16 Oct 2014

Erectile dysfunction pill more available

6:38 pm on 16 October 2014

In a world first, pills to treat erectile dysfunction will soon be available to buy over the counter at New Zealand pharmacies.

Medsafe has agreed to reclassify the drug Silvasta, which contains the same active ingredient as Viagra, so it can be sold without a prescription from a doctor.

The New Zealand owned manufacturer of Silvasta, Douglas Pharmaceuticals, hopes the reclassification will encourage men who are too embarrassed to ask their GP for a prescription, to get treatment.

It said while roughly half of men over 40 suffer from erectile dysfunction, only 20 percent talk to their doctor about the condition.

In order to sell Silvasta, pharmacists have to complete a special training course.

Douglas Pharmaceuticals hopes the first pharmacies will complete that course and begin selling the drug in a matter of weeks.

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