A record number of men aged over 80 are taking Viagra – proving old age needn’t be a downer.
They got 182,000 prescriptions last year, including 5,759 over-90s – the oldest being 99.
The figures show how elderly lotharios feel pressure to behave “as if they are biologically very mature teenagers”, a sociology professor says.
Frank Furedi, of the University of Kent, said: “Contemporary culture sends out the signal that sex is for life. A lot of elderly man feel they must have a full-on sex life by any means necessary. They are fast becoming ‘generation Viagra’.”
It comes as more wrinklies seek sex on dating sites and hook-up apps.
The most famous elderly Viagra-popper was Playboy chief Hugh Hefner, who died at 91 in 2017. His hearing loss was blamed on the pills – and other side effects can include colour blindness and dizziness.
Last year, there were 4.29 million prescriptions, costing the NHS £19million. Men in their 60s got the most. In 2020, the oldest man to get a prescription was 102.
The total number using Viagra is higher as it is sold over the counter and online.
The NHS said: “Decisions on prescribing these drugs are down to GPs, based on a patient’s individual clinical needs.”
