Do you chew Viagra?
Well, the answer might surprise you. Despite its reputation as a potent pill, scientists have found that about half the American population can’t handle the effects of traditional Viagra and have actually turned to chewing the pill as a solution.
So what is it about these drugs that make them so difficult to digest? Let’s take a closer look.
Viagra’s History
You might be familiar with the effects of Viagra on men, thanks to a decade of popular culture and the always-viral Google search “how to take Viagra.” But did you know that the initial invention of Viagra was specifically designed for women?
In the 1960s, a team of scientists led by Roland Szabo from Pfizer conducted a series of random drug trials in an effort to find a solution for low libido in women. They initially tried out different formulations of adrenalin on women, with some success. But when they switched to testing sildenafil (the active ingredient in Viagra), they noticed that it had a completely different effect on females.
They found that while it increased testosterone levels in men, it actually decreased it in women. This led them to believe that inhibiting PDE5 (the enzyme sildenafil targets) in the brain could be an effective way to treat sexual dysfunction in women. In 1968, they published their findings in the Journal of the American Medical Association, giving birth to the concept of “Viagra for women.”
The story behind Viagra’s creation was largely thanks to a serendipitous accident. In the 1950s, two drug companies, Burroughs Wellcome and Hoffman-LaRoche, were both trying to develop a medication to treat high blood pressure. As part of their work, they performed a series of animal trials using a drug called yohimbine, which is present in the tree bark of the yohimbe tree. While they were testing the effects of their drugs on rabbits, the two companies observed a strange side effect: the animals began exhibiting a massive sexual appetite. To the professionals involved in the study, this was completely unexpected. To this day, yohimbine is still used as a supplement for boosting a man’s sexual performance, and the tree bark in which it is found is known as the “Viagra tree.”
For decades, Viagra was nothing more than a medical curiosity. It was initially approved for use in the United States in 1998 and since then has been prescribed to over 16 million patients across the globe. But it’s only recently that scientists and doctors have begun to investigate the possible side effects of long-term use. While there are no direct studies on the subject, several case reports have been published in medical journals, documenting the potentially serious problems associated with taking Viagra for a prolonged period of time.
Just today, the FDA issued an alert about potential side effects associated with long-term use of the drug. The agency highlighted reports of priapism in men (a condition in which the blood stays in the penis for an extended period of time), liver damage in both men and women, and low blood pressure in women as particularly concerning. What’s more, the agency noted that although it’s usually harmless, taking Viagra with alcohol can cause liver damage.
The Complex Chemical Makeup of Viagra
If you really want to know the inside story of how Viagra works and what makes it so special, you need to know its complex chemical makeup. (If you’re interested, here’s a link to an informative graphic that breaks down the active compounds found in the medication.)
As mentioned above, Viagra is a PDE5 inhibitor. That means it suppresses the activity of phosphodiesterase 5, an enzyme that breaks down cGMP in the body. (cGMP stands for cyclic guanosine monophosphate, and it’s an organic compound, similar to cAMP, that plays an important role in the body’s chemical communication.)
As a result of reduced cGMP degradation, the levels of guanylate cyclase, the molecule that cGMP activates, rise in the body. This, in turn, leads to an increase in blood flow to the penis as well as better erectile function and even performance – something that had previously only been observed when administering drugs like yohimbine directly to the animal subjects.
In addition to inhibiting PDE5, Viagra has also been shown to activate adenosine receptors, which can cause vasodilation. This effect is likely due to sildenafil’s interference with NO production, which leads to increased blood flow. What’s more, the drug also has some anti-inflammatory properties, which could contribute to its effectiveness in reducing pain during sex.
Why Do You Chew Viagra?
It’s estimated that about half the population can’t handle the effects of traditional Viagra, so what are we to make of this? Are these people simply doomed to a life of frustration? Or is there something more sinister at play?
Well, there are a few options. First, you could simply try an untraditional method of treatment, like hypnosis or acupuncture. Second, you could switch to a different PDE5 inhibitor, like roflumilast or tadalafil, which are both more effective and easier for some people to handle. Third, you could try a different drug entirely. Sildenafil is one of the more popular medications prescribed for erectile dysfunction, but it’s not the only game in town. Several other medications, like yadalafil, are now available and have shown promising results in the treatment of ED. Finally, you could look into alternative remedies, like vegan diets, which have shown some improvement for those who experience the same problems as those taking Viagra.
As mentioned above, Viagra was originally developed as a treatment for erectile dysfunction. But as more and more people turn to the wonder drug, doctors are seeing a rise in those who have difficulty with its effects. So, is it possible that this is a problem with the drug, or is it something more sinister that’s affecting your sex life? Only you can answer that question. But one thing’s for sure: chewing on Viagra for a few minutes can never hurt. Right?