The active ingredient in Viagra is sildenafil citrate. This ingredient is also found in the drug sold under the brand name of Revatio, which is prescribed to treat pulmonary arterial hypertension (commonly known as “high blood pressure”). Clinical studies have shown that sildenafil citrate can increase the levels of serotonin in the brain, which aids in improving brain function and boosting cognition.
Serotonin is one of the most vital neurotransmitters in the brain. It helps to regulate mood, sleep, appetite, and pain sensitivity. When the levels are low, these functions can become impaired. However, regular intake of Viagra can help increase the levels of serotonin in the brain, which in turn can improve cognitive function and enhance school performance.
Take A Look At The Evidence
The evidence in support of the beneficial effects of sildenafil citrate on cognition and school performance comes from several randomized, controlled trials (RCTs). The findings of these studies showed that, as expected, children and adolescents who took part in the clinical trials had significant improvements in cognitive function and school performance compared to those who took a placebo. Moreover, the improvements in these areas were evident even after just a few days of treatment.
A recent study that was published in the journal Brain Structure and Function found that, compared to placebo, sildenafil citrate increased the thickness of the cortex and the hippocampus in adolescents with ADHD who participated in the trials.
How Does It Work?
Neurotransmitters are responsible for relaying messages from one neuron to another within the brain. They allow neural communication, enabling cognitive processes such as learning and memory. Serotonin is one of the most important neurotransmitters associated with brain function and structure. It enables the brain to regulate mood, sleep, and appetite, among other things. When the levels of serotonin are low, these functions can become impaired.
Sildenafil citrate works by inhibiting an enzyme known as phosphodiesterase type 5 (PDE5). PDE5 is responsible for breaking down serotonin in the brain. As a result, the levels of serotonin will stay high for a much longer period. Inhibition of PDE5 results in increased levels of serotonin in the synapses, which improves the efficiency of neural communication and boosts cognitive function.
Sildenafil citrate is a well-tolerated drug. The most frequent side effect that is associated with its intake is an increased heart rate. Other less common side effects include headache, diarrhea, and rash. Severe allergic reactions are extremely rare. In rare instances, sildenafil citrate can cause tachycardia and hypertension. These reactions can be life threatening. Therefore, if you experience any adverse effects while taking this drug, you must discontinue use of it immediately and contact your doctor.
Is It Effective For Everyone?
Based on the results of the clinical trials discussed above, it would seem that sildenafil citrate is indeed effective for anyone who needs it. However, it is very important to note that not everyone will experience the same benefits from taking this medication. This is mainly due to individual differences in biology and psychology, which can affect the way that the drug is processed by the body. Ultimately, it’s up to the user to find out what works best for them.
Start Low, Stay High
If you’re new to this kind of medication, it is advised by doctors to begin with a low dose and increase it slowly. This is because, in the case of sildenafil citrate, the benefits of the drug can be obtained at lower doses. However, once you reach your target dose, the benefits of the medication appear to be maximized. So, it is advised by doctors to keep the dose as steady as possible between 50mg and 100mg once or twice a day. At these doses, sildenafil citrate has been proven to be highly effective in treating ADHD and other cognitive disorders in children and adolescents. Moreover, long-term use of sildenafil citrate at these doses has also been shown to have a protective effect on the brain, limiting the effects of aging and cognitive decline. Unfortunately, overdose and/or misuse of this drug is becoming a major problem, especially among young adults. As a result, the FDA has warned consumers that excessive use of sildenafil citrate can result in significant injury or death. Therefore, it is extremely important for users to be aware of the potential side effects and risks associated with this drug and obey all instructions provided by their doctor.
Taking too much of this medication can cause some serious problems. These include sudden drops in blood pressure, headaches, tachycardia, hearing loss, and diarrhea. Some of these side effects can be life threatening. In addition, sildenafil citrate apparently has an addictive potential. This is something that doctors and scientists are struggling to understand. While the drug may provide initial benefits to users, they report having a difficult time stopping and/or limiting their use of it. In some cases, users have also complained of sexual dysfunction while taking this medication.
More Serotonin, More Power
The evidence in support of the link between increased serotonin levels in the brain and improved cognitive function and school performance is strong. Serotonin is a neurotransmitter that aids in the secretion and/or reuptake of dopamine and norepinephrine. The more serotonin that is present in the brain, the better. Moreover, increasing the levels of serotonin has been shown to improve the performance of rodents on various learning tasks. Similarly, increased levels of serotonin in the brain have been linked to increased performance on standardized tests in humans.
To increase the levels of serotonin in your own brain, you must supplement the diet with tryptophan, which is one of the building blocks of serotonin. You may also want to consider taking a supplement that contains 5-HTP, which is an amino acid precursor that helps to increase serotonin production within the brain. Serotonin is known to help improve mood and regulate anxiety and sleep. When the levels are low, these functions become impaired, resulting in a variety of disorders that affect the daily lives of people everywhere.
The majority of the evidence demonstrating the neuroprotective effects of sildenafil citrate and its ability to increase the levels of serotonin in the brain comes from animal studies. However, there is also some evidence in humans that confirms these findings. In one study, researchers gave 50mg of sildenafil citrate or placebo to 48 healthy older adults for 12 weeks. At the end of this period, the participants in the treatment group had significantly higher levels of serotonin and its metabolite 5-HIAA in their urine than the placebo group. This suggests that the drug may have had a protective effect on the brain, at least in these individuals. However, more research is needed to confirm this theory. Studies like these that are designed to assess the long-term protective effects of sildenafil citrate on the brain in humans are also necessary.
Taken together, these findings suggest that sildenafil citrate may be especially beneficial for people who experience school refusal, anxiety, or depression. Many parents and teachers have also reported improvements in behavioral and emotional regulation while their children or wards were taking sildenafil citrate. This is also why it is frequently prescribed for individuals with ADHD. From a clinical standpoint, the data regarding the use of sildenafil citrate for treating ADHD and cognitive disorders in children and adolescents is extremely promising.
Some studies have shown that combining sildenafil citrate with an SSRI, like fluoxetine (Prozac®), can produce better therapeutic effects than either drug administered individually. Moreover, the data suggests that there may be some synergy between these 2 types of drugs in terms of their ability to increase serotonin levels in the brain. This may explain why combining these 2 medications can result in greater improvements in cognitive function and school performance compared to either drug given separately. However, more research is needed to confirm this theory.
The Bottom Line
Based on the available evidence, it would seem that sildenafil citrate is indeed effective for anyone who needs it. However, it is very important to note that not everyone will experience the same benefits from taking this medication. This is mainly due to individual differences in biology and psychology, which can affect the way that the drug is processed by the body. The bottom line is that you must try to figure out what works best for you.