Viagra was the drug that changed the world in 1998 and revolutionised treatment for men with erectile dysfunction (ED). Cialis was the second ED drug brought to market and earned the nickname The Weekend Pill as it’s duration of action is 36 hours (Viagra lasts for 4 hours). Other tablets to treat ED are Levitra and Spedra.
Viagra has been ‘off patent’ since 2013 which means legal copies of the drug can now be sold in the UK as generics called sildenafil, and there are now many brands of sildenafil available. The patent for Cialis expired November 2017 and lower cost generic Tadalafil is also now available. Read in full
The BMJ (British Medical Journal) is an international, peer reviewed, influential and widely read medical journal.
Tony Steele, a general practitioner, set up online medical services through his website, DrFox (www.doctorfox.co.uk), two years ago. He told the BMJ that many routine face to face consultations with GPs could be done safely online. He said, “It should be possible to do the necessary safety checks without interfering with primary care’s function. We are aware that some treatment areas are complex, and we don’t get involved in that. Hay fever or malaria medication would normally involve an appointment with the doctor, whereas online it may actually be better.” The site also provides copious written information for patients.
Steele told the BMJ, “We know that in ED [erectile dysfunction], the NHS will fund only small quantities [of drugs], and most men don’t qualify for a supply on the NHS, so it will likely be a private prescription anyway. Many people with busy lives might need a stopgap when they can’t get it from their GP, they are busy at work, or have travel commitments. We would only do this if there is the mechanism for making sure it was safe and by doing the necessary checks.”
Steele is aware that his service doesn’t have access to notes on medical history. He said, “We are more conservative than any other clinic we know.” He also said that a GP’s contact details are required when women request repeat supplies of contraceptive pills or cystitis treatment. However, for other treatments between 20% and 30% of patients ask for details not to be sent to their GP. The DrFox website has 2500 visitors a day, with 5% making an order. Half these orders are repeat prescriptions, especially for erectile dysfunction drugs, travel drugs, and cystitis. The site has issued 70 000 prescriptions to date, with no reported adverse effects (personal communication).
It’s normal to want to check that the company you’re buying your medication online from is legitimate. When it comes to your health, making sure you get the right dose for the right problem is crucial. If it isn’t, you could end up needing more serious treatment. That’s why this page is here – to make sure you know exactly why Dr Fox is the right option for you. Read in full
Erectile dysfunction is a condition that is usually experienced by ageing men – but it isn’t always the older generations who are affected by it. Younger men can also experience erectile dysfunction and it certainly isn’t that unusual if you are experiencing it yourself.
If you do think you have erectile dysfunction, no matter what age you are, the most important thing to do is to see your GP. This is because the condition can be a symptom of other issues, such as diabetes. It could also be caused by something in your lifestyle, such as excessive consumption of alcohol. Your doctor will check your history to see what might be causing your problems.
However, in many younger men, the cause of erectile dysfunction isn’t medical at all. Very often, the cause of it is performance anxiety. This is a psychological issue that needs to be taken seriously, as the feelings of anxiety can often be deep rooted and need to be dealt with. Read in full
Dominic Littlewood from Fake Britain (BBC) follows Operation Pangea aimed at stopping the multi-billion pound international trade in fake medicines run by sophisticated drug gangs, and the UK dealers that make thousands from peddling them.
Operation Pangea is an international week of action tackling the online sale of counterfeit and illicit medicines and highlighting the dangers of buying medicines online. Coordinated by INTERPOL, the annual operation brings together customs, health regulators, national police and the private sector from countries around the world.
Activities target the three principal components used by illegal websites to conduct their trade – the Internet Service Provider (ISP), payment systems and the delivery service.
The operation has gained significant momentum since its launch in 2008. The first phase of the operation brought together 10 countries, with the number rising to more than 80 in 2011.
In May 2012 Dr Fox commissioned a survey of 2000 women regarding Unprotected Sex particularly when on holiday – the results were surprising and widely reported in the national media including The Sun, Daily Star, Mail Online, More magazine and others, plus many more online news and blog sites.
In recent years, many countries including the UK have taken significant action to try and reduce the number of people who smoke. One of the first major steps came in 2003, when tobacco advertising was banned. A few years later in 2007, it became illegal to smoke in public buildings.
Now the UK is taking further action and introduced a ban in April 2012 to stop shops from displaying cigarettes, similar to bans that already exist in some other countries such as Iceland and Norway. One of the aims of the display ban is to try and make cigarettes less tempting to young people but while it has many supporters, some have taken objection to the action. For instance, some small retailers and big tobacco firms are against the ban as they think it could harm business. Read in full
Research carried out in the US by Roger Bate, Ginger Zhe Jin and Aparna Mathur, and published in March 2012 concluded that, apart from Viagra bought from completely unregulated overseas websites, other medicines bought online were likely to be 100% genuine.
Researchers tested the authenticity of 370 samples bought from 41 online pharmacies, both regulated and unregulated, and found that they were all genuine, except for Viagra bought from a minority of completely unregulated overseas sites. Read in full
Dr Fox has been featured in an article by Margaret McCartney in the British Medical Journal: 
Erectile dysfunction
In recent years, many countries including the UK have taken significant action to try and reduce the number of people who smoke. One of the first major steps came in 2003, when tobacco advertising was banned. A few years later in 2007, it became illegal to smoke in public buildings.
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