Viagra is not an over the counter drug but it is a drug that is widely known for treating erectile dysfunction. Its advertisements can be seen on television and numerous media outlets. They usually portray an unhappy man who is not able to have an active sex life, and after taking Viagra he is smiling and revels in the incredible effectiveness of the drug. Television advertisements play a huge role in consumer's beliefs that Viagra is incredibly successful for treating erectile dysfunction. Despite its wondrous effect in treating the male ailment, it I usually not a medication that is affordable to most consumers. Erectile dysfunction is not seen as a damaging diagnosis that would render insurance to cover the medication. The medication has a hefty price of approximately $50 per pill and require daily dosing to maintain the effects. Viagra is one of the most marketed drugs in the world with billions of sales.
The case with the marketing of Viagra is similar in many regards to that of Addyi. Erectile dysfunction could also be called impotence. It is one of the effects of old age in men,. It is not a medical condition, but rather a natural process of aging. Medicalizing impotence into erectile dysfunction allows pharmaceutical companies to sell a drug to consumers who believe money can fix this 'condition'. And because the sexuality of men is...well what makes a man a man, there doesn't seem to be too high a price to pay.
Many people do not know that Viagra was originally created to treat arterial hypertension, a damaging heart condition. Viagra helps regulate blood flow in the arteries, therefore allowing blood to flow more easily and lowering blood pressure. It works similarly for treating erectile dysfunction by allowing more blood to flow into the penis, creating a boner. The creator of Viagra, Pfizer's rarely markets Viagra for treating pulmonary arterial hypertension so it is rarely used for it. Due to Viagra's lucrative business of extensively marketing it as a drug for treating erectile dysfunction, consumers do not realize that it can treat perhaps more serious medical illnesses.
Viagra is a prime example of how businesses marketing influences consumers knowledge about illness and treatment.
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Interesting! I especially liked your analysis of the inaccessibility of viagra for most people, because it is pretty cost prohibitive. I am sure that there are men and women who actually suffer from low sexual desire disorder. I'm not saying that I think Addyl is necessarily the answer (because it hasn't been proven to actually work) but maybe something else could possibly be needed. I think that while Addyl marketers created an interest in some women, there has to be some reality to all of the women who were interested in the pill. Additionally, while I agree that impotence can just come along with old age, it can also be present in much younger people. Does that mean they shouldn't have access to drug they may really want? Should we try to make these drugs more affordable? Or destigmatize impotence and normalize versions of sex outside of a heteronormative framework?
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