Contents:
- What is Viagra?
- How does it work?
- When should I take Viagra?
- Who should not take Viagra?
- Can Viagra be taken for recreational purposes?
- Are there some age limitations?
- How effective is Viagra?
- How was Viagra checked for safety and effectivity?
- How does the drug affect sexual desire, orgasm and duration of sexual intercourse?
- Will Viagra cure erectile dysfunction permanently?
- Can Viagra be bought without a prescription?
- What drugs are similar to Viagra?
- Is branded Viagra better than generics?
- Can women use Viagra?
- What are the side effects?
- What is the optimal dosage?
- How to take Viagra?
- How long does it last?
- How often / how long can I take?
- What if Viagra did not help me?
Perhaps there is no other pill in the world that has attracted so many myths and fostered so many misbeliefs than Viagra did. While some believe that Viagra will turn any man into a sexmachine, others are sure that it can cause serious health problems, disability, and even death. However, the truth about the blue pill is much more trivial. We have answered 20 popular questions about Viagra so you can tell facts from fiction.
1. What is Viagra?
Viagra is a blockbuster drug based on sildenafil citrate. Twenty years ago sildenafil became the first oral drug to treat erectile dysfunction, which made Viagra very popular. Unlike other methods of treating erectile dysfunction, which involve injections in the penis and other medical procedures, Viagra is a simple and convenient drug. With Viagra you just take a pill 30-60 minutes before sex.
2. How does it work?
Sildenafil citrate blocks the action of PDE5, a particular enzyme found in the smooth muscles of the penis. Thanks to this, the blood flow to the penile area increases, which eliminates the common cause of erectile dysfunction. Thus, when sexual arousal occurs, an erection is achieved naturally. Viagra does not cause a spontaneous erection and does not manifest itself without proper sexual stimulation. In other words, Viagra only affects the natural mechanisms of erection and this is the reason of its great popularity.
3. When should I take Viagra?
Viagra is intended for people suffering from erectile dysfunctions of various degrees and origins. How to distinguish erectile dysfunction from a circumstantial failure? Commonly, erectile dysfunction can be assumed when at least every fourth intercourse cannot be completed due to a lack of erection. However, only a doctor can diagnose ED accurately.
4. Who should not take Viagra?
Since Viagra is involved in biochemical processes associated with the exchange of nitric oxide, it can interact with other drugs called nitrates, which are used to treat heart disease. One should never take Viagra while undergoing a treatment with nitrates or alpha-blockers, or using recreational drugs known as poppers. These combinations can cause a sudden and serious alteration in blood pressure. People with hearth diseases, blood pressure disorders, liver or kidney diseases, etc., should be extremely cautious when taking Viagra and always consult a doctor before starting their treatment.
5. Can Viagra be taken for recreational purposes?
Viagra refers to a product distributed strictly on prescription basis. Being a medical drug, Viagra is designed to normalize erection mechanisms and not to increase “male power”. Any medicine included in the group of “prescription drugs” should not be used for recreational purposes or without consulting a doctor. Viagra is associated with a number of side effects and contradictions, and only a doctor can accurately assess if the drug is safe for particular person’s health condition.
6. Are there some age limitations?
Erectile dysfunction can develop in men young and old, and Viagra can be taken from the age of 18. Is there an upper limit? Not really. However, it is very important for older people to take their heart condition into account. Any heart diseases at present (or heart attacks or surgeries suffered in the past) should be reported to the doctor. Indeed, during sex, all organs and systems of the body work intensively, so that a weak heart may not withstand. It is important to know that nitroglycerin, a drug widely used to treat certain heart conditions, is incompatible with Viagra and can lead to a sudden drop in blood pressure.
7. How effective is Viagra?
The effectiveness of Viagra depend on the type of erectile dysfunction and concomitant diseases. For example, the drug is highly effective in treating vascular erectile dysfunction, but the results are much worse for a condition called pathological venous drainage. Viagra is quite effective in patients with atherosclerosis, nerve damage, and diabetes. However, it is not a panacea for all kinds of ED, and only a doctor can diagnose the disease correctly to prescribe proper treatment.
8. How was Viagra checked for safety and effectivity?
The drug was evaluated by more than 3000 men aged from 19 to 87 years in studies of erectile dysfunction, conducted in various countries of the world. The duration of erectile dysfunction in these patients averaged 5 years (from 6 months to 26 years). The erection disorders were of organic, psychogenic, or mixed nature. The results of these studies show that Viagra is effective in restoring erectile function and improving the success rate of sexual acts in a large number of patients, including a number of diabetic patients, men with spinal cord damage, and other concomitant clinical conditions. Some men were already taking a number of other drugs to treat other diseases.
9. How does the drug affect sexual desire, orgasm and duration of sexual intercourse?
Viagra does not increase sexual desire. It should be understood that the drug does not act as a means for sexual arousal. Viagra has no effect on the duration of sexual intercourse, as well as the quality and duration of orgasm.
10. Will Viagra cure erectile dysfunction permanently?
Viagra and its analogues eliminate the symptoms of erectile dysfunction only for the duration of their action. Erectile dysfunction can be a consequence of a huge number of disorders, organic and mental, therefore, in order to treat impotence, the underlying problem must be eliminated first.
11. Can Viagra be bought without a prescription?
Selling Viagra without prescription is illegal in most countries of the world, although today in the UK we can observe the first attempt to make a change by selling Viagra after a simple consultation at the pharmacy. Moreover, there is another way to order Viagra legally without going to the doctor. The answer is telemedicine. You can go through an online consultation provided by some online pharmacies and services to get a valid prescription and order ED drugs to be delivered right to your doorstep.
12. What drugs are similar to Viagra?
After the active component of Viagra, sildenafil, was developed by Pfizer company, two similar drugs, tadalafil and vardenafil, were discovered shortly. All of them are PDE5 inhibitors and have a similar mechanism of action. However, while sildenafil lasts 5 hours on average, tadalafil remains active for up to 36 hours. Tadalafil and vardenafil are known under the brand names of Cialis and Levitra.
13. Is branded Viagra better than generics?
With the huge popularity of Viagra, a large number of generics have flooded the marker. Generics are drugs with an identical formula, but under a different name and usually at a lower price. It’s impossible to claim with 100 percent certainty that the original Viagra is always better than generic sildenafil pills purchased on the Internet. Eventually, drug potency relies on the active substance, and sildenafil remains the same no matter how much you pay. However, when using non-approved online pharmacies, there is a higher risk to receive placebo, drugs that contain harmful additives or pills with dosages different from indicated. Saving money on drugs is tempting, however, buyers should be aware of the possible risks too.
14. Can women use Viagra?
Viagra has not been approved for use by female patients. As sildenafil does not increase sexual desire in men, it does not increase it in women too. However, since Viagra increases blood flow to the genital area, it could probably help some women with releasing a lubricating secret, increasing arousal and even getting an orgasm. Viagra might be useful for women experiencing sexual difficulties in connection with diabetes. However, as this drug is intended for men only, women are using Viagra at their own risk. Unfortunately, female sexuality is more complex, and at present there is no medical solution to treat frigidity that simply.
15. What are the side effects?
The most commonly reported adverse events associated with Viagra are headache (15.8%) and sudden face and neck redness (10.5%), dyspepsia (5.5%) and redness of the nasal cavity (4.2%), which are usually transient in nature, mild and moderately pronounced, do not urge treatment discontinuation. During clinical studies, frequency of treatment discontinuation due to side effects was comparable for patients receiving Viagra (2.5%) and placebo (2.3%). Cases of priapism (painful and long-lasting erection) were not reported in any of the clinical studies.
16. What is the optimal dosage?
The drug is available in three standard dosages: 25, 50 and 100 mg. There are several approaches to select a suitable dosage of the drug. Usually, sildenafil is taken in 50 mg pills. Then, depending on the effect, the dosage is adjusted. Another approach is to begin treatment with a minimum dosage, increasing it until a sufficient therapeutic effect occurs.
17. How to take Viagra?
Viagra pills are taken 30-60 minutes in advance, preferably on an empty stomach. While fatty foods can delay the onset of action, large quantities of alcohol can negate the effect of the drug. Nevertheless, today there are alternative forms of ED drugs, e.g. lozenges and chewy candies, which can be taken with any food with no delay in action.
18. How long does it last?
Viagra remains active for 4-6 hours after intake.
19. How often / how long can I take?
Viagra in any dosage should be taken no more than once a day. Many men are also concerned whether it is possible to take Viagra for a long time. Viagra has gone through a huge number of clinical trials, and since the blue pill has been in existence, no evidence was found that prolonged use of sildenafil can lead to any serious consequences. Current knowledge about the drug allows to prescribe Viagra to patients for both episodic and long-term treatment of erectile dysfunction.
20. What if Viagra did not help me?
Unfortunately, doctors don’t have a cure for all diseases at their disposal. However, do not despair. Viagra is only one of the many drugs effective against erectile dysfunction. Why not visit a sex therapist? Perhaps the solution to your problem lies on the surface. On the other hand, surgical treatment may be necessary to handle particular cases. There are quite a few solutions for treating erectile dysfunction – Viagra is undoubtedly an excellent drug – but not the only possible treatment option.