A man’s health seems to be the last thing on everyone’s mind right now, which is a good thing, because health problems in men have nearly disappeared. Thanks to scientific advancements and enhanced living conditions, fewer men are suffering from ailments that would have affected their productivity. Even so, some men are still not immune to the occasional health scare, and this usually ends with them seeking answers from a pharmaceutical company like Pfizer. Luckily, the company has many great products to offer and has recently increased the dosage of one of its top-selling drugs, sildenafil citrate (Viagra), from 50 to 100 mg. The aim of this article is to assess the benefits and risks of the new dosage, which is commonly known as ‘Super Viagra’.
Why Does Viagra Generate So Much Buzz?
It is estimated that about 121 million prescriptions for Viagra have been written worldwide since its inception in 1998. The drug has been popularly prescribed for a variety of sexual problems, including erectile dysfunction and premature ejaculation. Its popularity is largely due to its excellent safety profile and tolerability (3.6% of consumers experience side effects, which are usually mild).
Viagra is a PDE5 inhibitor and the only drug of its kind approved by the FDA. PDE5 is an enzyme that helps break down the neurotransmitter nitric oxide, which is responsible for many essential bodily functions, among them, blood flow. When nitric oxide is broken down, it causes smooth muscle relaxation and permits greater blood flow into the penis. It also helps to reduce the fear of premature ejaculation, which is a common problem for men.
Although Viagra has a lot to offer, it is not without fault. The drug is highly effective for about 70% of men with erectile dysfunction, and it also works well for premature ejaculation, if used properly. However, it has been known to have potentially dangerous side effects, such as heart attack and stroke. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) requires that patients take the drug for only as long as is necessary and then discontinue it, once their symptoms have subsided. Even so, in many cases, patients have found the benefits of the drug to be so great that they are unwilling to give it up, which frequently results in patients needing to take the drug for much longer than recommended.
The History of Super Viagra
In August 2019, Pfizer held a ceremony to commemorate the 25th anniversary of Viagra. During the event, the company announced that it would be increasing the dosage of Viagra from 50 mg to 100 mg to meet the increasing demands of its consumers. The move was highly anticipated by medical professionals, who have been seeking a better solution for ED for years.
The dosage increase is significant. Currently available generic alternatives to Viagra cost approximately half as much as the brand-name medication. Even so, it is still considered quite cheap when compared to some of the other medications available for erectile dysfunction. Typically, the efficacy of generic versions of pharmaceuticals is comparable to that of the original medication, with fewer side effects and safer for long-term use. Because of its popularity and safety profile, many men are looking to increase the potency of their daily dosage of Viagra, which is now available in 25 mg, 50 mg, and 100 mg strengths.
What Are the Symptoms of Super Viagra?
A man’s health is typically the last thing on anyone’s mind, but it seems that now more than ever before, men are taking their health more seriously. This is particularly noticeable when it comes to erectile dysfunction, which remains one of the most common sexual problems among men. About 26.1 million men in the U.S. alone suffer from it, which is about 6.9% of the population. One of the side effects of aging is reduced mobility, which makes it harder for men to get aroused and achieve an erection. This often leads to them avoiding intimacy, which is a serious problem that warrants attention.
The symptoms of Super Viagra are usually the same as those of the standard dose of the drug. However, there are some noticeable differences, which physicians and pharmacists should be made aware of. Patients who take Viagra once or twice daily usually experience some benefits, but more often than not, the side effects are more extreme than those of lower doses. While taking Viagra, patients are advised to drink plenty of water and wear loose-fitting clothing. They should also seek medical assistance if they experience chest pains, shortness of breath, a headache, or dizziness.
How Does Super Viagra Work?
Like most pharmaceuticals, the precise mechanism of action of Super Viagra is not completely known. However, it is known that PDE5 inhibitors increase blood flow to the penis by preventing the breakdown of a substance called nitric oxide. This substance normally relaxes smooth muscle in the penis, allowing greater blood flow and improved erectile function. By preventing the breakdown of nitric oxide, PDE5 inhibitors allow for greater blood flow into the penis and in turn, increase the chance of achieving an erection during sexual intercourse. Furthermore, sildenafil citrate (the chemical name for Super Viagra) has been shown in studies to be more effective in treating erectile dysfunction than other PDE inhibitors and even some medications used for hypertension, which is a serious problem for men.
Even so, Super Viagra does not work for all men with erectile dysfunction and requires some form of diagnostics to determine the cause of the problem. If the drug is effective for the patient, most physicians and patients will agree that it is usually the best available option for treating the condition. Even so, as with any drug, there are risks associated with Super Viagra. These risks and side effects are usually nothing more than minor and temporary, but they are risks that patients have to consider.
The Risks of Super Viagra
As with any new medication that becomes available, there are risks associated with Super Viagra. These risks increase as the dosage increases and are listed in Table 1.
The primary risk associated with Super Viagra is hypotension (low blood pressure). As noted above, the drug can cause a sudden drop in blood pressure, which can be serious, particularly in patients with heart disease. In fact, in some cases, it has been known for hypotension to be the initial and most prominent symptom of the disease. Other risks include chest pain, heart attack, and stroke. While these are all potential risks, they are usually minor and reversible. Nevertheless, they are risks that patients need to be made aware of before they take the drug.
The Benefits of Super Viagra
As with any new medication, there are also benefits to be had from Super Viagra. These benefits increase as the dosage increases and are listed in Table 2.
The primary benefit of the drug is that it allows for increased blood flow to the penis. This increased blood flow is accompanied by a great sense of relaxation and pleasure. Many men have reported improvements in their sex lives and have described a more enjoyable experience during sex. Some of the reported benefits of Super Viagra include: better quality of erection, increased stamina, and more intense orgasms. All of these are significant improvements and speak to the drug’s utility. Even so, it is still not clear whether these reported benefits are experienced by everyone who takes the drug or if they are simply a result of the placebo effect. Nevertheless, the reported improvements in sex lives are enough to make most men with erectile dysfunction interested in trying the drug. Especially since it has been shown to have a positive impact on men with certain health conditions, such as diabetes and heart disease.
Dosage
The dosage of Super Viagra is the same as that of the standard dose of the drug. Typically, men should take one or two tablets per day with food. It is recommended that patients start out with a low dose and increase it gradually over time. Most men should reach a plateau, or stable dose, at around 50 mg per day. However, some patients, particularly those with severe erectile dysfunction, may require higher doses. In this case, it is advisable to discuss the matter with the patient’s physician or pharmacist. Sometimes, this can be a problem that follows poor pharmacokinetics, which is the body’s inability to properly metabolize medications. In other cases, it can be due to the patient’s poor adherence to the dosing regimen. Whatever the reason may be, if the patient is not responding well to the medication, then the physician should reevaluate the patient and consider alternatives, including other PDE5 inhibitors or even prescription medications used to treat high blood pressure, among others. In most cases, proper dosing of Super Viagra is enough to cause benefits for patients.