Generic Viagra (Sildenafil Citrate) is a prescription drug that helps men who have erectile dysfunction (impotence). If you’re looking for information about the pill, this article will give you all the details you need to know about its usage and side effects. Keep reading if you’re curious about trying this medication. You can also read our guide to Viagra here. We explain how and why this effective drug is used to treat erection problems and how it can boost your love life.
What is Viagra?
Viagra is an oral drug made from the chemical compound Sildenafil Citrate. When ingested, it works directly on the muscles in the penis to cause them to relax, allowing for better erections. Sildenafil Citrate is a type of phosphodiesterase inhibitor (PDEI). In other words, Viagra is a prescription drug that treats erection problems by preventing the body’s natural inhibitor, PDEI, from breaking down the chemical messenger, cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP). When PDEI breaks down cGMP, it increases the concentration of this chemical in the corpus cavernosum (the spongy tissues inside the penis that get relaxed and expandable during an erection). The higher the concentration of cGMP inside the penile tissues, the more relaxed and expanded these tissues become – which is exactly what you want from a drug that can help you achieve and maintain an erection. Inhibiting PDEI prevents broken down cGMP from being recycled, which allows for sustained increases in the concentration of this chemical in the corpus cavernosum. This, in turn, enables men suffering from ED to get and maintain an erection that is satisfactory for sexual activity.
How Does It Work?
In essence, Viagra improves sexual performance by allowing men with erection problems to get and maintain an erection that is sufficient for sexual activity. To understand how Viagra works, you need to understand a bit about how sexual arousal and an erection work. During sexual arousal, the autonomic nervous system (the part of the nervous system that controls involuntary body functions, including heart rate and breathing) secretes chemicals called nitric oxide. Nitric oxide helps to relax the muscles in the corpus cavernosum, which in turn promotes the enlargement of the blood vessels there. The increase in blood supply to the penis helps to maximize erectile function. In the presence of sufficient blood flow to the penis, drugs like Viagra can directly affect the erectile tissues in the penis to cause them to relax and expand, enabling the penis to grow longer and thicker and allowing for deeper penetration into the vagina or anal cavity. This is why getting and maintaining an erection is so important – it’s as much about boosting your physical health as it is about satisfying your sexual urges!
Benefits
There are numerous benefits to taking Viagra. Not only does it help to improve your sex life, but it can also help to treat a number of medical conditions. The most significant benefit of Viagra (and, by extension, oral PDEI’s like it) is that it treats erectile dysfunction. As mentioned above, the drug improves sexual performance by allowing men with erection problems to get and maintain an erection that is sufficient for sexual activity. This benefit alone may be enough to make you consider trying the medication. Furthermore, clinical studies have shown that Viagra (and similar drugs) can be used to treat pulmonary arterial hypertension, chronic heart failure, and liver cirrhosis, among other ailments. This makes these drugs useful in a number of different contexts.
Side Effects
Like most other prescription drug therapies, Viagra is not without its risks and side effects. Some of these side effects are serious, and others are less so. As with any new medication, there is always the chance that you could develop a drug interaction, particularly if you’re taking other medications at the same time that you’re taking Viagra. For instance, you could experience some sudden changes in your vision because of a drug interaction between the two. Other possible side effects include headache, diarrhea, flushing, and upset stomach. These are generally mild side effects that don’t pose any serious threats to your health. Of course, as with any medication, you should consult your physician about any prospective side effects before you begin taking the drug. Fortunately, these risks are usually fairly small. In most cases, they’re outweighed by the benefits of the medication.
Availability
Generic Viagra (Sildenafil Citrate) is a fairly new drug. It was first approved by the FDA in 1998 and became available for purchase in drugstores the next year. It is a prescription medication and generally only available in pharmacies. Check with your local medicine cabinet if you’re curious about how easily you can find this drug. Remember: your local drugstore may have a different policy about selling pharmaceuticals like Viagra without a prescription.
Dosage
The recommended dose of Viagra is 100mg taken orally with food once a day. Some patients may require a lower dose or may need more frequent dosing. Your physician or healthcare provider will advise you as to the proper dose for your condition. In most cases, one dosage will be sufficient to treat erectile dysfunction. In cases where the condition persists or recurs, additional dosing may be required to achieve desired results. Furthermore, before you begin taking this drug, you should consult with your physician or healthcare provider to ensure that you’re at an appropriate weight for the dosage amount. In general, eating a healthy diet and getting some exercise daily will be beneficial in maintaining a strong heart and healthy appearance.
Storage
Because this drug is processed with the same active ingredient as sildenafil, the drugstore version of Viagra (known as sildenafil citrate and sold as a generic alternative to the drug) must be stored at room temperature and away from hot and humid conditions. For this reason, it’s best to keep the tablet or gel form of the medication stored in the refrigerator. You should also be sure to throw away any expired medication as soon as you detect it for being dangerous. This drug is quite flammable and can cause serious burns or even death if not handled properly. Make sure that any container is not exposed to direct heat or sunlight and remove it from your home if it begins to look discolored or damaged in any way. Most pharmacies will provide you with a storage container for this drug so that you can keep track of how much is left and ensure that it is not wasted by accident or neglect.
Pricing And Cost
In general, Generic Viagra is quite affordable. Although it is a prescription medication, it is not a highly-priced one. In fact, the price of this drug is often less than what you’d pay for similar drugs that are sold without a prescription. This makes it one of the more cost-effective medications out there. Keep in mind that insurance coverage for medication varies from insurer to insurer and has even changed recently, so ask your pharmacy about the costs before you begin paying out of pocket.
Overall Thoughts
Overall, Viagra is a safe and effective medication. It has numerous advantages and side effects that are generally tolerable. Unless you have an immediate concern about your heart health or have a pre-existing condition that is exacerbated by the drug, most patients will experience few issues with this medication. Of course, you should consult with your physician about any prospect of side effects before you begin taking the drug. From a purely functional standpoint, this medication can help to treat ED, making it a useful tool for men who can benefit from its use regardless of their age or physical condition. Furthermore, as mentioned above, Viagra is not without its risks and side effects, but they are generally relatively small. You must also keep in mind that there are other treatments for erectile dysfunction, such as vacuum pumps and injections, which are more invasive and costly. If you are looking for a medication to treat ED, then you may want to try Viagra. Just make sure that you consult with your physician first to ensure that you’re at an appropriate weight for the dose and that there are no other medical conditions that the drug can harm you for.