The drugstore.com article ‘”Is Female Viagra Really Safe?’ – Find Out Here by Rebecca Knight explains that, while many people think that ‘female Viagra’ refers to an erectile dysfunction drug for women, it actually means a whole different thing.
The term ‘female Viagra’ was first used to describe the drug sildenafil citrate, which is used to treat erectile dysfunction (impotence). However, the FDA has recently approved a drug called ‘Osprey’, which is a combination of sildenafil and vardenafil citrate for treatment of erectile dysfunction in men and women. Therefore, this made ‘female Viagra’ a legal abbreviation for sildenafil citrate in the United States.
This article will discuss the differences between sildenafil and Viagra, as well as the potential risks and side effects of taking either drug, or a combination of the two.
What Is Viagra?
If you’re not familiar, Viagra is one of the most well-known ED drugs on the market today. Brand name Viagra is frequently prescribed to men with erectile dysfunction (ED) to help them achieve and maintain an erection during sexual stimulation. In 2010, the U.S. market value of Viagra was $17.9 billion.
Viagra has been proven to boost nitric oxide production, which is a substance in the body that helps regulate blood flow. When men with ED take Viagra, it results in an improved blood flow to the genitals, which in turn helps them achieve and maintain an erection. This medication can also help men with premature ejaculation and anxiety disorders.
Viagra is a PDE-5 inhibitor, or PDE-5i. This class of drugs work in a similar way to Viagra and other ED drugs by preventing an enzyme called phosphodiesterase-5 (PDE-5) from breaking down cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP). cGMP is an important substance in the body that helps regulate blood pressure and erectile function. When PDE-5 is prevented from breaking down cGMP, more blood flow is allowed to the penis, which results in an erection.
What Is Sildenafil?
Sildenafil is a prescription drug that is often used to treat pulmonary hypertension (PH). PH is a condition where the blood pressure in the arteries leading to the lungs is elevated. In 2010, the U.S. market value of sildenafil was $16.9 billion. It is a PDE-5 inhibitor, or PDE-5i.
Sildenafil is approved for use in both men and women. However, it is mostly used in men with erectile dysfunction or pulmonary hypertension to help them achieve and maintain an erection or to help with sexual pleasuring, respectively. In men, it is used to enhance erectile function. In women, it is used to treat pulmonary hypertension, preventing the condition from becoming worse. This medication can also be used to treat headaches and migraines, among other things.
Are They The Same?
Yes, Viagra and sildenafil are very similar in chemical structure. They are both PDE-5 inhibitors, and they both come from the same source (i.e., the mushroom genus Spirulina). The major difference between them is in their solubility: sildenafil is slightly more soluble in water than Viagra. It is also available in a substantially different form than Viagra. While Viagra is quickly dissolved in water, sildenafil is much more stable and less water soluble. This means that it is less likely to be broken down in the body than Viagra.
This difference in chemical structure between sildenafil and Viagra means that they have very different potencies. Generally speaking, sildenafil is about 10 times more potent than Viagra. This difference in potency means that it takes a substantially smaller dose of sildenafil to reach the same effect as a standard dose of Viagra. For instance, a 100-mg dose of sildenafil will produce the same effect as a 100-mg dose of Viagra. This is because a 100-mg dose of sildenafil is only about 0.1% as powerful as a 100-mg dose of Viagra. It’s also important to keep in mind that, while Viagra is frequently prescribed to men with erectile dysfunction, it is not meant to replace sildenafil in cases of pulmonary hypertension or in other situations where sildenafil is clearly more effective and/or has more side effects.
Do They Have The Same Side Effects?
While the potential risks and side effects of Viagra and sildenafil are largely the same (i.e., they can both cause headaches, nasal congestion, and indigestion), sildenafil is generally considered to be less toxic than Viagra. This is probably because sildenafil is a more stable molecule and has fewer chemical interactions with other substances in the body than Viagra. In addition, sildenafil is less likely to be metabolized in the liver and thus has fewer toxins produced during metabolism than Viagra. It also has fewer interactions with other medications and supplements than Viagra.
Risks Of Sildenafil
As mentioned above, sildenafil is a very potent medication with a long history of use in clinical trials. However, despite its positive effects in these trials, there is some reason for concern.
The major risk of sildenafil is associated with its use in combination with another drug called acetylsalicylic acid. This drug is frequently prescribed to individuals with high blood pressure and cholesterol. It also helps prevent heart attacks and stroke by lowering cholesterol and preventing blood clots. When these 2 drugs are taken together, there is an increased risk of bleeding. The most common side effect of this medication is bleeding. This can occur in any part of the body, but the most common places are the digestive tract and the skin. Leukorrhea (an excess of white blood cells) and hematoma (a blood-filled mass) are also common side effects of this drug combination. If you experience any of these side effects, you should contact your doctor immediately.
To conclude, while Viagra and sildenafil are both used to treat erectile dysfunction, they are not exactly the same. Sildenafil is less water soluble than Viagra, which makes it more stable. In addition, it is likely that sildenafil will not be as easily broken down by enzymes as Viagra. This could mean that it will have a longer half-life in the body. Further, while Viagra is frequently prescribed to men with erectile dysfunction, it is not meant to replace sildenafil in cases of pulmonary hypertension or in other situations where sildenafil is clearly more effective and/or has more side effects. Finally, it is important to keep in mind that while Viagra is generally considered safe for use in doses up to 100 mg, higher doses of sildenafil (i.e., 200 mg and above) have been shown to increase the risk of bleeding.