Pentagon spent more than half million dollars on Viagra, erectile dysfunction drugs last year

The United States Department of Defence has reportedly spent more than a half a million dollars on the male enhancement drug, Viagra, last year.

According to News.com.au, the amount of Viagra bought by the Pentagon could have provided up to 80,770 hours, 33 minutes, and 36 seconds of sexual enhancement, assuming that no erection lasted more than the medically advised four hour maximum.

The department also purchased erectile dysfunction drugs Cialis and Levitra, the report said.

About 60 contracts were issued for Viagra totaling 504,816 dollars in 2014 and were awarded to Cardinal Health Inc., a pharmaceutical distribution company based in Dublin, Ohio.

The contracts were filed under "Troop Support."

The Defence department started offering Viagra to soldiers as a medical benefit in 1998. The drug cost 10 dollars a pill at the time but due to inflation, it now costs about 25 dollars.

DoD said that the military's policy only permitted six pills a month per patient at the time and "lost or stolen pills" were not replaced.

The Pentagon said that defence guidelines allowed physicians to prescribe Viagra only after a thorough examination indicated the medication "as the optimal regimen for the patient."

It added that patients were given careful guidelines for taking the drug and there was no guarantee it would work. Its side effects may include, headaches, flushing of the face or chest, indigestion, nasal congestion and mild vision impairment, the agency said.