The recent police case of a Chinese businessman selling liquor spiked with Viagra received international attention. In an attempt to increase sales of his alcoholic beverage, the liquor manufacturer Mr. Huang had “enhanced” his liquor with Viagra – without mentioning the special ingredient on the label. The case was quickly spotted by the authorities, who are currently trying to locate the 1170 bottles which had already been sold.
Although Viagra is a very popular lifestyle medication, few men know how to take it or even where to buy it safely. The unusual case of Huang’s Viagra liquor is a good example of how not to use prescription medication – be it Viagra or any other drug. It is generally not advisable to mix alcohol and Viagra. Although a small to moderate amount of alcohol may not affect your treatment, it has a negative impact on your sexual performance as it may counteract the effect of Viagra. In cases of excessive alcohol consumption in combination with Viagra it may also increase the risk of certain side effects, such as dizziness, fainting or headaches.
There are numerous reasons why Viagra does not make a particularly good secret ingredient in anyone’s drink. Mr. Huang had wrongly assumed that Viagra is safe unless you take an overdose. However, the active ingredient Sildenafil can be harmful for patients who suffer from particular medical conditions. This applies to people who suffer from heart rhythm problems and other cardiovascular conditions. Viagra lowers the blood pressure and can cause faints and collapses in those with a very low blood pressure – which can be very dangerous when driving or operating machinery. The drug is also not to be taken by those suffering from liver or kidney disease or retinitis pigmentosa, a condition which affects your eyes.
It is also safe to assume that Mr Huang’s supplies of Viagra purchased cheaply on the internet was not licensed medication. With most counterfeit medications containing an incorrect dosage of the active ingredient or even banned substances, it could have caused something worse than an unusually good sexual experience. The inventive salesman, however, had no concern over this – he kept 30 bottles for his personal use and generously distributed another 810 bottles among his friends (which investigators are having a hard time tracking down).
Mr. Huang will now face a legal battle against his actions. What was supposed to be a brilliant business move has now turned out to be a personal disaster for the perpetrator. Sales might have soared for Mr. Huang, but the similar effect on his customers has quashed any future success.
