Wednesday 30 September 2015

STIs increasing among gay men, according to PHE report

New statistics show that sexually transmitted infection rates amongst gay and bisexual men are spiralling across England.
A report published by Public Health England on 23 June gave a startling insight into the nation’s carefree/careless attitudes towards sex it seems, with to quote: “high levels of condomless sex” in general and “rapid” transmission of infections in HIV-positive men.
The report was compiled using the annual data for sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and national chlamydia screening programme (NCSP), which has been released for 2014.
Although across all groups in England, the number of sexually transmitted infections actually fell by 0.3% from the previous year, to 439,243 new cases, public health officials are becoming deeply concerned about the rise in STI cases among men who have sex with other men.
“We are particularly concerned about the large rise in diagnoses among gay men. Health promotion and education to increase risk awareness and encourage safer sexual behaviour remain the cornerstones of STI prevention,” commented Dr. Gwenda Hughes of the PHE, in a statement.
“Ensuring easy access to sexual health services and STI screening is a vital component in the control of STIs,” Hughes added, stating that STI control and the reduction in the STI infection should be made the first public health priority in the UK.
The problem of STIs is unsurprisingly rife across young people aged 25 or under and gay men (gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men).
The Figures for last year depict a shocking 46% rise in syphilis infections, 32% increase for gonorrhoea and 26% in chlamydia.
Broken down into various STIs, the PHE report found:
  • Syphilis infections increased from 2,375 to 3,477
  • Gonorrhoea increased from 13,629 to 18,029
  • Chlamydia diagnoses increased from 9,118 to 11,468
  • Genital warts increased by 10% from 3,156 to 3,456
There remains a major worry regarding gonorrhoea due to the rise of antibiotic-resistant strains of the infection, making it tricky to treat.
Gay men are usually recommended to go for a HIV and STI test every year, or every three months if they are engaging in sex without a condom or with casual sexual partners.
Moreover, PHE advise that all sexually active under-25-year-olds should have a chlamydia test each year and also when they have a new sexual partner.
Dr Michael Brady, the medical director of the Terrence Higgins Trust, said: “The continued rise in both syphilis and gonorrhoea is a worry and evidence that we still have much to do to address the nation’s poor sexual health and rates of STIs in those most at risk.
“We should make better use of new technologies and approaches – local awareness raising through targeted social media based on the geographical breakdown of the data we are seeing today and an offer online testing – to reach those who are not accessing ‘traditional’ services.”
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Teenage births at lowest number since the 1940s


pregnancyOfficial statistics have shown that the number of teenagers giving birth has declined to reach its lowest level in nearly 70 years.
According to the Office for National Statistics (ONS), 25,977 women under the age of 20 gave birth in England and Wales, a figure that represents the lowest number since 1946 when 24,816 children were born.
In total, 695,233 births were recorded during 2014, a decrease of the 3,279 births in 2013. Interestingly, nearly half of the babies were born to unmarried mothers – this is the highest amount since records began. Incidentally, for the same time period, the number of deaths (501,424) had dropped 5,366 from 2013.
The decline in the number of teens giving birth could be attributed to better contraception advice for young women and improved access to abortion services, says a leading pregnancy charity.
The ONS birth stats have also shown:
  • A small increase in the proportion of births to mothers born outside the UK – from 26.5% in 2013 to 27% in 2014.
  • The average age women gave birth was 30.2 years old last year – the highest age since records first began in 1938.
  • The number of babies born to mothers aged 40 and above (29,010) was down slightly (1%) on the recent high of 2011.
  • Peterborough had the highest fertility rate across both England and Wales.
The ONS report states: “In most developed countries women have been increasingly delaying childbearing to later in life, which has resulted in increases in the mean age at first birth and rising fertility rates among older women.
“Although fertility rates for women aged 40 and above have generally been rising fast, fertility among women in their 40s is still considerably lower than for women in their 30s. Women aged 30 to 34 currently have the highest fertility of any age group.”
Ann Furedi, chief executive of the British Pregnancy Advisory Service, described the drop in teenage pregnancies as “noteworthy”.
“This is due in part to the huge improvements we’ve seen in contraception advice and services for younger women, with straightforward access to abortion services when their chosen method lets them down,” she said, adding that the data proves that women over the age of 35 still have a fairly good chance of being able to conceive.
Meanwhile, Louise Silverton, the director for midwifery at the Royal College of Midwives, noted how the increase in the age of mothers in addition to “climbing levels of obesity” demonstrated a requirement for funding for new midwives in the NHS.
The key statistics for births and deaths were:
Most live births per woman
1. Peterborough: 2.34
2. Harlow: 2.31
3. Forest Heath: 2.31
4. Barking & Dagenham 2.28
5. Pendle 2.26
Least live births per woman
1. City of London: 0.96
2. Westminster: 1.20
3. Camden: 1.24
4. Islington: 1.29
5: Kensington & Chelsea: 1.31
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‘Female Viagra’ Addyi given FDA approval in America


addyiThe very first drug aimed at boosting sexual desire in women has been given a US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval.
Specifically, it will treat hypoactive sexual desire disorder (HSDD) – basically a lack of libido that leads to distress, something that is believed to affect between 5.5 million and 8.6 million women in the US.
The little pink tablets will be sold under the brand name Addyi (known generically as flibanserin), and have created plenty of controversy so far, with some questioning their efficacy, possible side-effects and just how much of a need there is for the drug which is being billed as the ‘female Viagra’.
Addyi finally managed to acquire it’s US marketing licence following a laborious third attempt, with manufacturer Sprout Pharmaceuticals hoping that the pill will work wonders for women in a similar manner to that of Pfizer’s Viagra. Viagra caused major excitement after its 1998 launch and gained plenty of celebrity endorsers – actors Michael Douglas and Jack Nicholson to name just a few.
Sprout have announced Addyi is due to be rolled out in America in mid-October, yet it remains to be seen if the company will begin to look at the UK and other European countries, with no word yet on their future plans for the drug. Before any drug is sold in Britain though, it has to receive a license from the European Medicines Agency.
The FDA’s decision to hand Addyi a US marketing licence has been met with joy by campaigners for women’s rights. Recently, the drug licensing committee sat through testimonies of women who argued that the new treatment would bring back the passion and romance of times past, however fears remain that they are simply being led up a blind alley.
For men, there is the previously mentioned famous blue diamond-shaped Viagra pill for erectile dysfunction, along with other impotence treatments such as Cialis, Levitra, Spedra, etc. and premature ejaculation treatments like Priligy and Stud 100 spray, but women have been left behind when it comes to sexual dysfunction treatments. Sprout have found success where others have failed, with Pfizer, Procter & Gamble and others all previously attempting to develop products for the treatment of low sexual desire in women.
However, there are sex and relationship therapists who believe Addyi is only moderately effective, warning it should not be used in conjunction with alcohol; “Because of a potentially serious interaction with alcohol, treatment with Addyi will only be available through certified health care professionals and certified pharmacies,” said Dr Janet Woodcock, director of the FDA’s Center for Drug Evaluation and Research. “Patients and prescribers should fully understand the risks associated with the use of Addyi before considering treatment.”
Clinical trials have previously demonstrated Addyi only gave those women that took the drug merely one extra sexually satisfying experience per month, and there are concerns the drug could cause some potentially serious side-effects.  These can include low blood pressure, nausea and fainting, but alcohol could heighten the severity of the side-effects.
The claims about Addyi being the ‘female Viagra’ could be a little misleading though…unlike Pfizer’s Viagra – which impacts bloodflow – Addyi works on brain chemicals related to mood and appetite, not to dissimilar to a class of drugs known as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRI’s), comprising of antidepressants such as Prozac.
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Online Pharmacy urges the nation to get behind Sexual Health Week 2015


sexual health week 2015Medical Specialists® Pharmacy are proudly supporting Sexual Health Week 2015, running from 14 – 20 September.
To show their support, the Manchester-based online pharmacy has previously given away literally 1,000 of condoms to all patients that sought their help with sexual health related problems such as requesting medications like Viagra for erectile dysfunction, Priligy for premature ejaculation, treating sexually transmitted infections like chlamydia with the antibiotic Azithromycin, or female patients wishing to obtain contraception like Yasmin or Dianette.
The week-long event is run annually by the FPA (Family Planning Association) throughout England, primarily aiming to boost public understanding about the numerous sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and increase the public’s knowledge regarding all aspects of good sexual health.
For those unfamiliar with the FPA, they are a sexual health charity that have been informing the general public for more than 80 years, offering advice about sex and relationships, and enabling people to make the right choices for them. In addition, the FPA try to boost people’s confidence enough to discuss issues that previously may have been looked at as embarrassing.
Each year, the FPA focus on a different theme, with last year’s Sexual Health Week being “Contraceptive choices: beyond the morning after”, looking to bust the common myths about emergency contraception. For Sexual Health Week 2014, the FPA conducted a survey involving more than 2,000 women throughout the UK to discover more about the myths that still exist with regards to emergency contraception and found that alarmingly, many women still are not using emergency contraception following unprotected sex or if their usual contraceptive method hasn’t worked.
This year, the chosen subject is sexual wellbeing and pleasure, focusing on five different themes associated with sexual pleasure and wellbeing:
  •     Education.
  •     Older people.
  •     Learning disabilities.
  •     Separating fantasy from reality.
  •     Communication skills.
The FPA will be using the themes as a platform to discuss the reasons why a lot of people – including some health professionals – find discussing the topic of sexual pleasure an embarrassing or shameful thing.
Those looking to support Sexual Health Week should continue to check the FPA website on a regular basis for new information and advice, in addition to joining the FPA and Medical Specialists® on Twitter; @FPACharityand @MSC_NEWS respectively, also using the hashtag #SexualHealthWeek2015 to see the latest news about the week.
Moreover, don’t forget that Medical Specialists® provide numerous products and treatments for all kinds of sexual health associated issues and problems.
For instance, as mentioned previously, emergency contraception was the main theme for 2014 and Medical Specialists® can provide the emergency contraceptive pill Levonelle 1500, which if taken within three days (72 hours) of unprotected sex, will usually prevent pregnancy. However, women will need to speak to their doctor for more information about taking it within five days (120 hours) of having unprotected sex.
As everybody should know, failing to use a condom during sex – especially with new partners – can result in an unwanted pregnancy and risk contracting sexually transmitted infections (STIs). Testing for the most common STI chlamydia is normally advised on a yearly basis, or for sexually active people upon meeting a new partner. Screening for the disease is often implanted through primary care (general practices and pharmacies), community sexual and reproductive health (SRH) services (including termination of pregnancy services) and GUM clinics.
Alternatively, Medically Specialists® provide Clamelle chlamydia test kit for just £24.85 which can be used in the privacy and comfort of your own home to prevent an embarrassing visit to the GP or GUM clinic and there is no need to take any time off work.
People wishing to support Sexual Health Week can receive a campaign pack by sending a stamped, addressed A4 envelope to the value of £1.26 to: FPA Campaigns Team, 23-28 Penn Street, London N1 5DL.
In addition, for further information about sexual health you can go to Medical Specialists® website and contact our pharmacist by email, or visit the FPA website for more information about sexual health and services.
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Over-70s still sexually active…But STIs are on the rise


elderly coupleThe majority us probably think that people tend to lose all trace of a sex life as they get older, and certainly the thought of our grandparents being intimate would be the last thing on our mind…but it seems more and more people into their 70s, 80s and beyond, are maintaining fairly active sex lives.
The findings of a recent study suggest that adults over the age of 70 are having sex at least twice each month. In addition to this, rates of sexually transmitted infections(STIs) such as syphilis and genital warts seem to be spiralling amongst older people.
Reporting in ‘The Conversation’, Sharron Hinchliff, Senior Lecturer, School of Nursing and Midwifery, University of Sheffield, argues that sex amongst older adults should be more openly discussed, given the statistics.
She says: “A report published earlier this year found that those with a sexual partner tended to rate their quality of life as higher than those without one, although some studies have placed greater emphasis on relationship status and social engagement. When I interviewed a number of over-50s about their (heterosexual) sex lives for a qualitative study, I found that many who were still in sexual relationships rated them as very or extremely important.
The reasons for the participants’ emphasis on sex included strengthening their relationship with their partners but also pleasure. For some women, sex had improved with age, which they related to feeling more relaxed because they had more sexual experience and no longer feared becoming pregnant.”
Sharron also argues that sexual health campaigns tend to primarily focus on the younger demographic, as these are the ones at risk from not only sexually transmitted infections, but unplanned pregnancies following the failure to use condoms.
Between the years 2009 and 2013, STI rates within the the over-45s increased across different diseases, with an 11% rise in genital warts amongst men aged 45-64, and a staggering 500% rise in syphilis cases for women over the age of 65. According to Sharron, “The majority of diagnoses of all STIs in the older age groups were in men, but gonorrhoea and syphilis were highest among heterosexual women and men who have sex with men.”
She continued: “As a result, some sexual health campaigns are now being aimed at older people.
This year’s Sexual Health Week in the UK is focused on sexual pleasure and well-being – and one of the campaign’s five strands is aimed at educating professionals and the public about the sexual well-being of older people.
Campaigns that promote sexual pleasure are new, even though the idea of incorporating pleasure into sexual health materials is not.
Young people in the UK are only just seeing such messages so it’s great that the sexual pleasure of older people is now being recognised too. But infectious disease is only one factor that can affect pleasure and well-being.
Long-term conditions and some sexual difficulties are more likely to be diagnosed in our 50s or later.
These include erectile dysfunction, which affects around 30 per cent of men aged 65-74, and uncomfortable vaginal dryness, experienced by 20 per cent of women in the same age group.”
Previously, it could be assumed that the older generation may struggle to meet prospective new partners for sex, particularly after experiencing poor health or becoming widowed, but Sharron sheds light on this.
“There is evidence that some older people are embracing technology and going online to meet potential partners for a sexual relationship. One survey found that 38% of people aged 50-59 and 37% of those aged 60-69 had met their partners online.
We should perhaps also reconsider what we think about as sexual activity when it comes to older people. For one thing, many older people engage in masturbation for sexual pleasure, countering the notion that it is a sexual act pursued only by the young. But there is also evidence that ideas about what activities count as sexual become broader as we age. For some, actions such as playing footsie under the breakfast table can give the intimacy that sexual activity previously had.
While research into the sexual well-being of older people is growing, there are gaps that wait to be filled, particularly the ways that ageing intersects with gender identity, sexual orientation, social class, disability and ethnic group. Exploring these areas will develop our understanding of sexual pleasure in older age, and better inform services for those to whom sex is important.”
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Counterfeiters in Nigeria and America receive heavy punishment

Over the course of this calendar year, there has been an endless number of cases to emerge that involve the production and distribution of counterfeit medicines, and these are only the ones that authorities have managed to successfully shut down. There are illegal operations still active all across the globe, with criminals always trying to conjure up new methods of tricking the public into purchasing these dangerous medicines. However, their activities cannot and will not last forever, with Medical Specialists Pharmacy and many other organisations around the world determined to bring them to justice.
Therefore it brings us with great delight to report of two such instances to occur in the last few weeks of criminals finding their comeuppance. The first happened just 11 days ago in Nigeria and surprisingly did not involve erectile dysfunction medications, which seems to be a common type of counterfeited drug. Instead it was antimalarials such as Malarone and Paludrine that had found themselves being the source of imitation.
After receiving knowledge about the existence of the fake drugs, officers from The Nigerian National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) swooped onto a market within the south-eastern city of Enugu. After the raid, authorities had amassed a haul of $15,000 worth of fake pharmaceuticals, which could have proved fatal if sold to the unsuspecting public of Nigeria. Fake drugs are often manufactured in dirty, unhygienic warehouses and sometimes can contain little or no of the genuine active ingredient, or remarkably harmful industrial compounds.
Udekpo Ekpo, acting head, south-east zone at NAFDAC, spoke of the capture of the drugs and said, “This exercise was actually necessitated by reports that there are some fake brands of antimalarial drugs in the market. Some of them are in the market without NAFDAC registration number.”
Just one week after this bust in Nigeria, 40 year old Gregory Bochter found out the hard way that dealing with counterfeit drugs does not pay. Bochter, of Volusia County, Florida, initially submitted a guilty plea back in May to the trafficking of the two popular counterfeit erectile dysfunction medications, Viagra and Cialis.
He had obtained the fake pills from China, one of the world’s biggest exporters of counterfeit drugs. Homeland Security investigators had managed to intervene and apprehend one of his shipments and discovered in excess of 1,300 prescription pills. The pills only comprised of just 30% of their active ingredient, thus meaning they would probably be ineffective to any unsuspecting men who bought them.
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials claim that even after they had seized Bochter’s delivery of fake pills, he then brazenly continued to be involved in more illegal trafficking for another two months. Unfortunately for him, he has now been sentenced to eight months behind bars and is being forced to cough up a hefty $150,000 in restitution fees.  If this wasn’t bad enough for, Bochter faces three years of supervised release upon his return to society in 2020.
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The causes of Erectile Dysfunction and how to beat it


At Medical Specialists Pharmacy we have a constantly growing patient base spanning tens of thousands of people that are seeking our help from all across the globe.  Male and female hair loss, acne, hirsutism, and sexual health are just a few of the issues that we provide solutions for.
One very common problem that we provide help with is erectile dysfunction (ED). Also known as ‘male impotence’, it is the inability to achieve and maintain an erection that is sufficient for satisfactory sexual intercourse. More prominent that many would assume, it affects roughly four in ten men over the age of 40, and it is estimated that approximately 49% of men aged 70 are suffering with varying degrees of ED.
There are numerous causes that can all contribute in some way to a male slowly beginning to develop symptoms of ED. These include physical causes/diseases such as obesity, diabetes, kidney disease, cardiovascular disease and hormonal problems such as an underactive thyroid. In addition there are psychological impacts that can lead to ED and these include relationship problems, depression, low self-esteem, stress, anxiety and even the fear of sex or ‘sexual failure’; particularly common in new relationships when the couple have yet to have sexual intercourse.
So what are the treatments and prevention methods for men with ED? If you have the condition, your GP can analyse your lifestyle choices and risk factors for erection-hindering health issues such as cardiovascular disease or diabetes, and refer you to a screening for these. Your doctor may also ask questions about your home and working life, relationships etc. to determine what psychological factors may be causing the ED, and could even offer sexual counselling for those who could find the therapy advantageous. Speaking to a psychologist or counsellor may help to reduce your stress and worries, fully getting to the root of your problems so you can tackle them head-on.
There are also simple lifestyle alterations that you can make which can all help to decrease the chance of you experiencing erectile dysfunction. For example, quitting smoking is a major beneficial thing to consider doing as soon as possible as smoking impairs the arteries, resulting in a restriction of blood supply to the penis. Starting a regular exercise regime could work wonders and this will promote better cardiovascular health and get blood pumping around the body more efficiently. Moderating your level of alcohol consumption is also a definite must in regards to better erections. Not only does drinking alcohol cause the short-term problem commonly referred to as ‘brewer’s droop’, it is believed that prolonged alcohol abuse can contribute to irreversible sexual dysfunction for men in the long-term too due to its destructive nature on the nervous system.
For a lot of men suffering with impotence, the most standard and effective form of treatment remains with the popular medications Viagra, Cialis and Levitra. Since the ground-breaking Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval of the Pfizer-manufactured Viagra in 1998 for the treatment of ED, sales of the medication sky-rocketed to astronomical levels and in 2008 its annual sales peaked at an enormous US$1,934 million. Five years after Viagra’s FDA approval, tadalafil (sold as Eli Lilly’s Cialis) and vardenafil (sold as Bayer’s Levitra) were both given the green light for commercial sale and have since taken a substantial slice of Pfizer’s market share.
The US pharmaceutical giant Pfizer has released a new erectile dysfunction drug called Viagra Chewable or Viagra Jet. It comes out as an alternative to regular Viagra tablets for those men who find it difficult to swallow Viagra tablets with water. Unfortunately though, if you are looking to buy Viagra Chewable online, they are not available in the UK as yet, but hopefully Medical Specialists Pharmacy will be one of the first Online Pharmacies in the UK to know when it does, so watch this space!
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Viagra vs. Cialis vs. Levitra: Make an informed choice


With men now spoilt for choice in terms of erectile dysfunction (ED) medications, it can pose a great deal of confusion as to the differences between them, or how exactly each one functions. Medical Specialists Pharmacy receives hundreds of phone calls each week from men all over the world who are suffering with ED problems and wish to enquire about the treatments we supply.
Here we list some information and facts regarding all the effective medications currently available, breaking them down one by one:
Viagra
Active ingredient:                  Sildenafil.
Dosage:                           25 mg, 50 mg, 100 mg.
Usage:                            One tablet in a 24 hour period, as required.
When to take:                     30 minutes to 1 hour prior to sexual activity.
Lasts:                              Up to 4 hours.
Characteristics:                    Reportedly ‘most potent’, meaning lower doses can offer great value. Some say they have experienced more minor side effects in comparison to other ED medications. There has to be sexual stimulation/foreplay for the medication to successfully work.
Cialis
Active ingredient:                  Tadalafil.
Dosage:                            10 mg, 20 mg.
Usage:                             One tablet in a 24 hour period, as required.
When to take:                     15 to 30 minutes prior to sexual activity.
Lasts:                              Up to 36 hours.
Characteristics:                    Most expensive and nicknamed by many as ‘The Weekender’ due to how long the benefits can be seen in patients.  Some men have reported fewer side effects with using Cialis. There has to be sexual stimulation/foreplay for the medication to successfully work.
Levitra
Active ingredient:                  Vardenafil.
Dosage:                            5 mg, 10 mg, 20 mg.
Usage:                             One tablet in a 24 hour period, as required.
When to take:                     1 hour prior to sexual activity.
Lasts:                              Up to 4 to 5 hours.
Characteristics:                    Can sometimes work faster on a full stomach compared to its counterparts. The medication has been shown to be effective in men with underlying health conditions such as high cholesterol, high blood pressure or diabetes. Levitra has been shown to be efficient in men who have not responded to Viagra. There has to be sexual stimulation/foreplay for the medication to successfully work.
Cialis Daily
Active ingredient:                  Tadalafil.
Dosage:                            2.5 mg, 5 mg.
Usage:                             One tablet a day.
When to take:                     Approximately the same time each day for consistency.
Lasts:                              The mild dose will be in your body every day when taking them.
Characteristics:                    Suitable for men in sexually active long-term relationships. Beneficial in that the mild dose will be in your body each day, meaning you do not have to take a tablet each time you have sex. Your body should begin to adjust to the medication’s ingredients and resulting in very little side effects, if any.
Levitra ODT (Orodispersible)
Active ingredient:                  Vardenafil.
Dosage:                            10mg.
Usage:                             One tablet in a 24 hour period, as required.
When to take:                     10 to 15 minutes prior to sex.
Lasts:                              Up to 4 to 5   hours.
Characteristics:                    A major benefit of using Levitra ODT is that it dissolves quickly in your mouth and enters the blood stream faster than the regular Levitra. Levitra ODT also takes effect quicker than Viagra and Cialis. The medication has been shown to be effective in men with underlying health conditions such as high cholesterol, high blood pressure or diabetes. Levitra has been shown to be efficient in men who have not responded to Viagra. There has to be sexual stimulation/foreplay for the medication to successfully work.
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Spider bite won’t turn you into Spiderman, but could give you an erection

Would you willingly take a tablet that comprised of the venom from the world’s deadliest spider? As unthinkable as this thought may sound, it could be close to reality if the research from Brazilian and American scientists eventually comes to fruition in the near future. We’ve all seen the Spiderman films which depict Peter Parker succumbing to a spider bite, and subsequently adopting the traits of the insect; scaling walls and being able to create spider webs. Obviously this isn’t possible in real-life and a purely fictional account of what happens after being bitten, but there are other interesting side effects it seems!
After conducting a study involving aging rats with sexual dysfunction, the scientists now claim that a toxin from the venom of the highly dangerous Brazilian ‘wandering spider’ can bizarrely be used to help treat erectile dysfunction in men.
Also known as the ‘banana spider’, due to their common tendency to hide out in shipments of bananas and lurk within banana plants, the wandering spiders received their name due to their inclination to roam around the jungle floor at night. They emanate from South and Central America and are responsible for more fatalities than any other type of spider, with the venom often killing the victim within just one hour.
For a number of years, there have been many instances of certain males being bitten by this spider and fortunately managing to receive the urgent medical treatment they require, and thus surviving. Following this, a good number of these men then reported a boost in their erections and sex lives, and the Brazilian and American researchers wanted to know more.
Their research focused on elderly rats that had some degree of erectile dysfunction. The rats were injected with the PnTx2-6 toxin from the wandering spiders, which the scientists had successfully managed to isolate from the deadly venom. The PnTx2-6 was found to help trigger the release of nitric oxide, which aids in relaxing blood vessel walls and increasing efficient blood flow.
The abstract of the study written by Kenia P. Nunes and her colleagues, says, “Nitric oxide synthase (NOS) activity in aged and young cavernosal tissue was increased by incubation with PnTx2-6. Age-associated erectile dysfunction involves a decrease in nitric oxide availability and impaired relaxation. Decrease in erectile function associated with age was partially restored 15 to 20 minutes after injection with PnTx2-6.”
There are millions of men around the world who are suffering with erectile dysfunction, so the discoveries by the scientists may be fairly exciting. However, to say the findings are in the ‘early stages’ is a huge understatement. Many clinical trials will need to be conducted to fully determine the safeness of using toxins from known deadly spiders, any potential side effects and the risk groups to such chemicals. It may be several years before an erectile dysfunction tablet containing spider toxins is readily available and fit for public use. In the mean-time, it would be worthwhile for those with male impotence to read into the only available medicationsto treat the condition; Viagra, Cialis and Levitra.
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Men are warned: buying fake Viagra poses serious health risks


As we have reported in the past here at Medical Specialists, the problem of fake, or so called generic Viagra sold online, continues to pose serious health risks to men worldwide. In Australia analysis of pills from 22 different websites, claiming to sell drugs such as Viagra and Cialis, found 77 per cent of samples were fake and contained only 30 to 50 percent of the active ingredient advertised on the label, the Australian reported.
According to Dr Stephen Ruthven, president of the Urological Society of Australia and New Zealand, many of the counterfeit drugs also contained undeclared substances such as gypsum, found in fertiliser, commercial paint and printer ink.
The study, by San Diego Sexual Medicine’s Dr Irwin Goldstein, suggested that the fakes could also contain other harmful ingredients including antihypertensive medications. Dr Ruthven said, “Self medication of this kind carried very real health risks. Many people simply assume they are buying the real product, when in fact many online purchases from international sites are illegal counterfeits.”
The study comes after Australia’s drug regulator last week, warned men not to buy or consume two products, claiming to contain 100 per cent herbal ingredients, Ultra Men for Men and Rock Hard for Men. An investigation by the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) found the products contained two undeclared prescription substances, tadalafil and glibenclamide.
Tadalafil is the active ingredient in Cialis, a prescription-only erectile dysfunction product, and glibenclamide is used to control blood glucose levels. The TGA said the tablets, which a number of Australians have bought online, had not been assessed for quality, safety and efficacy. The place of manufacture was also not approved by the regulator. The commercial supply of the supplements in Australia is illegal. The TGA warned consumers to be extremely cautious when buying medicines from unknown international internet sites. The worldwide sales of fake drugs in 2010 were estimated to be about $73 million.
Dr Ruthven said, “Erectile dysfunction drugs such as Viagra and Cialis targeted vulnerable men. Men often feel embarrassed about discussing the condition with doctors, but it is important to do so to properly diagnose the problem, and rule out other health risks, including metabolic problems and heart disease.”
The TGA advised consumers to be extremely cautious when buying medicines from unknown international internet sites. This is advice that here at Medical Specialists we strongly agree with, people looking to buy medication for erectile dysfunction should only obtain it from registered pharmacies that dispense genuine Pfizer Viagra or Lilly Cialis, display the necessary credentials such as the GPhC (General Pharmaceutical Council) green logo along with the registration number and that offer an online consultation with a doctor to ensure the medication is both right and safe for you.
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Counterfeiters beware! Clever ‘CD3’ device can spot fake drugs

Medical Specialists Pharmacy is one of the leading companies in the global fight against the huge problem of counterfeit drugs. It leaves us incredibly angry to know that there are still scheming crooks active all over the world that are looking to make a quick profit against the well-being and safety of innocent people. Unlike us, these types of criminals have absolutely no regards for the health of the unsuspecting public who are purchasing the cheaper knock-offs. Many counterfeit drugs contain little or none of the active ingredient, or may even contain dangerous chemicals that can quite easily result in death or permanent disability.
Therefore today it brings us huge delight today to be the bearer of some positive news in the crackdown on fake drugs, and we hope it will eventually lead to the shutting down of the many illegal ‘pharmacy’ websites that are plaguing the internet.
On Monday The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) unveiled a high-tech, cutting edge device that has been specifically designed to spot fake drugs. The intelligent device has been given the name ‘Counterfeit Detection Device No. 3’ (CD3).
The small, grey-coloured hand-held device is a complex LED battery-operated machine that is capable of emitting 10 different wavelengths of light such as ultraviolet. In addition, infrared can be activated and used on any medication capsule, tablet, powder and even on the inks, covert markings and paper on a medication’s packaging. Basically, if a particularly product has been altered with in any way such as being re-sealed, re-labelled, or re-glued, inspectors will be able to find it before it gets into the hands of somebody and they ingest the dangerous fake drug.
The device has already been implemented in the U.S. at certain border crossings, import centres, as well as at 50 FDA field laboratories. It’s also used in some international mailing centres including those in Chicago, Los Angeles and San Francisco. In addition, officials are using the CD3 at other potential places of entry for things such as unapproved drugs, cosmetics, cigarettes and medical devices.
Earlier this week FDA Commissioner Dr. Margaret Hamburg raved about the revolutionary CD3, saying, “This device was designed in-house by FDA scientists in response to the needs for screening in the field. It is low cost compared to other analytical devices, operates with batteries, and requires minimal training to use. It allows for ‘real time’ comparisons with authentic drugs – and has already proven useful for identifying counterfeit drugs at our busy international mail facilities.”
Dr. Hamburg continued, “Given the scope of the problem and the potential threat to public health, the FDA has made counterfeit and adulterated drugs a top priority. American consumers have every right to expect that the medicines they rely on are exactly what the package and label say they are. In total, some 300,000 foreign facilities spread across 150 countries are sending FDA-regulated products to our shores. And, these products now account for approximately 11% of all U.S. imports.”
The CD3 has so far been used to scan for almost 100 counterfeit drugs, including rip-offs of genuine medications that Medical Specialists provide such as Viagra, Crestor, Lipitor and Tamiflu. Also, fake versions of Singulair, Oxycontin, Plavix and Wellbutrin have been discovered by officials, luckily before any potentially fatal public consumption.
You do not need to worry about dangerous fakes when dealing with Medical Specialists Pharmacy. Established in 1994 and becoming the UK’s first legal online clinic in 2001, we are fully registered with the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC) and also a member of the National Pharmacy Association (NPA). Our team of Doctors are registered with the General Medical Council (GMC) and our Pharmacists are registered with the Royal Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain (RPSGB).
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