Ruth talks with Ben.
Pharmacist: Now that we have some privacy, lets talk a little more about why you’ve come here today.
Ben: I hadn’t had intercourse since my wife died but I’ve tried a few times recently with my new partner and it’s just not happening.
Ruth: I can understand that must be frustrating
Ben: Yes… I thought all my problems were over when they fixed my heart.
Ruth: You mentioned at the start of our conversation that you had stopped taking your medications is that the reason?
Ben: I suppose I had two reasons, the first was I felt so well after my operation a year ago that I felt I didn’t need them and secondly I was worried if I started them again it might make my problem worse.
Ruth: OK let’s see if I fully understand what’s going on. You had your PCI done a year ago and felt really well after it so stopped your medications as you didn’t feel they were necessary. You then entered into a new relationship and you noticed you were having a problem with impotence and were scared restarting the medications may make things worse.
Ben: Yes that about sums it up.
Ruth: As I explained earlier I can’t offer you viagra as you require a prescription for it. My advice would be to make an appointment with your GP to discuss the impotence and the issues you are having with your medication. How does that sound to you?
Ben: Thank you for listening I will go to the GP and now I’ve talked about it once I will hopefully find it easier to speak to the GP.
Pulse point
Viagra belongs to a class of medications known as Phosphodiesterase-5 (PDE-5) inhibitors
Phosphodiesterase-5 (PDE-5) inhibitors are one of the most widely used and effective types of medication for treating ED. They work by temporarily increasing the blood flow to the penis.
There are different named PDE-5 inhibitors are available for treating ED. They are:
- Sildenafil – sold under the brand name Viagra
- Tadalafil – sold under the brand name Cialis
- Vardenafil – sold under the brand name Levitra
Sildenafil, Tadalafil and Vardenafil
- They should be used with caution in cardiovascular disease and are contraindicated if the patient is receiving nitrates.
- They are not licensed as an NHS prescription except to treat ED in have diabetes, multiple sclerosis, Parkinson’s disease, poliomyelitis, prostate cancer, severe pelvic injury, single gene neurological disease, spina bifida, or spinal cord injury;
- are receiving dialysis for renal failure;
- have had radical pelvic surgery, prostatectomy (including transurethral resection of the prostate), or kidney transplant;
- were receiving Caverject®, Erecnos®, MUSE®, Viagra®, or Viridal® for erectile dysfunction, at the expense of the NHS, on 14 September 1998;
- are suffering severe distress as a result of impotence (prescribed in specialist centres only, see notes above).
Page last reviewed: 04 Jun 2020
