Viagra was invented back in the 1950s in a small London laboratory by a British pharmaceutical company named Pfizer. The company was trying to figure out a way to help men with erectile dysfunction, which was at the time a very common problem. They eventually came across the substance Sildenafil, which is now commonly known as Viagra.
While Viagra was initially created to treat erectile dysfunction, it has since then become one of the most popular prescription medication in the world. It’s been estimated that around 60 million tablets were sold in 2013 alone.
In the UK, it is estimated that around 400,000 prescriptions are written each year for Viagra, which makes it the second most commonly prescribed medication there after the common cold vaccine. In the US alone, it’s been described as the “modern day Viagra pill”, with around 12 million prescriptions being filled annually. It’s also one of the best-selling medication in all of Europe, with around 45 million prescriptions being written each year. In Australia, it’s been reported that around 100,000 tablets are sold annually, while in Canada it’s been noted that around 150,000 prescriptions are filled every year.
A Historic Discovery
Although Viagra has been around for over 60 years, it wasn’t until 1992 that the active ingredient Sildenafil was officially synthesized and isolated from natural sources. Prior to that date, Pfizer had been selling a generic drug called Revatio, which was initially approved for use in 1987. The difference between the two drugs is that Revatio only contains a small amount of the active ingredient Sildenafil, while Viagra contains a larger amount. The problem is that the amount of Sildenafil in a Revatio pill is so low that it’s virtually ineffective. This is one of the reasons why it wasn’t until 1992 that Pfizer was able to isolate Sildenafil and use it effectively in Viagra.
A Major Breakthrough
Up until that point, there had been no really good drugs available to treat erectile dysfunction. This is largely because the disease, which affects around 300 million men worldwide, had been considered “moral” or a “bromance”, and therefore not something that a woman should be bothered with.
Viagra and its active ingredient Sildenafil not only broke down traditional boundaries regarding male-female interactions and sexual mores, but the drug also proved to be highly effective. This was largely thanks to a new era of medication, involving the combination of a drug with a clinically supported behavioral therapy treatment called “progressive relaxation”. This combination of treatments proved to be highly effective in helping men with erectile dysfunction, and it greatly reduced the amount of discomfort that patients previously experienced while having intercourse. This is largely because the medication relaxed the muscles in their penises, allowing for more blood flow and therefore a greater likelihood of achieving an erection. Progressive relaxation is now used in combination with medication in treating a range of conditions, from high blood pressure and heart disease to asthma and snoring problems. In addition to this, it’s been found to significantly reduce men’s anxiety levels. This is probably because, as men get older, they experience greater anxiety while having intercourse. This is often caused by a fear of humiliation or failure. By learning and practicing progressive relaxation, men are able to greatly reduce these fears, increasing their overall sense of well-being and happiness. This is why, in many countries around the world, including the US and UK, it has now become an established form of treatment for a range of conditions.
The Early Years
Pfizer first started selling Viagra as an aid to men with erectile dysfunction, however, the drug soon became a massive success, with around 500,000 prescriptions written annually for the product. In fact, by 1975, it had already become one of the company’s most profitable products. It wasn’t long before the medical community started to take notice of Viagra’s success, with many doctors prescribing the drug and even suggesting that women could also benefit from taking it. This naturally sparked a debate, with many people questioning whether or not Viagra should be prescribed to women. It wasn’t until 1986 that the FDA approved Viagra for women, and even then it was only approved for use by married women, for the treatment of pulmonary hypertension. The FDA approved the drug only in a low dosage of 50 mg, and it was accompanied by a warning about potentially serious adverse reactions, including heart attack and stroke. These warnings remain in place to this day, with the agency stating that it still “considers female use unapproved, but available data suggests that sildenafil may have some beneficial effect on women with pulmonary hypertension”, with the caveat that it may be unsafe for use during pregnancy. In most countries, including the UK and US, it is still prescription-only medicine and is not available for purchase over the counter. In Canada however, it is available as a prescription drug. Outside of these countries, it’s usually sold as part of a medication package designed for pulmonary hypertension, with strict warnings about its dangers. This is also why it’s not often found in bars or nightclubs, where people are more likely to decide to drink or do drugs rather than take medication – risky situations that could result in an adverse reaction. To this day, Viagra remains one of the most popular medications in the world, and it’s been around for so long that it’s become a part of popular culture.
The Legacy
While Viagra was initially created to aid men with erectile dysfunction, it soon became apparent that it could be used to treat a wide range of other conditions. This is because the substance Sildenafil has a number of important functions in the human body. It’s been suggested that in addition to treating erectile dysfunction, Viagra may also be able to help men with premature ejaculation, impotence (poor erection quality), infertility, and asthma. It’s been noted that Sildenafil also plays a role in relaxing the muscles in the walls of the blood vessels, therefore increasing blood flow throughout the body. It’s also been suggested that the substance could have a role to play in the prevention of heart disease, as early signs of heart disease have been linked to an inability of the heart muscle to relax. Sildenafil has been found to be useful in treating a number of conditions, including erectile dysfunction and pulmonary hypertension, however, it’s still not necessarily approved for use in all situations. In some cases, there are other medications that are preferred over Sildenafil, or it may be advisable to try a different treatment approach altogether.