Viagra is one of the most popularly sold generic pharmaceutical products in the world. Its fame began nearly a century ago when Sigmund Freud prescribed it to mostly wealthy men who couldn’t get sufficient amounts of “spleen juice” (as Freud called it) from traditional sources (i.e. venereal disease, alcoholism, etc.). The drug is known for its ability to increase blood flow to the penis, a therapeutic effect that was initially discovered and marketed for.
But what does TrackID have to do with Viagra? Well, TrackID is a system that allows the consumer to keep track of their medications as they’re consumed. When you open up the app and scan the barcode of your medication, you’ll learn what dosage you’ve already taken and what’s remaining.
Some patients find the process convenient, while others might not like the idea of having to take their medications orally (i.e. tablets, capsules, or pills). Regardless, with the introduction of generic medications and the subsequent rise of online pharmacies, TrackID has become a necessary tool for everyone.
How Does Viagra Work?
The active ingredient in Viagra is Sildenafil (also known as Proscar among other names). As its name would suggest, Sildenafil is a substance that interacts with nitric oxide (NO) to enhance blood flow to the penis. Here’s how it works: When Sildenafil is administered orally, it is quickly absorbed into the bloodstream. Then it binds to a receptor site on endothelial cells (i.e. the cells that line the inner surfaces of blood vessels). Once bound, Sildenafil prevents the enzyme phosphodiesterase 5 (PDE5) from breaking down cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP). cGMP is a ‘second messenger’ that is responsible for relaxing vascular smooth muscle cells and thus increasing blood flow. Thus, when PDE5 is inhibited by Sildenafil, cGMP is increased and consequently blood flow is improved.
According to Relevant Scientific Evidence (RSE), a website that compiles the best available evidence-based research data, there is currently no consensus among healthcare professionals regarding the appropriate use of Sildenafil in women. However, many experts believe that the benefits of using Sildenafil in women outweigh the risks. They point out that although the drug might have significant side effects in men, the dose necessary to achieve a therapeutic effect in women is extremely small.
Benefits Of Utilizing Viagra In Women
The consensus is that there are significant benefits to using Viagra in women. Some of them include:
- treatment of erectile dysfunction (ED) caused by psychological or physical factors
- reduction of severe headaches (migraine, cluster headaches, etc.)
- increase in general well-being
- improvement of sleep quality
- increase in focus and cognitive function
- reduction of premenstrual syndrome (PMS)
- relief of vasomotor symptoms (VMS) such as hot flashes and night sweats
- support during pregnancy
These benefits make sense for women who experience them. But what makes the most sense is that they allow the drug to reach a population that rarely experiences them: aging men. It is estimated that nearly 90% of Viagra users are over the age of 40. This is because as men age, they are more likely to develop conditions like ED and coronary artery disease (CAD) which make them more susceptible to the risks associated with the use of Sildenafil.
Risks Of Utilizing Viagra In Women
However, as much as there are benefits to using Viagra in women, there are also risks associated with it. These include but are not limited to:
- suspected risk of angina pectoris (AP) in pts with CAD
- suspected risk of heart attack (MI) in pts with hypertension or hypercholesterolemia
- suspected risk of stroke (CE) in elderly pts
- suspected risk of pulmonary hypertension (PH) in pts with pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH)
- suspected risk of torsades de pointes (TdP) in pts with prolonged QT syndrome (LQTS)
- suspected risk of vision changes (e.g. blurring or loss of vision) in some pts
- suspected risk of fetal complications in pregnant women
- risk of hepatotoxicity (liver damage) in pts with hepatic impairment
Although not all of these risks are well-established, there is still concern among many healthcare professionals that Sildenafil might pose a threat to women with heart disease. And as mentioned before, approximately 90% of the people that use Viagra are over the age of 40, putting them at greater risk of heart problems.
What You Should Know About Viagra In Women
If you’re a woman thinking about using Viagra, you should know a few things. First off, make sure that you’re not already taking another PDE5 inhibitor (i.e. vardenafil, tadalafil, or sildenafil) as part of a medication regimen. Second, discuss this new medication regimen with your healthcare professional so that he or she can monitor the effects of Sildenafil on you.
The second half of this two-part series will discuss more about Viagra in women. In the meantime, if you have questions or would like more information, feel free to contact us! Just click here to be taken to our Frequently Asked Questions page.