Boots Starts Controversial Viagra OTC Test Sales

Feb 15, 2007 3:00 AM

NOTTINGHAM, England -- British pharmacy chain Boots began selling Viagra over the counter at three Manchester store locations yesterday, Valentine‘s Day, also designated as National Impotence Day in the United Kingdom. Although Viagra remains a prescription drug in the U.K., Boots is running a six-month pilot program under which men ages 30 to 65 will have a one-hour consultation with a pharmacist, by appointment only, who will take their medical history and check blood pressure, cholesterol and glucose levels. The men then must detail their symptoms of erectile disfunction. If the patient is suffering from ED and has no medical complications, they can buy four Viagra pills for $97 (50 pounds). For a refill, they must see a private doctor. However, customers going to the store yesterday for the pills could only get an appointment as early as Monday, the Metro in London, reported. This test run of nonprescription sales of Pfizer-owned Viagra has been criticized by the AIDS Healthcare Foundation, Los Angeles, for encouraging recreational use of a drug that is meant to treat a medical condition. -- Wendy Toth