RIYADH, 14 February 2004 — People in many Arab countries, including the Kingdom, where the sexual dysfunction problems were initially thought to be a psychologically-related ailment, have come to view them now as a medically treatable problem and much of the stigma associated with these has begun to fade.
A doctor, who didn’t want to be named, said that, “people still shy away from discussing their dysfunction problem among friends and relatives”. He said that people should be able to talk about such problems openly and the patients need much support and motivation from partners to seek medical help. An open discussion among patients, physicians and pharmacists will stop misuse of drugs, he said.
Saudi Arabia buys a large volume of drugs to counter sexual dysfunction. Sales exceeded $40 million in the GCC in 2003 with Saudi Arabia at the top of the list among them in terms of consumption, medical and pharmaceutical sources said. The Kingdom registered the highest purchase of these drugs with sales reaching nearly $30 million last year.
Senior doctors and pharmacists contacted by Arab News said that such drugs are in demand in the Kingdom. “The UAE and Kuwait came second and third respectively in terms of consumption of these drugs”, said a GCC report quoted by DPA this week, stating that the number of people suffering from sexual dysfunction is rising rapidly in the Gulf countries.
“Certain types of pills for patients suffering from erectile dysfunction, especially, Viagra, Cialis and Levitra, are being smuggled because they can be sold for higher prices either because they are prescription drugs or restricted drugs in the Gulf countries including Saudi Arabia,” said Abdullah Hamdan of Khaleej Pharmacy.
Recently, a Saudi national was detained at Cairo airport with 56,000 Viagra pills stuffed into his luggage, which he was attempting to smuggle into Egypt.
Dr. Waleed Khoja of the Armed Forces Hospital said that these anti-impotency drugs are legal in Saudi Arabia, but must be obtained with a prescription. Physicians have varying views about the sale and use of these erectile dysfunction pills.
“Moreover, people are also increasingly becoming aware of the treatment available for them for their sex-related problems”, said Dr. Sharif Rashid of Eli Lilly Company, which is marketing Cialis, another drug launched in the Saudi market to combat sexual dysfunction. Dr. Rashid said that the common physical causes of dysfunction include smoking, drug abuse, multiple scelrosis, physical injuries and diabetes.
This is in addition to psychological factors like depression, stress, anger, guilt, anxiety and fear of sexual failure, which also contribute to the sexual dysfunction.
