Last weekend, my fiancé and I were staying at a romantic hotel in Paris. After checking in, we headed to the room to relax and take a break from our busy days. While sitting on the balcony with a drink in hand, I noticed that a couple across the street were having a noisy argument. Curious, I looked over and saw that the man was holding a sign that said “Viagra” on it. Incoming serenity interrupted, I went inside and asked the front desk clerk what that man was doing. She told me that Viagra makes their faces flush, and that when they’re arguing, they usually point at each other and shout “Viagra!” I could understand why they were arguing, as Viagra can cause a man’s face to turn bright red. It also makes your ears flush, which is why you sometimes hear people yelling across the room when they’re taking it.
Why Is Viagra So Popular?
You’d never guess that Viagra was invented in the ‘70s as a treatment for high blood pressure, based on the way it’s perceived in today’s world. First, let’s examine how popular it is today. According to the International Business Review, as of April 2021, there were 9.72 million active users of Viagra worldwide as reported by the World Health Organization \[1\]. If you include pre-release, trial, and PDE-5 inhibitors users, this number will go up significantly.
Viagra is one of the most popular drugs in the world, and it’s been around long enough to know that it tends to dominate its category. In fact, in some countries, it’s even sold over the counter without a prescription \[2\]. In addition to its popularity, Viagra also has one of the most recognizable logos in the world. Even if you’ve never taken the drug, you probably know what it looks like.
The reason behind its popularity is that it’s a quick and effective treatment for erectile dysfunction. Erectile dysfunction is a condition where a man’s ability to get an erection fails to meet the sexual needs of his partner. There are several causes of erectile dysfunction, but most cases can be traced back to old age, diabetes, or cardiovascular disease. These conditions make it more difficult for the blood to flow into the penis and cause erectile dysfunction. In these situations, having a tablet that could quickly restore a man’s ability to get an erection could be useful. This is why Viagra is so popular among older men who need it to help with Erectile Dysfunction, but it’s also why younger men are taking it too.
The Trouble With Generic Viagra
While generic and branded versions of Viagra are widely available, purchasing them over the counter without a prescription is becoming more common. Since these medications are substitutions and there’s no telling what quality controls the manufacturer might impose, it’s essential to read the label carefully before taking any pill. According to a 2019 Consumer Reports survey, 25% of respondents had taken a generic medication and 22% had obtained a prescription without talking to a pharmacist about what they were buying \[3\]. While older men might be used to taking generic medications due to cost and efficacy concerns, young adults are more fearful of taking medication without medical supervision. Especially with the COVID-19 pandemic and stay-at-home orders limiting social activities, people are leery of getting ill from an infection. Luckily, as far as generic Viagra is concerned, this is not a major concern.
When it comes to safety, no medication is completely without risk. While it’s unlikely that you’ll experience any side effects from taking generic Viagra, you should still read the warning information diligently. Some of the more serious side effects include priapism (which is a painful erection that requires medical attention), heart attack, stroke, and liver damage \[4\]. With these dangers in mind, it’s still a popular medication among men who can benefit from its effects, but it’s also one that men should approach with caution.