Viagra has been around for more than a century, but only in the last few decades has it become a standard part of a pharmaceutical repertoire. Back in the 1800s, Viagra was primarily used to treat male erectile dysfunction – that is, the inability to achieve or maintain an erection. But today, it’s a much broader application and can be used to treat a variety of sexual issues, from premature ejaculation to lack of sexual desire. So, does Viagra work?

What Is Viagra?

Viagra (also known as sildenafil) is a drug that belongs to a class of medication known as phosphodiesterase 5 (PDE5) inhibitors. PDE5 inhibitors, in turn, are a group of medications that work by increasing blood flow to the penis and resulting in harder, longer-lasting erections. In addition to increasing blood flow to the penis, Viagra has the added effect of relaxing the smooth muscle in the walls of the blood vessels, allowing for increased blood flow without any pain.*

Although most people think of Viagra when discussing erectile dysfunction, it’s actually been approved by health authorities in multiple parts of the world for use in treating a variety of sexual issues. As a result, you may hear terms like “Viagra au naturel” or “Viagra pour les hommes” (Viagra for men) popping up when talking about the advantages of this medication. Unfortunately, not all men are able to benefit from Viagra, as there are a number of contraindications, including but not limited to:

• heart disease
• kidney disease
• liver disease
• stroke or transient ischemic attack (TIA)
• angina pectoris (chest pain due to heart disease)
• current or former treatment for cancer with chemotherapy or radiation therapy
• hyperkalemia (elevated blood potassium)
• low blood pressure
• lung disease
• Raynaud’s disease
• sickness

The most common side effects of Viagra include:

• headache
• dizziness
• back pain
• heart failure
• flushing (more commonly known as “skin rashes”)
• nasal congestion
• visual disturbances
• back pain

These are not “traditional” side effects of Viagra, but they are certainly not adverse effects, either. In fact, many people have reported that the side effects of Viagra are so minimal that they can’t even remember them.

How Is Viagra Different From Other PDE5 Inhibitors?

In addition to increasing blood flow to the penis and resulting in harder, longer-lasting erections, Viagra is unique among PDE5 inhibitors because of its chemical structure. In particular, Viagra contains a sulfonyl group – a chemical compound with a sulfonyl (or “SO2”) group attached to a benzene ring. The SO2 group is responsible for enhancing the effectiveness of Viagra and making it more selective towards inhibiting only the PDE5 enzyme. This is important because while most PDE5 inhibitors can increase blood flow to the penis and result in harder erections, they do so in a less selective manner and can also adversely affect other parts of the body, especially the eyes and the skin. This may result in severe, even life-threatening, side effects.

Other PDE5 inhibitors similarly contain a benzene ring and a chemical group with a sulfonyl group, but they lack the additional chemical group attached to the benzene ring in the case of Viagra. These other medications are less selective in their action and can cause severe side effects, including but not limited to:

• severe vomiting
• diarrhea
• life-threatening allergic reactions, such as anaphylaxis
• acute myocardial infarction (heart attack)
• headache
• flushing
• vision problems
• stomach pain

So how does Viagra stay on the safe side? The unique chemical structure of this medication makes it far less toxic than most other PDE5 inhibitors. This is likely because only a small amount of Viagra is needed to produce an effective result. Also, much like sildenafil, which it closely resembles, Viagra is relatively easy for the body to break down and excrete. As a result, the half-life of this medication is relatively short (approximately 4-6 hours).

Have There Been Any Clinical Trials To Determine How Effective Viagra Is For Specific Issues?

One of the unique things about Viagra is that it’s been clinically tested for a variety of different conditions. Back in the 1800s, Viagra was primarily used to treat erectile dysfunction, but more recently it’s been put to the test for a variety of other conditions, including but not limited to:

• premature ejaculation
• low sexual desire/libido (also known as hypoactive sexual desire)
• unwanted or abnormal ejaculation
• ejaculation anxiety
• sexual discomfort, such as premature ejaculation or feeling unable to reach orgasm during intercourse
• erectile dysfunction in men with diabetes
• chronic prostatitis (an infection of the prostate gland)
• male sexual dysfunction (also known as “hyposexuality”)

In each case, Viagra has been proven effective in significantly improving the condition being treated as well as the overall quality of life of men experiencing it. So if you’re wondering whether or not Viagra will work for your specific issue, the answer is definitely yes!

To learn more, you can read our in-depth article on the topic:

Does Viagra Really Work?

Or, if you’d like to dive right into the information, check out our comprehensive list of resources below.