Is It Safe To Buy Kamagra Online? Six Reasons Why You Shouldn’t Buy Kamagra Online:
Erectile dysfunction (ED) is a common condition with an estimated 50% of men aged over 40 years old affected by the condition. It is projected that by the year 2025, approximately 322 million men worldwide will be affected by ED.
Treatment for ED has dramatically improved over the past 2 decades with a variety of oral medications are now available. Examples of these medications include Sildenafil (Viagra™), Tadalafil (Cialis™) and Vardenafil (Levitra™). Oral medications for ED offer a portable and discreet treatment option for men suffering from Erectile Dysfunction which makes them appealing to the wide audience.
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The Cost of Treating Erectile Dysfunction:
Some patient groups such as those with Diabetes or neurological problems can obtain medication to treat Erectile Dysfunction free of charge on an NHS prescription(3). Many men have no underlying physical cause of erectile dysfunction which means paying privately for treatment. Costs vary depending on the strength and quantity of tablets required, the dispensing fee which the pharmacy adds to cover their costs and also the brand of medication obtained.
With men struggling to afford drugs to treat Erectile Dysfunction, there is a clear need to find a cost-effective treatment option and a quick google search throws up a variety of products including gels, lotions, pumps and tablets. Websites located outside the UK offering cheap medications for ED, free delivery and claiming their products are “safe” and “approved” are tempting but what are the risks of buying online?
What is Kamagra?
Kamagra is a medication available in India for treating erectile dysfunction. Legitimate Kamagra is produced by a pharmaceutical company named Ajanta Pharma who export medications throughout India, Africa, South East and Middle East Asia. Kamagra contains Sildenafil, the same active ingredient as Viagra™. A quick google search brings up multiple websites offering to sell Kamagra to UK buyers without a prescription.
So does this mean that Kamagra is the same as Viagra™?
In theory, legitimate Kamagra manufactured by Ajanta would be similar to Viagra™ produced within the United Kingdom. The real issue is that Kamagra is not licensed to be sold in the UK which throws up a myriad of problems for the potential customer.
Six-Reasons Why You Shouldn’t Buy Kamagra Online:
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It’s illegal.
Kamagra is not licensed to be sold in the UK, that’s right, it is illegal to buy Kamagra in the UK! It is against the law to buy a prescription-only-medicine without a prescription which a doctor has written individually for you.
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There is no Doctor to check if Kamagra is safe for you:
When you buy medication from a reputable online pharmacy (more on this later), a doctor or pharmacist will assess if the medication is safe for you to take.
Perhaps you have allergies to certain medications or suffer from a health condition such as liver disease that would stop you from taking Sildenafil. Without a qualified health professional checking your medical history, there is no way of knowing whether or not a medication is suitable for you. Illegal websites selling Kamagra have no health professional to check whether or not the product is safe for you.
Understandably, talking to a health professional about ED or any other sexual health concern is potentially embarrassing. Patients should feel re-assured however that doctors, nurses and pharmacists discuss these sensitive issues every day and will approach the discussion in an open-minded, non-judgemental way. It simply isn’t worth gambling with your health to spare yourself from blushing.
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Kamagra is NOT the same as Viagra:
Although legitimate Kamagra manufactured by Ajanta Pharma contains Sildenafil, the only way to get Kamagra in the UK is to buy from an illegal website. When you’re buying medication from an illegal website you have no idea what the tablets you receive actually contain.
A recent campaign by the Medicine and Healthcare Regulatory Authority (MHRA) who oversee the safe supply of medicines in the UK highlights the dangers of buying medication online. Buying medicines from unregulated websites (such as those selling Kamagra) drastically increases the chance that the medicines you buy will be fake(3).
Research undertaken by the World Health Organisation (WHO) has found that 50% of medications purchased from illegal websites are counterfeit, this means that the product you think is Kamagra is most likely to be something else(4). In 2008, 150 people were admitted to hospital in Singapore after taking a medication for ED which they had purchased illegally. The tablets were later found to contain a potent medication used to lower blood sugar in diabetes. Four men died as a result of taking the illegal medication(6).
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You could be putting the health of your heart at risk:
There are two reasons why ED may be associated with cardiovascular (heart) disease. Firstly, the risk factors for ED such as obesity, sedentary lifestyle and smoking are similar to those for coronary heart disease(7). This tells us is that men with ED are more likely to suffer from cardiovascular disease.
In some men, ED can be the first sign of existing cardiovascular disease. Atherosclerotic disease (narrowing of the arteries) reduces blood flow to the penis making it difficult to maintain an erection. A 2005 review article published in the Journal of American Medical Association studied men emphasised the importance for men who have developed ED to be assessed for risk factors for cardiovascular disease, many of which can be treated in order to prevent the condition worsening(8). Buying medication from illegal websites misses out this vital risk assessment which could save lives.
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Lack of quality control:
Even if the Kamagra you buy online does contain Sildenafil, it is impossible to check the quality of the medication you have bought.
The World Health Organisation (WHO) has voiced concerns that medicinal products produced in developing countries for sale on illicit websites are often made in unsanitary laboratory conditions which would fall significantly short of standards required to manufacture medicines in the United Kingdom (UK).
The UK has some of the most stringent quality control requirements for medication in the world in order to keep us safe from poorly-manufactured medicines. Quality control requirements ensure that medicinal products are stored in temperature controlled, hygienic conditions within pharmacies before they are dispensed to patients.
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Your wallet is at risk:
Illegal websites selling Kamagra or other medications to treat ED leave buyers vulnerable to credit card fraud. Passing your card details to other illegal websites or using your name and address information for identity theft are acknowledged risks of buying from illegal websites. Additionally, you may lose money by never receiving your order in the first place! INTERPOL is coordinating large operations to seize illegal pharmaceuticals and shut down websites selling them(9).
How do I Stay Safe When Ordering Medications Online?
Quality control, fraud and the potential safety concerns of buying medications online might make you think twice about how you can obtain your medication in a way that fits in with your lifestyle. Thankfully there are steps you can take to ensure you obtain your medications from a safe, reputable online pharmacy.
Firstly, look for the mandatory EU common logo which came into force in 2015:
By clicking on the logo you will be able to see the pharmacies registration with the MHRA and the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC) who are responsible for regulating pharmacies in the United Kingdom. When you obtain medicines from a pharmacy registered with these organisations you can be assured that conditions for the storage and supply of medications and training of the staff employed by the pharmacy are being adhered to.
When purchasing medication online, registered pharmacies are required by law to check that the medication is suitable for you. If a website doesn’t ask you any questions about your health then potentially they are operating illegally and you should seek an alternative provider.
When making a payment online, look for a “lock” at the bottom of your browser window or check that the website address begins with “https://”. The presence of either of these features assures you that your card details will be encrypted making your transaction safer.
Buy Safely From Assured Pharmacy:
Assured Pharmacy is a UK based pharmacy who also supply medications via the internet. Our team of pharmacy and medical professionals are registered to practice in the UK and will ensure that the medication you request is safe for you by asking questions about your medical history. We offer a variety of services for the treatment of erectile dysfunction to products for hair loss and weight management.
Assured Pharmacy only source medication from within the UK giving you reassurance that the products you are receiving are of top quality and meet stringent UK quality control standards. We use Sagepay to ensure card details are handled securely and your order will be delivered in discreet packaging with no delivery charge.
If you have any queries regarding our service, you can contact us by either phone (01625 460621) or email.
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References:
1. Erectile dysfunction (impotence) NHS Choices [online] London: National Health Service. Last updated: 23/09/2014. Accessed 12th November 2017. Available from: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/erection-problems-erectile-dysfunction/
2. Aytaç, Mckinlay and Krane (1999), The likely worldwide increase in erectile dysfunction between 1995 and 2025 and some possible policy consequences. BJU International, 84: 50–56. doi:10.1046/j.1464-410x.1999.00142.x
3. Authority, P.P., 2017. NHS electronic drug tariff. NHS Business Services Authority website Last updated 1st November 2017. Accessed 19th November 2017. Available from: https://www.nhsbsa.nhs.uk/pharmacies-gp-practices-and-appliance-contractors/drug-tariff
4. Compendium, E.M., 2017. Viagra Summary of Product Characteristics. Surrey: Datapharm Communications Ltd. Last updated 23td June 2016. Accessed 22nd November 2017. Available from: https://www.medicines.org.uk/emc/medicine/1474#CONTRAINDICATIONS
5. Medicines and Healthcare Regulatory Authority (MHRA) #Fake Meds Campaign [online] London: Crown Copyright. Accessed 12th November 2017. Available at: https://fakemeds.campaign.gov.uk/
6. Hegde, A.N., Mohan, S., Lath, N. and Lim, C.T., 2011. Differential diagnosis for bilateral abnormalities of the basal ganglia and thalamus. Radiographics, 31(1), pp.5-30.
7. British Society for Sexual Medicine, 2013. Guidelines on the management of erectile dysfunction (2013). http://bssmorguk.ipage.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/BSSM_ED_Management_Guidelines_2013.pdf
8. Thompson, I.M., Tangen, C.M., Goodman, P.J., Probstfield, J.L., Moinpour, C.M. and Coltman, C.A., 2005. Erectile dysfunction and subsequent cardiovascular disease. Jama, 294(23), pp.2996-3002.
9. Medicines and Healthcare Regulatory Authority (MHRA) UK Leads the way with £15.8 million seizure in global operation targeting counterfeit and unlicensed medicines and devices. [online]. London: MHRA. Last updated 8th July 2015. Accessed 20th November 2017. Available from: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/uk-leads-the-way-with-158-million-seizure-in-global-operation-targeting-counterfeit-and-unlicensed-medicines-and-devices
10. General Pharmaceutical Council Internet Pharmacy [online]. London: General Pharmaceutical Council. Last updated: 2017. Accessed 13th November 2017. Available from: https://www.pharmacyregulation.org/registration/internet-pharmacy
11. Visa Europe. Shop safely online [online] London: Visa Europe Services LLC. Accessed 20th November 2017. Available from: https://www.visa.co.uk/products/protection-benefits/shop-safely-online
Assured Pharmacy is not liable for the currency or accuracy of the information contained in this blog post. For specific information about your personal medical condition, please contact our doctors or pharmacists for advice on [email protected].
