So you’ve decided to try Viagra. Great! But what is this wonder drug, and how can it help you? Let’s take a quick look at what Viagra is and what it’s used for.
What Is Viagra?
Viagra is the best-selling drug on the market, with sales of roughly $13.3 billion in 2017.
A Pfizer drug, Viagra is a popular erectile dysfunction medication, primarily used to treat men with impotence issues. If you’re unfamiliar, impotence is the inability to achieve or maintain an erection sufficient for intercourse. In other words, if you try to take Viagra and fail, you’re going to be unable to satisfy a woman even if you wanted to.
Viagra has been around for more than half a century and is considered to be a milestone in pharmaceutical history. The first generation of Viagra—known as “sildenafil”—was approved for use in 1998 and revolutionized the field of medicine. Sildenafil is more effective and has fewer side effects than the earlier generation of ED medications, making it a popular choice for physicians and patients alike.
Why Is Viagra Used For ED Treatment?
The main reason Viagra is so effective in treating erectile dysfunction is that it acts as a vasodilator and potentiates the body’s nitric oxide production. The chemical makeup of Viagra actually allows it to interact with a protein found only in the blood vessels of the penis, which makes it much more effective at relaxing the muscles there than other ED drugs. In fact, studies have shown that Viagra is as much as 88% more effective at inducing erections than the leading ED drug, Pfizer’s Levitra.
Because of this unique ability to enhance blood flow and induce an erection, Viagra is commonly prescribed for patients with heart disease, diabetes, or high blood pressure, all of which can affect the blood vessels and put a man at risk of developing ED. Additionally, older men are more likely to suffer from ED, mostly due to medications that they are taking for other health issues. These men may also be at a higher risk for cardiovascular disease, which is why it is highly recommended that they avoid alcohol and eat healthy foods, all of which can increase nitric oxide production in the body.
How Long Does It Take For Viagra To Work?
Although you may feel like your penis is working overtime as soon as you take Viagra, it may take some time for the drug to actually have an impact. That’s because the vessels in your penis need time to adjust to the increased blood flow caused by the drug, and it may take a while for your body to produce enough nitric oxide to allow you to get an erection. If you experience discomfort, it may be because your body has not yet figured out how to properly process the drug. In these cases, you may need to try a different ED drug or perhaps even switch medications altogether.
As you might imagine, Viagra does have some pretty serious side effects, which is why it is not recommended for use by women, especially young women. The most common side effects include headaches, flushing, and upset stomach. These symptoms can be alleviated by taking the drug at a lower dose or breaking it down in your mouth before swallowing it.
Risks Associated With Using Viagra
While there are many benefits to using Viagra, there are also some risks associated with the drug. Just like any other medication, there is the potential for serious side effects when taking Viagra, although these are relatively rare. The most serious side effect is priapism. This is an erection that persists for more than four hours and is ultimately damaging to the penis if not treated properly. Other less serious side effects include headaches, flushing, and upset stomach. People with heart disease, high blood pressure, or diabetes are at a higher risk for developing some of these side effects but do not necessarily need to avoid the drug since it is not recommended for those populations either.
As mentioned previously, older men are more likely to develop ED and should also be cognizant of the risks associated with using Viagra. There is also the potential for the drug to interact with other medications or supplements that they are taking, potentially causing serious side effects. Since Viagra is a medication and not a supplement, you should not try to self-diagnose and treat impotence with natural remedies like herbs or vitamin therapies. If you are concerned about potential side effects, the safest and most effective way to treat ED is with medication. Nevertheless, in most cases, a man’s undiscounted desire to satisfy his partner is a stronger drive than his fear of side effects.
When Should You Avoid Using Viagra?
You should not use Viagra if you are currently taking nitrates, a class of drugs that include nitroglycerin and isosorbide dinitrate. These drugs are used to treat heart disease, and it is an established fact that men with ED are at a higher risk for heart disease. Therefore, if you’re taking nitrates and want to try Viagra, you should first consult with your doctor to see if there is a version of the drug that can be used safely alongside nitrates.
Is It Safe For Pregnant Women To Use Viagra?
It is generally considered safe for pregnant women to use Viagra although the risks and benefits need to be weighed against each other. Since the benefits of the drug for the baby are many—including increased blood flow to the placenta, enabling it to function properly—it is usually considered safer than having the baby come out underweight or prematurely. There is also the possibility for the baby to be exposed to certain viruses or parasites that may be in the mother’s stomach or infected feces. This is why it is recommended that mothers take precautions when traveling or eating out in public if they are breastfeeding or planning on breastfeeding within the next few months.
All things considered, Viagra is a very safe and effective drug and serves a valuable purpose in the fight against impotence. It should not be ignored by all men with ED, especially since it is considered to be a natural remedy that many patients can take long-term or even indefinitely. Just remember to watch out for some of the risks associated with the drug, especially if you are taking nitrates or other medications that can cause adverse interactions. If you are a woman suffering from ED, you should not be afraid to try Viagra because it may provide you with the answers you’re seeking and help you in your quest for sexual satisfaction.