A spirited 102-year-old man has officially become the oldest person in Britain to receive a Viagra prescription from the NHS, as new figures reveal a record number of elderly individuals turning to the famous blue pill.
According to data released by 106 clinical commissioning groups across England, more than 250,000 prescriptions for Viagra were issued last year to men over the age of 80. Experts believe the actual number may be even higher, with many older users possibly obtaining the medication discreetly.
In total, the NHS handed out 4.71 million prescriptions for Viagra and related treatments in 2023, costing the health service approximately £16.9 million.
This surge in demand coincides with a rise in dating platforms and apps targeting older adults seeking companionship and romance later in life. Among the most well-known senior users of Viagra was Playboy founder Hugh Hefner, who famously continued his lavish lifestyle well into his 80s before passing away at 91. Reports suggested that his frequent use of the drug may have contributed to his hearing loss — a known side effect — along with potential risks like dizziness and temporary color vision changes.
Originally developed in the 1990s to treat pulmonary arterial hypertension, the active ingredient sildenafil was soon discovered to improve blood flow in other parts of the body, leading to prolonged arousal lasting up to two hours.
Sildenafil is also found in Hezkue, a new fast-acting oral spray for erectile dysfunction now available in the UK market at a retail price of £60.
The NHS states that most men over the age of 18 can safely take sildenafil, but it advises caution for those who have recently suffered a heart attack or stroke due to increased risk of side effects.
Commenting on the trend, Professor Frank Furedi, a sociologist at the University of Kent, noted: "Contemporary culture sends out the signal that sex is for life. A lot of elderly man feel they must have a full-on sex life by any means necessary. They are fast becoming 'generation Viagra'."
