Drugs Addiction

Slang:

Blue, bluey, Mr Blue, little blue pill.

Chemical name:

Sildenafil citrate.

Background:

Launched by Pfizer in 1998, Viagra is a prescription drug used to help men with erection difficulties (known as impotence, or erectile disfunction). Taken in pill form, it works by promoting the flow of blood to the penis during arousal. It is not an aphrodisiac. It won't just give you wood; you need to be turned on for the drug to be effective.

The effects:

• Simple alternative to other impotence treatments (such as injections, vacuum flasks and penile implants - which can be off-putting for obvious reasons);
• Helps impotent males achieve harder erections for longer durations;
• Taken as a single pill, with effects kicking in 30 minutes later;
• Enables user to get hard any time for up to four hours (with sexual stimulation).

The risks:

• Some users report temporary side effects, ranging from headaches to flushed skin, stomach upsets, blurred vision and muscle ache. See your GP if problems persist;
• Viagra relaxes the muscles in blood vessels, thus increasing blood flow potential. This means it isn't recommended for impotence sufferers with cardiovascular problems;
• Combining drugs is always dangerous. Using Viagra with other nitrate drugs such as poppers is especially risky as it can lower blood pressure to dangerous levels.

If you're planning to take this drug:

Be aware that physical impotence tends to affect older males. Men in their teens or twenties who can't get it up may find the cause is psychological, such as stress or performance anxiety. This means if there's no physical problem, Viagra won't make a difference.

Some recreational drugs are known to have erection-killing properties, such as cocaine and speed, while ecstasy users may feel loved up but unable to perform. It is not advisable to take Viagra to counter such effects as the drugs may have a conflicting impact on body-temperature control, heart rate and blood pressure.

The law:

• Viagra can only be obtained legally in the UK by prescription from your GP;
• The drug is widely available on the internet to import from other countries. As soon as it reaches the UK, however, it becomes illegal;
• UK law prohibits possession of unprescribed Viagra, or possession with intent to supply.

Similar prescription drugs:

Viagra is the first - and most well-known - impotence treatment in pill form, but other brands are emerging on the market such as Cialis and Levitra.