Ranchi, Jan. 5: First there were the political parties, now it is the Jharkhand Druggists and Chemists Association (JDCA) that is trying to stop the launch of Viagra in the state.

The members believe that the media hype surrounding the launch of the pill, and the myth of Viagra being some sort of a wonder drug will largely mislead the youth and adversely affect the sales of its Indian counterparts.

The JDCA general secretary, Amar Kumar Sinha, pointed out: ?The drug is used by those who have a sexual incapacity. There are a large number of Indian companies that have addressed the issue and have launched medicines, which are given to patients only when they are prescribed to them.?

He added: ?The problem is that, people do not know about these Indian versions. But going by the hype created for Viagra, people have become curious.

They would rush to the shops once it is launched,? he said, adding: ?Just like other medicines like Corex, which is used by the young for getting a high, we fear that Viagra, too, would be used for all the wrong reasons.?

JDCA members also said the chemicals used in both the Indian version of the medicine and Viagra, are the same. Thereby they believe that the difference in prices, are not justified.

While, Viagra costs more than Rs 500 while their ?desi? counterparts are available within Rs 30.

?All the benefits of the sale of would directly go to the foreign company. The ?desi? medicines will lose its market in the state,? said a member.

Another factor that is troubling the association are the many side-effects of the medicine.

While on one hand, doctors acknowledge that there are a number of side-effects, they maintain that protest is uncalled for.

Doctors warn that blood vessel dilution, which may lead to tearing of vessels, hyvolania, which leads to blackouts, dizziness and many other symptoms, are just some side-effects of Viagra.

?There has also been cases of priapism, which is continuous erection that can be cured only by surgery. Things can get really serious in some cases,? said Ajay Kumar Singh, a city doctor.

He adds: ?There are many Indian companies who have launched similar drugs. The price difference is the same in other medicines as well. Why not protest against them? The prescription of the medicine by a doctor, an Indian one or otherwise, depends entirely on the doctor,? he added.