Just last week the gossip at the local warungs and coffee shacks in Sanur ran hot with the news that a young man had dropped dead. He was only in his mid thirties with no obvious medical conditions. Could it be black magic or voodoo? There seemed to be no other logical reason for his untimely death. Or could it be that he took some sort of sexual performance enhancer just hours before he died? Especially as it was reported that he took three times the recommended dose!
It’s unclear what kind of remedy this poor man took, and indeed it could be one of hundreds of sexual enhancement formulas freely available in local pharmacies, drug stores and vitamin shops. Even the prescription drugs such as Viagra and Cialis are easily purchased over the internet or on the black market. Unfortunately when men do purchase medications in this manner the prescribing information, contraindications and risks do not come with the little magic bullet.
In Asia regulation of medications, especially aphrodisiacs is very poor if it exists at all. Many of the pills marketed as safe herbal alternatives to Viagra and other prescription sex medications pose a hidden danger: For men on common heart and blood-pressure drugs, popping one could lead to a stroke, or even death.
“All-natural” products promise an apothecary’s delight of rare Asian ingredients, but many work because they contain unregulated versions of the very pharmaceuticals they are supposed to replace (Viagra!).
That dirty secret represents a special danger for the millions of men who take nitrates -- drugs prescribed to lower blood pressure and regulate heart disease. When mixed, nitrates and impotency pharmaceuticals can slow blood flow catastrophically, leading to a heart attack or stroke.
An international investigation shows that spiked herbal impotency pills (most of them manufactured in Asia) are a major health concern. Studies in the USA showed that some of the black market “natural” pills had doses more than twice that of prescription erectile dysfunction medicine, particularly among pills that promise immediate results.
Spiked pills have turned up in Thailand, Taiwan, Indonesia, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Hong Kong, Malaysia, the United Kingdom and the United States, according to testing done by Pfizer Inc., the New York-based pharmaceutical giant that developed Viagra. The company said that 69 percent of 3,400 supplements it purchased in China contained sildenafil citrate, the main ingredient in Viagra. Pfizer didn’t check for the patented ingredients of its rivals.
So if you really think you have a problem in the sexual performance department, consult a doctor before your big night out. Have your blood pressure checked and your fitness level assessed before you enter into a sexual marathon. Stick to the prescribed dose of enhancer because taking twice the dose does not mean double the pleasure, double the time, or double the size! It will probably just mean an embarrassing visit to the emergency room like the young man who presented to Sanglah ER after having a 24 hour erection……and could not pee!
If you do choose the natural option of enhancement, check the contents of the formula first to make sure that it does not contain prescription drugs, or bits and pieces of endangered species such as rhino horn, tigers penis, and elephant tusk!
Kim Patra is a qualified registered nurse and midwife who has been living and working in Bali for almost 20 years. She now runs her own private practice and medical referral service from her Kuta office. Kim is happy to discuss any health concerns with you and she may be contacted via e-mail at info@chcbali.com or Hp. 081 2366 0000.
