This year has seen the launch of many revolutionary and innovative products. In the world of pharmaceuticals, new treatments and cures have been developed for many diseases and disorders. One such drug is Viagra™, the treatment for erectile dysfunction. In February 2018, the drug received FDA approval and became available for purchase.
Pfizer, the maker of Viagra, has taken note of this and has renewed the debate over one of the most popular and controversial topics in healthcare: is Viagra a wonder drug or overpriced placebo?
The internet has been abuzz with memes comparing Pfizer’s new drug to other famous remedies, like aspirin and penicillin. Here’s a roundup of the best comparisons and contrasts between these three famous treatments.
Aspirin: The Antiseptic
The most elementary comparison between aspirin and Viagra is that aspirin is an inexpensive, over-the-counter drug that treats headaches, fever, and inflammation. It is now considered one of the safest and most popular medications in the US. For most people, it is a first-line treatment for these common ailments.
Aspirin has been shown to inhibit both enzymes that break down collagen and elastin (which are responsible for the structural integrity of blood vessels), as well as the enzyme COX-1 (which is involved in inflammatory reactions). This makes it effective in multiple ways – not just for treating erectile dysfunction.
Penicillin: The Antibiotic
Like aspirin, penicillin was originally developed as an antibiotic. It is often used to treat respiratory infections and bacterial infections of the skin and urinary tract. One of the most famous examples of a bacterial infection that penicillin was effective in treating is gonorrhea. And, like aspirin, penicillin has been proven to treat erectile dysfunction.
Similar to Viagra, penicillin is a very safe and popular medication. It is considered a first-line treatment for most people and is often taken before surgery or long-term steroid use. In fact, about 10 million prescriptions are filled for penicillin each year.
Placebo: The Insurance Company
Like aspirin and penicillin, placebo is an often-over-the-counter medication that is used to treat a variety of ailments. It is most commonly known for its use in treating fever and headaches, but it can also be used to treat irritable bowel syndrome, migraine headaches, and Raynaud’s disease – a condition that causes severe sensitivity to cold extremes and is accompanied by color changes in the extremities (like fingers and toes).
Sometimes the effects of a medication are so surprising that scientists have to go back and rethink their understandings of how the human body works. While researching an article for the New England Journal of Medicine, Dr. Marc Saper of the Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston reviewed the medical literature on sildenafil (the active ingredient in Viagra) and concluded that, “in the setting of routine medical care, sildenafil was no more effective than a placebo.”
The data presented in this article are pretty shocking. Not only did they compare sildenafil against a placebo group, but they also looked at different doses and different types of patients. The results were basically the same everywhere: regardless of the dose or type of patient, there was no significant difference between the medication and the placebo in improving erectile function.
While this article was published in the New England Journal of Medicine, it is consistent with other studies that have been published in the literature. In short, sometimes a medication may be necessary, but sometimes it may just be a bunch of sugar pills. It’s not that there is no effect – it’s that the effects are so small that they are imperceptible outside of a controlled clinical trial.
The Results
Given the popularity of these three medications (plus others like Lipitor and Plavix that are prescribed to prevent heart disease), it’s no wonder that people are curious about the effects of all of this medication use. As it turns out, none of these medications are “wonders” (at least, not in the way that Viagra is often touted as a “wonder drug”).
There is some evidence that Viagra may be more effective in certain subgroups of patients, like those with diabetes or heart disease. It may also be more effective when used in combination with either aspirin or penicillin (or both). But for the most part, these medications simply treat the symptoms of ED rather than fixing what’s causing it in the first place (which is often a combination of psychological and physical factors).
In addition to the risks associated with taking these medications, there is also the risk of overdose. One of the most common side effects of Viagra is an increased sensitivity to light (photophobia). In some cases, people have had such a severe reaction to the drug that they have had to be hospitalized. Like all medications, there is also the risk of side effects and drug interactions. So, while these medications may be effective in treating erectile dysfunction, they may also cause other problems.
The Takeaway
Like many medications, placebo (aka sugar pills) and aspirin have a history of safe and effective use. The main difference is that while these drugs were originally designed to be taken for short periods of time, there is some evidence that suggests they may have some beneficial effects when taken for long periods of time (more than once a day). For example, long-term treatment with aspirin in rats led to an increased lifespan (albeit with some risks associated with high dosages). Long-term treatment with placebo did not lead to any significant changes in lifespan although it did decrease the incidence of certain cancers (like prostate cancer).
In general, these medications are considered safe enough for children and even for pregnant women (if the benefit outweighs the risk). However, like all medications, their effects may differ in various subgroups of patients (like those with diabetes or heart disease). If you are interested in trying any of these medications, be sure to consult with your doctor or pharmacist for the best recommendations based on your individual needs.