor can be dangerous and said inspection teams are monitoring more than 1,000 pharmacies in Jeddah. Badawood stressed the need to increase awareness among patients that they should see doctors because each case is different. He said there is a penalty of up to SR50,000 for dispensing medicine without a prescription. The pharmacy is closed down if the violation is repeated.
