If you’re looking for a pill to help with your erectile dysfunction (ED), you have a lot of treatment options to choose between. Wanting to know more about the differences between Viagra and its counterpart, the FDA recently published an article comparing the two and breaking down the pros and cons of each.
The results are in and, surprisingly, it seems like Viagra is actually better for men with mild to moderate ED. Not only does it work for more patients, but it also works for longer. However, if your ED is more severe, then take a look at the alternatives.
Overview Of Viagra And Its Counterpart, The Male Viagra Pill
The original drug, Viagra, was approved by the FDA in 1998 and it quickly became one of the biggest selling drugs in history. With a peak sales volume of over 21 million units per year, it’s no wonder why. Viagra is a powerful drug that works by increasing blood flow into the penile vein, which results in more robust erections. So what’s the male counterpart to this amazing pill?
The answer is the generic form of Viagra, which was originally approved back in 2010. However, it’s only recently that the FDA approved it for use in combination with other drugs, such as Xanax and alcohol, so it didn’t have the highest sales volume when compared to its predecessor. Still, it was enough to put it in the Top 10 selling drugs in the U.S.
In order to understand why Viagra is better than its generic counterpart, you have to know a bit about how drugs work. When you take a pill, it goes through several stages of processing before it makes it to its final destination. The first step is absorption, where the medication enters the bloodstream and begins to work. The second step is distribution, where the medication travels throughout the body, doing its job. And the third step is elimination, where the body breaks down the medication and returns it to its natural state.
The difference between the two is that Viagra is a highly effective drug that readily passes these three steps, while its generic counterpart, Sildenafil (the active ingredient in Viagra), needs a little help from a partner drug to make it through distribution and elimination. So while Viagra is effective for most men with mild to moderate ED, it may not be as effective for men with more severe ED. This is because Sildenafil is more effective when it’s combined with another drug called Tadalafil (another popular ED drug).
How Do You Take Viagra?
Like any other pill, Viagra is prescribed to you by a physician and it goes under the tongue. However, since it’s a brand name drug, it has a much simpler packaging compared to most generic medications. You simply peel off the protective coating and swallow the pill. There are no additional instructions to follow and it’s ready to work.
This is why most people believe that Viagra is meant to be taken simply as it comes in the bottle, without any additional instructions from doctors or pharmacists. Even though the FDA now encourages physicians to regularly monitor patients taking medication for ED, the agency also acknowledges that “teaching patients to take their medications as directed by their physicians is the safest and most effective way for patients to take their medications.”
Viagra’s Bright Future
Even though it only recently got the green light from the FDA to be combined with other medications, there are already doctors that are prescribing it for use in combination treatments. The agency approved it for use in combination with either Dapoxetine or Tadalafil for men with mild to moderate ED. While the drug’s main use is for ED, it actually has several other potential uses and researchers are currently exploring additional ways in which it could be applied.
In addition to the previously mentioned uses, Viagra is also being studied for its effects on heart health, due in part to its vasodilating (blood-vessel dilation) properties. A recent study from the University of Oxford showed that Viagra may help to protect the heart by keeping blood vessels relaxed and unclogged. This prevents blood clots from forming, which in turn reduces the risk of heart attack or stroke. Several well known cardiovascular diseases, such as diabetes, liver disease, and kidney disease, are significantly associated with an increased risk of heart attack and stroke. So it’s likely that Viagra could be used to treat or prevent heart disease.
Even though the drug was originally designed to help men with ED, it seems that it may have some application in the field of veterinary medicine. A small study from the College of Veterinary Medicine at Cornell University found that both male and female dogs that were being treated for ED had significantly improved erections and their owners reported that the pill was easier to administer than having to give the dog a needle injection every day. The study’s authors concluded that “this non-invasive approach may help extend the longevity of dogs with ED.”
The Bottom Line
Overall, Viagra is an amazing drug and it has changed the way men with ED will think about their condition. Its effects are immediate and they last for about an hour. It is therefore quite popular among people that need quick, short-lived erections in order to satisfy a woman. Many men have reported feeling happier, more relaxed, and more confident after taking the drug. Even if you don’t have ED, you may still notice that Viagra is quite a powerful drug and it could potentially be used to treat a number of medical conditions, either independently or in combination with other medications.
The main thing to keep in mind is that, like any other pill, Viagra is not necessarily ‘good’ for everyone. If you’re a male that’s been prescribed the drug and you start noticing unexpected effects, such as nausea or stomach pain, you may have to discontinue taking it. Or, at the very least, you should consult your physician so that he can adjust your dosage or switch you to a different drug, if necessary.