It’s no secret that online drug stores have changed the way we look at pharmaceuticals and medicine, but it’s not just about the convenience of online shopping. The world of online pharmacies is a world of its own filled with exciting opportunities and new developments which help patients get the medication they need while keeping costs down and side effects to a minimum. Unfortunately, not all medications fit neatly into this paradigm and one of the medicines gaining the most popularity due to its effectiveness in treating erectile dysfunction is Viagra. While the drug can be incredibly effective in helping men get and keep an erection, it also has some pretty serious side effects which patients need to be aware of.
The Rise In Popularity
Since its inception in the 1990s, Viagra has seen an incredible rise in popularity, with current figures showing that 25% of the population now uses the drug. That’s a lot of people, considering that prior to the creation of Viagra, the only medication available to treat ED was penile implants, invasive surgery or the occasional hormone injection. Today, due to the rising rates of diabetes and obesity, more and more men are developing ED and need a fast, effective and reversible solution like Viagra. As a result, drug store shelves are now filled with ED medications including Viagra, and since the drug is so effective and relatively mild in its side effects, more and more men are turning to it to improve their sex lives.
Treats Viagra-Ski Syndrome
One of the side effects of Viagra which patients need to be aware of is Viagra-Ski syndrome, which is characterized by spontaneous erections, usually during sleep, which last for several hours and cause the patient to awake with an erection. It can also happen when the patient is lying down or sitting. If this continues for more than a few hours, then a visit to the doctor is needed to determine the root cause of the problem. Fortunately, this is a fairly rare side effect which affects less than 1% of Viagra users. Even more fortunate are those who suffer from Peyronie’s disease, which is characterized by a permanent painful erection and which affects about the same percentage of Viagra users. This condition can be caused by a variety of factors including diabetes, alcoholism and high blood pressure, and although it’s considered a permanent condition, it can be successfully treated with surgery.
More Attention To Detail
Another side effect of Viagra which patients need to be aware of is hypersexuality. While it’s considered a minor side effect which does not require medical intervention, it’s still quite prevalent and leads to an increased risk of emotional and physical addiction. In some patients, this side effect can cause anxiety, stress and even panic attacks. Fortunately, this is another fairly rare side effect which affects less than 1% of Viagra users. Studies have also shown that this side effect tends to subside once the patient stops using the drug, which helps to explain why it’s so prevalent in the first place – it’s not like any other medication out there and since it’s so effective in treating ED, more and more men are taking it and experiencing this side effect.
Changes In Memory
While Viagra is incredibly effective in treating erectile dysfunction, it also affects the brain’s ability to create new memories. This is why doctors often prescribe it for patients with Alzheimer’s disease and dementia, since it can help to improve their cognitive functions and boost their mood. That’s a good thing, because as previously mentioned, more and more men are developing Alzheimer’s disease and dementia, and what better way to treat these diseases than with the help of a medication which improves memory and mental health? (This is also one of the major reasons why younger patients are turning to the drug – they want to delay the effects of aging.) Unfortunately, as with all prescription drugs, there are side effects which patients need to be aware of and these include headaches, dizziness, diarrhea, drowsiness and swelling. But for those who truly need the benefits of this drug, it’s undoubtedly a good solution to goggle problems as they arise.
ED is a fairly common condition among men and since there is currently no cure, sufferers need all the help they can get to lead enjoyable and meaningful lives. Thanks to drugs like Viagra, modern medicine now offers a number of solutions which can boost sexual performance and allow men to get the erection they need when they need it. Due to its effectiveness and safety, more and more men are turning to Viagra to improve their sex lives and since the benefits of the drug clearly outweigh the risks, it’s a safe bet that more and more men will be asking for it in the future.