The Ministry of Health has announced measures to regulate the sale of blue or Viagra amid concerns over its usage.

In a statement on Monday, December 22, 2025, Health Principal Secretary Mary Muthoni noted that the medicine is strictly prescription-only and should not be sold over the counter.

“The drug increases the risk of life-threatening events such as heart attack and stroke; patients should consult a doctor or pharmacist before use,” Muthoni wrote on X.

According to the PS, the Sildenafil tablets are mainly used to treat erectile dysfunction (ED) in men and pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) and should not be taken without a doctor’s prescription.

She warned that when taken without proper medical guidance, especially alongside nitrates or certain heart and blood pressure medicines, the drug can cause life-threatening complications.

“When taken with other medicines—especially nitrates or certain blood pressure and heart medicines—it can cause dangerous interactions and increase the risk of life-threatening events such as heart attack and stroke; patients should consult a doctor or pharmacist before use,” the statement read in part.

As part of the government’s efforts to regulate the sale of the drug, the PS  announced the implementation of a monitoring system that requires pharmacies to document and report all sales of prescription medicines to customers.

She explained that the measure is intended to improve traceability and reduce leakages of controlled medicines such as Sildenafil into informal or illegal markets.

The PS also announced frequent audits and inspections of pharmacies by reviewing prescription records for controlled dispensing.

Muthoni emphasised that these inspections would involve reviewing prescription records to ensure medicines like sildenafil are dispensed only with valid prescriptions and in accordance with the law.

She also revealed the government’s intention to run education campaigns to inform the public about the risks and legal consequences of using prescription-only medicines without medical approval. 

What to know?

Growing older means a growing chance of developing certain health conditions. Erectile dysfunction (ED) is a case in point. ED is more common after age 50, and it can become riskier to take certain ED treatments as you get older.

Viagra (sildenafil) is one treatment that sometimes raises this concern. Viagra and other phosphodiesterase-5 (PDE-5) inhibitors are first-choice medications for ED. Viagra comes as an oral pill you take about an hour before sexual activity, but you can take it anywhere from 30 minutes to 4 hours before sex.

Viagra works by relaxing your blood vessels and improving blood flow to your penis when you’re sexually aroused. Viagra is generally safe, but it can cause side effects such as blood pressure changes and skin flushing. Some people, including older adults, may be especially prone to these risks.