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Journalism of Courage
NEW DELHI, JAN 10: The Indian version of Viagra that hits markets this week is neither a cure for impotence nor an aphrodisiac. Experts who approved its use have advised Indians not to misuse the drug.
‘‘It is merely a temporary aid for those suffering from erectile dysfunction and will not help men who have no sexual desire,’’ said Dr Ranjit Ray Chaudhury, who heads the Toxocology review panel of the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR).
Ashwini Kumar, Drug Controller of India (DCI), chided pharmaceutical companies for ‘‘conspiring with the media’’ to create a hype about the drug, saying that men will be disappointed if they believed it is a pleasure pill.
‘‘All this hype is unethical. Pharmaceutical companies are trying to boost sales even though the drug can’t be sold without a prescription,’’ Kumar said.
‘‘The drug is not a pleasure pill or an aphrodisiac and people who use it as a sexual stimulant will be disappointed. The drug will be benefit only those suffering from erectile dysfunction. Hence, it is to be sold only against prescription by urologists, endocrinlogists and pshychiatrists.’’
Asked if it could harm those who used the pill despite not having any disorder, he said the drug was safe except when used in certain conditions (see box). Kumar said the drug had been studied in trials on 3,000 persons in 30 centres all over the country. Even the ICMR studied the effects before a final approval on Monday by the DCI.
Ranbaxy, Sun Pharma and Cadila Zydus have been given the licence to market it, and six others are likely to join the market in a week. Asked about side-effects, Kumar said the drug should be avoided by patients of heart and chest diseases. The medicine reacts adversely with nitrates taken by heart patients.
Ranjit Ray Chaudhry from ICMR’s Toxicology review panel said the drug is the same despite various brandnames such as Penegra and Cavorta. It is similar to Viagra, which was developed by Pfizer after a medicine meant for heart disease was discovered to have sex-arousing factors, Chaudhry said. He said the pill should be sold only on prescription for it is forbidden for people who suffer from coronary heart disease, angina or anginal pain. Its use should be stopped on experiencing a difficulty in vision.
‘‘The medicine was given to us by the DCI a year ago. We asked the companies to use it in specialised centres on prescription. The results were to be fed back to the DCI and the Toxic review committee.’’
