SAUDIS POP MORE VIAGRA

It seems more Saudis are swallowing Viagra than any other men in the Middle East. Surprisingly, conservative Saudi Arabia has emerged as the Middle East's largest consumer of Viagra, Pfizer's breakthrough drug for treating impotence or Erectile Dysfunction (ED) in men.

By Vijay Dandige

  • Follow us on
  • google-news
  • whatsapp
  • telegram

Published: Sun 26 Jun 2005, 11:48 AM

Last updated: Thu 2 Apr 2015, 6:20 PM

The UAE is the second largest, followed by Kuwait, Lebanon and Egypt. The total ED market in Saudi Arabia stands at a whopping US$ 51 million per year. Of this, Viagra captured US$19 million market share in the last twelve months ending February 2005. And out of the UAE's total US$ 7.9 million ED market, Viagra notched 34 per cent share with sales of US$ 2.7 million last year. Viagra is the second top selling drug in Saudi Arabia and the eighth in the UAE.

"Since its launch in 1998, Viagra has remained on top for treatment of ED," said Mohamed Khalifa, Pfizer Group Product manager for Middle East, revealing interesting trivia about Viagra to City Times during a recent visit. "Viagra commands 63 per cent of the total ED market worldwide, despite presence of nine other competing drugs."

Hollywood and Bollywood stars, ageing rock singers, businessmen, diabetic and hypertensive patients to college graduates and teenagers are among the 23 million Viagra users in the world. Of course, Americans make up by far the largest group to pop the fabled 'blue pill'. The US represents 60 per cent of the total worldwide market, with sales reaching US$ 1.3 billion last year. Worldwide, more than one billion Viagra tablets are sold every year and nine tablets are dispensed every second.

Speaking about the UAE, Khalifa said, "The use of Viagra in the UAE reflects the small picture of the trend seen worldwide.

Since it came on the market, doctors here have been prescribing Viagra as the first line treatment for ED." In the UAE, as everywhere else, Viagra remains a prescription drug.

Khalifa added that according to experts increased recreational use of Viagra is safe and effective for men of all ages, provided patients consult with their doctors first to determine if the drug is safe for them in the light of their own individual medical histories.

"In fact, Viagra is not only leading to 'better sex' for couples in the region, it has led the revolution in the Middle East to greatly destigmatise the layman's view of ED," pointed out Khalifa and added, "When men of all ages and backgrounds feel comfortable approaching their wives and doctors about their ED condition, without embarrassment or hesitation, then the world will truly realise the monumental impact Viagra has had on men's sexual health."



More news from