Pet drugs 'misused' to boost men's virility, heal impotence

By Mangku Sitepoe

JAKARTA (JP): The media have reported that some people in Indonesia have "misused" drugs for animals to cure impotency. The generic name of the veterinary drug is clomipramine, which is commonly used as an antidepressant for domestic animals.

Clomipramine derivatives which come under several brand names are a lot cheaper than Viagra and this has reportedly tempted people to turn to domestic animal drugs to heal impotency and boost virility.

Local newspapers reported that a man in Bogor used clomipramine, which he obtained on a veterinarian's prescription for his dog, to treat his impotency -- a trick that veterinarians fear could develop into a trend.

Clomipramine falls under the "G" drug strength category and can only be obtained with a veterinarian's prescription.

Is clomipramine effective in treating impotency? Author Avery GS says in his book published in 1980 that the use of clomipramine as an antidepressant has numerous side effects. One is suspended ejaculation, but Avery does not elaborate on how it works.

Clomipramine as an anti-impotence drug attracts users probably because it cures depression and premature ejaculation.

The drug's ability to cure human impotency has also sparked debates on the legal aspect of the procurement and use of drugs.

Viagra, which was legalized for sale here by the government, is categorized as a strong drug obtained only with a doctor's prescription.

Only trained doctors are permitted to prescribe Viagra and only certain drugstores are authorized to sell the anti-impotence drug.

Obtaining animal drugs with a veterinarian's prescription to cure human illnesses is illegal under Indonesian law. The import of raw material for veterinary drugs to be used for human medicine is also illegal.

Drugs for humans are regulated in Health Law No. 23/1992 and Law No. 419/1949 on strong drugs. Drugs for animals are regulated in Government Regulation No. 78/1992 and Law No. 419/1949.

Presidential Decree No. 18/1986 states that the government, not the importer, pays the value-added tax for animal drugs.

The law on strong drugs requires that all drugs under the "G" category can be obtained only with a prescription by a medical doctor, veterinarian or dentist. The drug can be bought at a drugstore only. Animal drugs may be obtained at a pet drugstore.

This means that a veterinarian's prescription can be used to purchase drugs in the drugstore which sells medicine for humans. Or in other words, human drugs may be used to cure animal ailments.

But animal drugs may not be used by humans. People who use drugs for animals as reported in the media have broken the law.

The British Pharmacopoeia for Veterinary 1999 does not mention clomipramine but the British Pharmacopoeia for Humans 1999 mentions clomipramine Hcl is used as an antidepressant.

The Indonesian list of animal drugs released in 1998 does not mention anything about clomipramine. But the Indonesian list of drugs for humans 1998 includes clomipramine Hcl, which is recommended to treat depression and phobias.

The writer is a veterinarian and general practitioner.