NEWS
Little Blue Pills: Viagra Use And Gay Men
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Let's Take a Few Steps Backward
Like many prescription drugs, Viagra was discovered by accident. In the late '80s, male volunteers in trials for an experimental angina treatment reported a peculiar side effect—increased erections during sexual arousal. Researchers were more than happy to take a second look at the compound, called sildenafil citrate, since it was looking pretty useless in preventing heart attacks. They found instead that it was remarkably effective at prolonging erections. It increases blood flow into erectile tissue by blocking an enzyme called phosphodiesterase type 5 that would otherwise cause all those spongy muscle cells to deflate. (That's why Viagra, and its competitors, Cialis and Levitra, are known as PDE5-inhibitors.)
A new drug that extends erections had blockbuster written all over it, and Pfizer wasted no time in winning approval for the first-ever impotence treatment in 1998. But "impotence" being a downer of a word, the company renamed the medical condition "erectile dysfunction" for labeling purposes. Then it flooded the market with bright blue, diamond-shaped pills that bore the subliminally suggestive name of Viagra ("vital" plus "Niagra" promising the ultimate orgasm), topped off with a TV ad blitz featuring the losing presidential candidate, former Sen. Bob Dole; a 77-year-old Pelé, the Brazilian soccer phenom; and other famous seniors. Sales topped $1 billion in its first year. Who knew erectile dysfunction was such a neglected diagnosis?
Of course, a growing number of prescriptions were for guys, like Justin M., who were neither old nor impotent. The little blue pill fast became a mainstay in the medicine cabinets of gay men with HIV, many of whom suffered under a load of libido-killing symptoms ranging from low testosterone to the side effects of antidepressants. Some HIV-negative guys, who tend to have the same gay docs as their poz brothers, soon got in on the act. The most common reason given, when one was required, for why they needed a script was condoms—and how hard they make it on hard-ons. At a time when condom fatigue had been fingered as a cause for the rise in unsafe sex in the gay community, there was a certain logic to the idea that widespread use of Viagra among gay men just might turn the anti-latex tide.
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Like many prescription drugs, Viagra was discovered by accident. In the late '80s, male volunteers in trials for an experimental angina treatment reported a peculiar side effect—increased erections during sexual arousal. Researchers were more than happy to take a second look at the compound, called sildenafil citrate, since it was looking pretty useless in preventing heart attacks. They found instead that it was remarkably effective at prolonging erections. It increases blood flow into erectile tissue by blocking an enzyme called phosphodiesterase type 5 that would otherwise cause all those spongy muscle cells to deflate. (That's why Viagra, and its competitors, Cialis and Levitra, are known as PDE5-inhibitors.)
A new drug that extends erections had blockbuster written all over it, and Pfizer wasted no time in winning approval for the first-ever impotence treatment in 1998. But "impotence" being a downer of a word, the company renamed the medical condition "erectile dysfunction" for labeling purposes. Then it flooded the market with bright blue, diamond-shaped pills that bore the subliminally suggestive name of Viagra ("vital" plus "Niagra" promising the ultimate orgasm), topped off with a TV ad blitz featuring the losing presidential candidate, former Sen. Bob Dole; a 77-year-old Pelé, the Brazilian soccer phenom; and other famous seniors. Sales topped $1 billion in its first year. Who knew erectile dysfunction was such a neglected diagnosis?
Of course, a growing number of prescriptions were for guys, like Justin M., who were neither old nor impotent. The little blue pill fast became a mainstay in the medicine cabinets of gay men with HIV, many of whom suffered under a load of libido-killing symptoms ranging from low testosterone to the side effects of antidepressants. Some HIV-negative guys, who tend to have the same gay docs as their poz brothers, soon got in on the act. The most common reason given, when one was required, for why they needed a script was condoms—and how hard they make it on hard-ons. At a time when condom fatigue had been fingered as a cause for the rise in unsafe sex in the gay community, there was a certain logic to the idea that widespread use of Viagra among gay men just might turn the anti-latex tide.
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4outof6 wrote:
I read this article hoping to find some concrete information about the dangers of recreation viagra use, but instead found typical American sex-phobic pap.
Mar 29 11:52 AM
musclrob wrote:
In response to your article, once again, the heterosexual ruling class is trying to moralize our sexual behaviour. People are their own reason they engage in risky behaviour, not because of any drugs. If anyone pointing the judgemental authoritative finger has bothered to study the biology of the human brain, and look to more rational reasons why anyone, not just gay men, are into risk taking behaviour they would leave the issue of viagra alone. I feel we are constantly made to apologize for who we are and what we do with our body parts--disguised as other issues. All kinds of people, gay and straight abuse viagra. And when one considers the numbers of straights compared to gays there is no doubt in my mind that the amount of straight people abusing this drug is greater--but no one classifies heterosexual casual sex as risky...hmmm. If we as a collective gay consciousness want to reason out why our brothers are engaging in self-destructive behaviour by abusing drugs, sex, etc. then we should have a more intelligent perspective instead of waving the judgemental fairy wand at our brethren. This is what is done to us constantly by heterosexuals. The truth is that this world is not made for people like us, and living in it can become very stressful for some. Without healthy coping mechanisms and social support people reach out for the usual unhealthy coping mechanisms to dissociate from their reality. It is not fair to blame viagra for this behaviour. It is like blaming a car for a bad driver. There are some gay men, like myself, who honestly need this drug. I am not ashamed to admit something like that because I do not moralize my body. As we age this is what can happen. So to encapsulate all gay men as viagra abusers is unfair. There are some of us, believe it or not, that are well adjusted human beings. We live and behave responsibly. We are the ones who constantly have to defend ourselves against this negative stereotyping. If I use a drug like this I use it respons
Feb 13 6:24 PM
lion wrote:
Bollox
its amaizing. and i have done it for 2 years, well i am 33 and my bf 70. sometimes i dont need it and sometimes a half is beta the the whole thing, but in all i think it is needed for our instant society, helps alot. i still get a stiffy without it, maybe even more. yes i think its addictive, but then i know the older people live with tablets all their life and keeps them alive. thats all they can talk of. .... question do you smpke drink or take blue pills, ......everything in excess. he heee
Feb 02 3:17 PM
cuttopman wrote:
I am a healthy in shape 48 year old gay white male. I have been out and practicing 30 years. I have an active social life and drink alcohol. Gave up ciarettes and coffee ten years ago, but am not a fanatic about anything. I do work out a couple times a week. A couple years ago I was playing with a guy 7 years older. He was doing Viagra everytime we played. I tried it. One day he left the whole bottle at my house and I took two. Yes I had a non stop hard on for two days but I felt ill and didn't enjoy it. I returned his script bottle and have abstained from Viagra since totally. I have to be really tired or stressed or both to fail to get hard. I wake with a woody every morning. I will say a not hot partner might not be a turn on but I'll really have to be turned off to try Viagra again. I really feel that America is a nation of hypocondriacs and that running to the doctors for every little complaint is unhealthy. I was raised by an MD and think the best bet at staying happy and healthy is staying away from the medical profession unless you are married or related to one or have a real issue!
Sincerely
BUFU
Still horny in PS
Feb 02 8:21 AM
LocksMan wrote:
Feb 02 6:12 AM
hughb wrote:
Very interesting, I have been thinking to try it! We all want a good stiffy! but am still not sure..it is great to read what appears to me to be a very balanced article.
Feb 01 10:06 AM
italmusclebkn wrote:
This is *my* perspective, that's all. You don't think SSRI use could possibly *cause* problems too? They adjust brain chemistry and behavior (of course the person on them isn't as likely to see that, because. And the article in response to which we're posting these comments is about Viagra, which doesn't specifically target brain chemistry. To paraphrase, neither does viagra fill our jails, and cause people to loose their families, jobs, and bank accounts. The point was about inappropriate use of prescription drugs.
Feb 01 4:13 AM
pauzaojoao wrote:
Antidepressants and antianxiety drugs are every bit as harmful as crystal meth?? While I agree that the article is really well researched, thought out and written, it's a bit hyperbolic (not to mention inaccurate) to equate meth use with benzos and SSRIs. I agree that antidepressant use, in particular, is way out of control. Sleeping pills too. But even they don't ruin lives, fills our jails, and cause folks to lose their friends, families, jobs and bank accounts. A little perspective please!!
Feb 01 3:01 AM
italmusclebkn wrote:
Phenomenal. Finally, a well written article that doesn't sound like it was written by the marketing department of a pharma company.
Of course this is only one facet of a far more prominent issue. Isn't anyone frustrated from meeting guys who are pill poppers in general?
It's become socially acceptable to pop a pill for most any inconvenience in life, even if the challenge is something that until only recently had always been considered a normal part of life. I'm so sick of meeting guys who are dependent on xanax, zoloft, and whatever other drug of choice, that I no longer even ask about the reasons. There is only so many times you can hear the same sob story "but you don't understand, I'd lost my job", "Mom had cancer," "the dog pooped on the carpet all the time." Antidepressants and antianxiety drugs are every bit as harmful as crystal meth, because more people take them and the effects are more insidious. How about an article on that? It would counter the sandblasting of Lexapro and Lunesta ads we're subjected to every time we log onto gay.com.
Jan 31 4:35 AM
peterstrong wrote:
Terrific article!
well done Walter Armstrong!
Jan 31 3:24 AM