Why addiction to sex drugs is problematic

Premature ejaculation is one of the most concerning challenges that men have to contend with in this era.

It is even more challenging as they try to find the right correction courses, amid the many unsolicited pieces of advice and freely-flowing and easy-to-access medications.

These medications and treatments range all the way from traditional herb treatments, pyramid-scheme supplements and over-the-counter medications.

Globally, studies show premature ejaculation is a common form of sexual dysfunction which affects around 25 to 30 percent of men of all ages and backgrounds.

Tanzania is no exception to this although unfortunately, there is a depravity in data needed to show the severity of the problem locally.

Through a small in-house survey of a variety of men and pharmacies, Your Health was able to note high sales of drugs purported to boost men’s sexual performances in Dar es Salaam’s study subjects.

Vega and Electro pills were named as top selling brands related to boosting man’s sexual performance in most of pharmacies in the city among many other brands.

Easy purchasing

Located in Mwenge, pharmacist Imelda Daniel shared that these drugs are among the most purchased medicines in the pharmacy where she works.

“Aside from sales of painkillers, these types of medicines also make up a large portion of the sales at the pharmacy,” Imelda said.

She added: “Every month we order these medicines two to three times because the number of buyers continues to increase rapidly.”

Another pharmacist named Geofrey Abel located in Manzese, said many customers in need of these types of medicines return to buy them time and time again.

“After selling to them the first time, it turns into habit for them to come back for more after every few days,” he said.

Abel added: “Some customers buy these medicines in bulk, however what surprises us is that after a few months they return in need of more.”

What do users say?

Mabibo resident, Mr John Justin* (30) said he was advised to use these types of medicines by his friend after suffering from the problem of premature ejaculation for two consecutive years.

“When I started using them, I thought they were helping me, but after using them for two months, I became unable to have sex without using these medicines,” he said.

He added: “I was afraid of going to the hospital that’s why I decided to take action after seeking advice from my friends secretly without my wife’s knowledge on the matter.”

In Manzese, Amiry Hassan (22) said he started using the medicines after hearing rumours that they increase the effectiveness of the body during sex.

As a young man, he was already dealing with premature ejaculation and decided to visit a medical centre in search for a solution.

His problem was largely attributed to his choice of lifestyle to which the doctor advised he change his ways.

He was advised, amongst other things, to reduce his intake of fast foods.

Unfortunately, he chose not to follow the doctor’s advice. He further shares: “I started using those drugs years ago, and now whenever I need to have sex, I have no choice but to use them.”

He also adds that in his circle of peers and friends, he is not the only one now fully dependent on these drugs.

What causes premature ejaculation?

Dr Fabian Lucas explains that premature ejaculation is increasingly being caused by lifestyle choices that people make such as the type of foods they eat and living inactive lifestyles with little to no exercise.

In addition to lifestyle choices, it can also be caused by medical conditions especially chronic diseases such as diabetes among many others.

“Foods that contain more oil and artificial ingredients are affecting this generation, especially young people, which is why they are losing physical fitness which affects their sexual stamina and performance,” he said.

Lucas went on to add that mental ailments such as stress and depression contribute a lot to premature ejaculation because it takes a man out of the mental and psychological state he needs to be in for effective sexual performance.

“A person with depression cannot concentrate on the action in question and instead becomes distracted by intrusive thoughts that completely pull him out for a long period of time,” he shares.

He continued by adding overweight as one of the causes of premature ejaculation and sexual dysfunction among men across the globe.

Its effects

Lucas explained that medically, performance enhancement drugs should be used only with medical guidance and for those already dependent on them, they could consider minimising their use to once or twice a month and not more.

“The more one uses it, the higher the dependency especially for those who do not have any chronic diseases such as diabetes,” Dr Lucas said.

He added that prolonged use of sexual performance enhancement drugs eventually leads to addiction such that a man is completely unable to maintain an erection, let alone perform any sexual act.

Dr Lucas argues that while many people, especially young men, think that using these medicines helps them the side effects far outweigh the momentary satisfaction.

Dr Lucas also cautions: “Regular use of these medicines can affect sperm count and virility which means he will fail to impregnate a woman.”

Regulated purchases

Pharmacist Angelina Nyambura said that the purchase of these sexual performance enhancement drugs should be done by a patient with chronic diseases and other medical conditions that a doctor has deemed necessary for his use.

He should then bring a doctor’s prescription to the pharmacy to confirm that he is allowed to use those type of medicines.

Most of these medicines are available in dosages of 50 grams to 100 grams and the doctor’s prescription is the only thing that can direct the pharmacist on the correct dosage of the respective drugs for the respective patient.

“Surprisingly, right now we have a lot of young people between the ages of 16 and 30 years come in to buy and use these drugs more than older people or people with medical conditions that necessitate their use,” she said.

She added: “The challenge is that there are many commercial pharmacies these days where anyone can buy anything without prescriptions.” Sadly, the regulations around the dispensing of the drugs is rather lacking.

What should be done?

Lucas strongly advices young people to change their lifestyles, especially in their food consumptions and fitness.

“Young people should improve their diets in order to build better bodies that are stronger and are able to carry out all their tasks with natural efficiency, including sexual performance,” he said.

“Diet should go hand-in-hand with a culture of doing exercise to improve their overall health; it is very importance for sexual health too.”

Dr Lucas went on to say, people should go to health centres such as dispensaries and hospitals to be treated and given advice on the problem of premature ejaculation and not to take measures to use medicine without being given permission by health professionals.

Lucas also cautions that medical doctors are the ones who can provide a person with the right way to treat any illness, not friends or relatives.

Located in a Mabibo neighbourhood, pharmacist Angelina Nyambura recommends that the government, through the Ministry of Health to regulate the sale of these drugs in pharmacies as part of efforts to reduce and control the use of those medicines in the country.

“It would be convenient and helpful if they could only be found in hospitals so that if the doctor prescribes that you should use them, the mandate will be on the doctor to hand them to the patient and direct him on the correct use,” she said.

She also added: “Pharmacists should care about people’s health before thinking about the profit obtained after the sale of those medicines.”

“It’s the responsibility of every pharmacist to inform the customer about the possible and verified side effect of any type of drug they sell.”