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

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.