The country gasped in disbelief earlier this week with the news that insanely popular budget high street chain Poundland were now stocking £1-a-pack ‘Viagra-like’ capsules for men and women. Disbelief is perhaps justified, with further inspection of the libido-boosting “all natural” herbal capsules – humorously given the name ‘Nooky’ - quickly uncovers they are nothing remotely like Pfizer’s Viagra. Although advertised on the box as an “energy-enhancing pill”, the following “stay strong” description is rather conspicuous in what it implies. It is worth bearing in mind that Viagra is actually a licensed and medically acknowledged treatment for erectile dysfunction (ED) that has been prescribed to men for almost 20 years, containing an active ingredient called sildenafil, which increases blood flow to the penis.

What's Inside Nooky?

The suggested dose of Nooky is 2 capsules, of which contains 200mg of amino acid L-arginine. Particularly popular with gym-goers, L-arginine is converted intro nitric oxide, aiding endurance and muscle conditioning. However, when nitric oxide is released, it widens the blood vessels by relaxing the muscles of their walls. That sounds all well and good, but 200mg is five times less the dose most men commonly take (1000mg) either before going to the gym or erm, going to bed! When discussing L-arginine, Arthur R. Crowley, MD commented: “The body uses this amino acid to make a substance called nitric oxide (NO) that dilates blood vessels to improve blood circulation. This is believed to be how L-arginine can help increase blood flow to the penis, allowing a firmer erection. “In one study, it seemed as though using a low dose of L-arginine (500mg three times a day) was no better than taking a placebo (sugar pill). However, this dose was effective in men with low levels of NO. The benefit was seen in approximately 6 weeks of treatment.” So it seems you have to be taking 1500mg of L-arginine each day and keep it up for 6 weeks of treatment before seeing the full benefits with regards to erectile dysfunction. Also packed inside 2 of the blue capsules is 100mg of Korean Ginseng Extract (PANAX). However, let’s not think that 100mg of a herbal food supplement is comparative of 100mg of sildenafil inside Viagra. The dose of 100mg Korean Ginseng Extract is questionable in terms of if this would actually have an impact on erectile function for men. Similarly to L-arginine’s efficacy, or lack of, past studies would suggest both sustained long-term use and a far higher dose required than that contained in ‘Nooky’. To quote one study: “The duration of treatment ranged from 4 to 12 weeks. The adopted doses of red ginseng were 600mg, three times daily in four trials [6, 10, 11, 13], 900mg in two studies [7, 12] and 1000mg in one trial”. Suddenly, 100mg of Korean Ginseng Extract seems rather ineffective for purpose. After a segment yesterday morning on television show This Morning, The Metro online ran a headline stating “Phillip Schofield reckons he could knock a table over after taking Viagra”, though they do later admit that in fact Nooky is not actually like Viagra at all. Other slightly misleading headlines of articles covering Nooky include things such as “Poundland has launched a range of Viagra-style pills and sex toys”, “Poundland is selling a range of 'Viagra' and people can't believe it” and “Poundland is selling ‘VIAGRA’ for men and women – and yes, they cost £1 a pack”.

Medical Specialists® Verdict on Nooky

Managing Director of Medical Specialists® Pharmacy, David Bailey, was horrified to read these countless misinformed and misleading news articles from respected sources that were covering the release of Nooky, and that seemed to be treating the issue of erectile problems in men as a joke. "Erectile dysfunction is a genuine health problem and concern for men that can cause severe distress for the man, even impacting relationships. It is certainly not something to be trivialised. ED is best discussed with a GP, to see if there are any underlying conditions present, and find the most suitable treatment options going forward. This can include a wide number of options such as Phosphodiesterase-5 (PDE-5) inhibitor medications like Viagra or Cialis, lifestyle changes such as giving up smoking or losing weight, or your GP may even refer you to psychosexual counselling or Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT)"...said David.