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LGBT groups question Viagra, HIV link
Larry Buhl, PlanetOut Network
Friday 27 August, 2004 11:35 | More from this date | Today's headlines
A recent petition in the US for greater government control over anti-impotence drugs like Viagra has met with sceptical reactions from LGBT groups and professionals who don't think the drugs' use among gay men directly increases the risk of HIV and other STDs.
Dr Jeffrey Klausner, director of STD prevention and control for the San Francisco Department of Public Health, petitioned the FDA on August 4 to list Pfizer's Viagra and similar drugs as Schedule III controlled substances, making them easier to track and harder to prescribe because they require more detailed reporting from doctors.
In calling for tougher regulation, Klausner pointed to several studies that have shown an association between recreational use of Viagra and higher rates of risky sexual behaviour that can increase the likelihood of contracting STDs, including HIV.
Viagra and other anti-impotence drugs, such as Levitra
and Cialis, have become popular
among gay men taking "party" drugs like crystal meth,
which can cause impotence.
More worrisome to Klausner is the theory that the increased duration of erection and increased blood flow promoted by anti-impotence drugs may increase the physical risk of getting an STD or HIV infection when having sex with an infected partner.
In addition to calling for tighter government control Klausner suggested health warnings on all bottles, such as, "Viagra use may increase the risk for sexually transmitted diseases and HIV infection".
"Personally I think Dr. Klausner's theory is a bit extreme," said Dr. Jason Schneider, a board member of the Gay and Lesbian Medical Association and clinical instructor at Emory University in Atlanta.
"I haven't seen any hard evidence that shows Viagra itself is making them get HIV. There is, however, good data that show men who use drugs like crystal meth will engage in riskier sexual behaviours because it alters their reasoning."
"Viagra and these other anti-impotence drugs don't do that."
Instead of faulting Viagra and its substitutes, Schneider put the onus on the doctors who prescribe them and the companies who manufacture them for informing men about sexual practices.
"Health providers have a responsibility to enquire about a patient's sexual behaviour before and after prescribing the medication," Schneider said. "And drug manufacturers could put some money into educating the general public about the use of Viagra in combination with drugs that clearly do lead to risky sexual behaviour."
Other LGBT organisations gave lukewarm responses to Klausner's recommendations, saying risky sexual behaviour, not use of anti-impotence drugs, is the root of STD transmission.
"It's unprotected sex that increases the risk of HIV," said Ana Oliveira, executive director of the New York-based Gay Men's Health Crisis. "It's a behavioural issue, not a Viagra issue."
Oliveira said warning labels could be helpful in risk reduction, but suggested amending Klausner's proposed label.
"A label would be good if it emphasises that it's the unprotected sex that creates the risk of HIV. And it's important for Viagra users to understand that anti-impotence drugs don't protect users from STDs."
"We think some kind of warning label on Viagra may be a good thing, but we don't think tightening restrictions on Viagra will have much effect in regards to HIV," said Jim Key, chief public affairs officer at the Los Angeles Gay and Lesbian Centre.
"Besides, there's already a black market for Viagra. If men are able to acquire a dangerous drug like crystal meth, they'll get Viagra with or without a prescription easily enough." source :-http://uk.gay.com | 
