The pupils were taken to the Royal Berkshire Hospital, Reading. An ambulance service spokesman said: 'Their conditions were monitored regularly.
The spokesman added: 'As far as I know, the Viagra did not have its usual effect on the children.' 'However, they did not suffer any side-effects and they were fine. Parents of the boys involved claimed the children had no idea what they were doing when they took the drug. 'It's very dangerous to take something if you don't know what it is - it could have been lethal.' However, a sixth-former at the school said: 'I would not take it and it is a very immature thing to do. Launched by Pfizer in a blaze of publicity five years ago, Viagra was seen as a breakthrough in the treatment of male impotence.Īlthough it should only be prescribed by a doctor, it is available through the Internet, meaning health checks on potential users are often not carried out.Įxperts warned that the drug is untested on children.ĭr Alan Tang, of the Royal Berkshire Hospital's Florey Unit, which specialises in sexual health, said Viagra could be lethal if combined with other drugs. 'Viagra has not been tested on boys that age,' he added.
'In terms of dysfunction, it is not likely to have any particular effect. If my son did something like that, I would be quite horrified.' 'In adults, it has been shown to be dangerous when combined with medication for some heart conditions.īut it could combine with other medication which could be potentially fatal. One father, whose son attends Forest School but was not involved in the incident last Thursday, said: 'Parents should teach their children more about what they are taking and the dangers of taking anything like Viagra, even check their rooms if necessary.' The incident also led to calls for parents to keep a closer eye on medication kept at home.