Increase in number of Viagra and erectile dysfunction drug prescriptions in Hartlepool area

Figures from the Open Prescribing Service show 60,416 prescriptions for the drugs were issued in the Tees Valley area in the year to June – up slightly on the 60,207 the year before.

The Royal College of GPs (RCGP) said increased awareness and less stigma surrounding the condition may have contributed to the increase.

Nationally, erectile dysfunction drugs appeared on 4.35 million prescriptions in the year – up from 4.30 million in 2020-21, and 4.33 in 2017-18.

The vast majority of these prescriptions are for sildenafil, which patients can get on the NHS if they suffer from erectile dysfunction but, outside the NHS, it can also be known by the brand names Viagra, Aronix, Liberize and Nipatra.

Professor Martin Marshall, chairman of the RCGP, said: "It may indicate lessening stigma around the condition and increasing awareness of its treatments, as well as patients feeling more comfortable to come forward for treatment.

He added: "One of the most well-known drugs, sildenafil, which is widely known as Viagra, also came ‘off licence’ in recent years, making it cheaper."

The cost to the NHS of erectile dysfunction drugs nationally fell from £42.6m in the year to June 2018 to just £16.1m last year – tumbling from £534,000 to £164,000 in Tees Valley.

Prof Marshall said GPs follow strict guidelines when prescribing generic sildenafil and will only issue an NHS prescription if there is one of a list of specific medical reasons to do so.