Are the front effects worth the side effects?

I came across an Ad for performance enhancing drugs this morning and I felt sorry for the male species. Immediately the popular athlete Lashawn Merrit came to mind.  

We recall that on April 22, 2010 it was revealed that he failed three drug tests and was as a result suspended from Track and Field for Two years.  His claim was that he failed as a result of taking an over-the-counter penis enlargement product, ExtenZe.  Merrit stated that he did not read the SMALL print to check the ingredients of the product, which contains the banned steroid Dehydroepiandrosterone.  

I felt sorry for the kid, in that he suffered the side effects of being banned for almost two years from track and field.  That is significant if you consider that his earnings could top as much as US$ 20 million if he was on top of his game - His Track and field game that is.  Luckily the authorities were sympathetic to his case and his ban was reduced to 21 months. 

Was the front effects worth the side effects?  

So, the Ad was related to the well known drug CIALIS.  The front effects of course is sexual prowess for the male and sexual satisfaction for the woman.  Very well you might say, it is a win-win for everybody. Yes, until you see the possible side effects.  These are not of the type suffered by Merritt, and God forbid I hope the suspension was the only adverse effect in that case.

The Side effects read like a story from Hurt Locker, except that it has less surprises and far less appeal.

Viagra Side Effects (Check the Helmet and the wall)

So here is the summary as recollected from the CIALIS PAGE

Uncommon but serious side effects include:

An erection that won't go away (priapism). If you get an erection that lasts more than 4 hours, get medical help right away. Priapism must be treated as soon as possible or lasting damage can happen to your penis, including the inability to have erections.

In rare instances, men taking prescription ED tablets, including CIALIS, reported a sudden decrease or loss of vision in one or both eyes. If you experience a sudden decrease or loss of vision, stop taking CIALIS and call a healthcare provider right away.

Sudden loss or decrease in hearing, sometimes with ringing in the ears and dizziness, has been rarely reported in people taking PDE5 inhibitors, including CIALIS. It is not possible to determine whether these events are related directly to the PDE5 inhibitors, to other diseases or medications, to other factors, or to a combination of factors. If you experience these symptoms, stop taking CIALIS and contact a healthcare provider right away.

What Are The Possible Side Effects Of CIALIS?

The most common side effects with CIALIS are: headache, indigestion, back pain, muscle aches, flushing, and stuffy or runny nose. These side effects usually go away after a few hours. Men who get back pain and muscle aches usually get it 12 to 24 hours after taking CIALIS. Back pain and muscle aches usually go away within 2 days. Call your healthcare provider if you get any side effect that bothers you or one that does not go away.

To be fair these warnings are published and the instructions are clear to the users.  Therefore he has a reasonable decision to make before he even consider buying the drug.  

I know there are men with genuine problems and I can't judge them or condemn them for that, but I am concerned about those who fail to read the SMALL PRINT as it were.  CIALIS of course advises that it is exclusively prescription medication and should only be used under the guidance of a health care professional.   The warnings are extensive in fact, and they even have a 24/7 help line in the US.

I am not picking on this company in particular, but it was their Ad that sparked the story.  Another similar and even more popular drug that have equally mind blowing side effects is VIAGRA.  I would hope these drugs are not being sold over the counter and especially not to minors or to persons incapable of reading the SMALL prints. 

At the end of the day the user should be able to ask himself fairly:

Are the front effects worth the side effects?