Sexual stimulant abuse
Sexual stimulant abuse refers to the misuse of prescription medications designed to enhance or prolong sexual arousal, primarily targeting erectile dysfunction (ED) in men. These medications, including sildenafil citrate (Viagra), vardenafil (Levitra), and tadalafil (Cialis), have been associated with significant health risks when used improperly. Initially approved by the FDA for ED treatment, these drugs gained popularity among individuals without erectile issues, leading to a false perception of them as aphrodisiacs.
Research indicates that misuse can result in severe side effects, particularly when combined with illicit substances such as cocaine or ecstasy, increasing the risk of life-threatening conditions like heart attack and stroke. While these medications are not physically addictive, psychological dependency can develop, prompting some users to misrepresent their health status to obtain prescriptions. Furthermore, the misuse of these drugs can contribute to risky sexual behaviors, particularly among young men, exacerbating issues related to unwanted pregnancies and sexually transmitted infections. Understanding the implications of sexual stimulant abuse is crucial for promoting safe practices and awareness surrounding their use.
Subject Terms
Sexual stimulant abuse
DEFINITION: Sexual stimulants are prescription medications designed to produce, enhance, or prolong sexual arousal. The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved prescription sexual stimulants only for the treatment of erectile dysfunction in men.
History of Use
The active ingredients in sexual stimulants include sildenafil citrate, vardenafil, yohimbine, and tadalafil, all of which are synthetic compounds. Sexual stimulants, or PDE5 inhibitors, are produced in tablet and capsule form and are intended to be ingested orally.
The brand-named sexual stimulant Viagra (sildenafil citrate) was approved by the US Food and Drug Administration as a prescription erectile dysfunction (ED) medication in 1998. By the time brand competitors Levitra and Staxyn (vardenafil), as well as Cialis (tadalafil), arrived on the market in late 2003, studies had already begun to indicate incidences of abuse among men across all sexual orientations. The FDA approved another medication to treat ED, Avanafil (Stendra), in 2013.
A 2000 study from Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles, California, analyzed more than fourteen hundred medical emergencies involving Viagra. The study found that more than five hundred of the cases led to death, the majority of which occurred in men younger than age sixty-five years who had no previous heart conditions. In the mid-2010s, the FDA reviewed data from ten years of PDE5 inhibitor sexual stimulant medications and found 26,451 total negative outcomes, with 8.3 percent of these resulting in death. Sildenafil caused the most negative outcomes at 14,818, with 12.3 percent of these incidents resulting in death. While these drugs are safe enough to remain in circulation and are widely used, they require a prescription in the United States because they can be dangerous, particularly when they are used in higher doses or more often than recommended.
Despite widespread clinical evidence indicating that men without erectile problems receive no benefit from the drugs, it was not long before ED drugs gained a false reputation as an aphrodisiac among both gay and heterosexual men. While ED drugs pose little negative effect to users when taken on their own, the combination of their active ingredients with illicit drugs poses tremendous health risks.
Effects and Potential Risks
ED medications stimulate erectile capability in men by dilating blood vessels. As a result, the combination of these medications with other stimulant drugs like cocaine, ecstasy (methylenedioxymethamphetamine, or MDMA), and poppers (amyl nitrate) can result in fatal blood pressure loss, heart attack, hypotension, hearing loss, vision loss, and stroke—long-term use and overdosing increase the risk of these side effects.
While ED medications are not physiologically addictive, abusive users may develop a psychological dependency on the drug. Both dealers and ED drug abusers have been known to lie to medical professionals and exaggerate the symptoms of ED to obtain the drug. As with any illegal drug, there is no way to ensure the authenticity, ingredients, or potential dangers of illegal ED medication.
Research has also revealed the widespread use of ED drugs by young men attempting to combat the erectile impairment caused by heavy alcohol consumption. Researchers believe that the impression of false sexual prowess combined with impaired cognitive decision-making can lead men who combine ED medications and alcohol into higher-risk sexual behavior, which can lead to unwanted pregnancies and contracting sexually transmitted diseases.
Bibliography
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Fisher, Dennis G., et al. “Recreational Viagra Use and Sexual Risk Among Drug Abusing Men.” American Journal of Infectious Diseases, vol. 2, no. 2, 2006, pp. 107–14.
Hunter, Dave. "Can I Become Addicted To Viagra Or Cialis?" Rehab Center, 2019, www.rehabcenter.net/can-i-become-addicted-to-viagra-or-cialis. Accessed 20 Sept. 2024.
Morgentaler, Abraham. The Viagra Myth: The Surprising Impact on Love and Relationships. Jossey, 2003.
“The New Young Face of Viagra Abuse.” Chicago Tribune, 27 Dec. 2003.
Peterson, Karen. “Young Men Add Viagra to Their Drug Arsenal.” USA Today, 21 Mar. 2001.
Salyer, David. “The Dangers of Using and Abusing Viagra.” The Body. Remedy Health Media, Nov.–Dec. 2004.
Srivatsav, Ashwin, et al. “Efficacy and Safety of Common Ingredients in Aphrodisiacs Used for Erectile Dysfunction: A Review.” Sexual Medicine Reviews, vol. 8, no. 3, 2020, pp. 431-442. doi:10.1016/j.sxmr.2020.01.001.