Viagra for kicks?

Amanda, 23, London asks...

My boyfriend got hold of some Viagra the other day and is quite keen to take it when we have sex as apparently it will make him last for ages and the sex will be incredible. As he doesn't actually need to take it, would it be safe?

Elizabeth says...

I'm assuming your boyfriend is a healthy, sexually-able man of approximately your age and not a middle-aged man struggling to keep apace with his young lover. This being the case, I'd strongly recommend you avoid Viagra or any other drug that promises to enhance your sex life. A growing number of young men are turning to Viagra as an enhancement or recreational agent but this is not a trend to be encouraged. While considered relatively safe, impotence drugs can lead to serious complications when taken with some other medications. There's also the risk of a younger man developing a psychological dependency on the drug. Your fella should also remember that long-term effects of Viagra is still unknown. What's more, some doctors believe that mixing this drug with mind-altering drugs such as Ecstasy could potentially be lethal. Finally, I urge you and your boyfriend to consider for a moment what you'd like to achieve from taking Viagra. An erection? Presumably your lover is able to achieve one of these already (bear in mind that this is what the medication is intended for). Four hours of non-stop sex? Surely this isn't something either of you would welcome. Four hours of loving, on the other hand, might be very nice - but all you need is tenderness and communication for this to occur. Drugs really have no place in the equation.

Viagra for kicks?