Move over Viagra, there’s a new player in town. Eroxon, a topical erectile dysfunction gel has just been authorized by the Food and Drug Administration for over-the-counter use; and its maker claims it works faster than the blue pill as well.
Futura Medical, the British pharmaceutical firm behind the drug, announced the FDA’s approval on Monday.
The release notes that the FDA has given Eroxon a “de novo” classification, meaning the drug is the first gel or topical treatment for erectile dysfunction to have been approved, let alone be authorized for sale without a doctor’s prescription.
It’s what men find so hard to admit having, but erectile dysfunction is a pretty widespread problem that disrupts a couple’s sex life. According to the National Institutes for Health, some 30 million men in the US are affected by the condition, which makes it difficult for someone to achieve and maintain an erection. It’s especially common in men over 40, and by the age of 70, it’s virtually the norm, with 70 percent of men in that age bracket reporting to be affected, according to the NIH.
Many men are too embarrassed to tell their doctor about their condition and so they continue to live with it, since Viagra and Cialis require a prescription. Eroxon lets you off that hook since it’s over the counter. For many, this may be its principal advantage over the blue pill.
There are many factors that can cause or contribute to the condition, from type 2 diabetes to the use of antidepressants. And that’s not to mention the many psychological factors, such as anxiety or depression.
Futura Medical makes some big claims about its new drug. While popular pills like Viagra and Cialis can take between 30 to 60 minutes to kick into action, the company advertises that Eroxon starts working within just ten minutes.
You can probably thank its topical application for that. Since it’s a gel, Eroxon is applied directly to the head of the penis, which its instructions candidly note, can be done “as part of foreplay.”
How long the effects persist is not so clear, but Futura claims it’s “long enough,” at least, “for successful intercourse,” according to the company’s website.
On the cost side, however, it’s uncertain whether Eroxon could be the more affordable alternative as it isn’t being sold in the US just yet. CNN notes that in the United Kingdom, where Eroxon is already being sold, a pack of four retails for about $31.22.
While name brand Viagra and Cialis pills can be ridiculously expensive in the US, generic versions are usually far cheaper. It remains to be seen whether Eroxon can compete with these generics.
Either way, once Eroxon becomes available, there will be an easier alternative to fix that little problem that no one wants to talk about.
