Stats show 20,000 more men now use the sex aid pills to boost their love lives than five years ago.

The NHS bill tops £22million for 500,000 prescriptions.

Experts insist the drug saves relationships, but critics argue the cash should be used elsewhere on the NHS. Sue Maxwell, a therapist at Relationships Scotland, said: “Giving people the possibility of being sexually active, where otherwise they wouldn’t be can only be a good thing.”

Figures show Glasgow men need most help in the bedroom — with 14,000 Viagra prescriptions written there last year. The figures, released through Freedom of Information laws show that in 2007, 99,845 prescriptions were issued. Last year, that was up to 118,591.

But in Orkney, only 400 doses of the blue pill were issued.

Expert Ms Maxwell claimed there was an alarming rise in young men with sex problems.

Robert Oxley
The Taxpayers' Alliance ... Robert Oxley
She said: “It’s often to do with the work/life balance and the stress of it. Sometimes when men lose their jobs, they lose their erection.”

But campaigners The Taxpayers’ Alliance say the cash could help other priorities.

The group’s Robert Oxley said: “The NHS has to justify spending money on little blue pills at a time when it’s not spending cash on cancer drugs.”

Viagra was developed by UK scientists and hit shelves in 1998.

Last night the Scottish Government denied money was being wasted. A spokesman said: “Prescribing medicines is down to individual clinicians.”

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