In 2014, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved a new medication called “sildenafil citrate” or “Viagra.” Created by Bayer, the German pharmaceutical company, and approved by the FDA as a treatment for erectile dysfunction (ED), Viagra is the first medication to treat this condition. Since then, similar medications such as avanafil, dapoxetine, and tadalafil have been approved and are now available to treat ED.
While Bayer’s creation and subsequent approval by the FDA may have been exciting news for people with ED, this new type of medication raises concerns for people with asthma, kidney disease, and heart disease. That’s because these are all conditions that Sildenafil Citrate (Viagra) is known to cause. In fact, the FDA now lists these conditions as serious drug reactions and warning signs of an overdose. Because of this, it is now recommended that people with these conditions avoid taking Viagra.
What is Sildenafil Citrate (Viagra)?
Viagra is a medication that allows men with ED to have an erection. It does this by helping the blood to remain in the penis longer and by relaxing the muscles in the vas deferens (the tube that transports sperm from the testicles to the ejaculatory duct). In other words, Viagra helps to improve blood flow to the penis and inhibits premature ejaculation.
Sildenafil Citrate (Viagra) is the active compound found in the fruit of the genus Citrus. It’s a type of chemical known as a phosphodiesterase inhibitor (or PDE-5 inhibitor). When taken orally, the medication reaches maximum levels in the body in thirty to sixty minutes.
What are the indications for Viagra?
The FDA approved Viagra for the treatment of ED. This is defined as the inability to achieve or maintain an erection firm enough for satisfactory sexual activity. In other words, ED is the inability to achieve or maintain an erection that is sufficient for the sexual activity needed. Clinicians do not need to rule out psychological or other causes of ED to prescribe and administer Viagra.
People with ED may experience symptoms such as weak pulse, fainting, headache, dizziness, or shortness of breath. However, these are often mistaken for signs of cardiovascular disease or dementia. In fact, many men with these conditions may also benefit from Viagra’s effectiveness in treating ED. In some cases, ED is a side effect of medication for cardiovascular disease, neurological disease, or diabetes. In these instances, taking Viagra may be critical to the patient’s health.
Do I Need to Avoid Taking Viagra If I Have Cardiovascular Disease, Kidney Disease, or Heart Disease?
Yes. People with cardiovascular disease, kidney disease, or heart disease must avoid taking any form of medication that contains Sildenafil Citrate (Viagra) or similar compounds. Instead, they must take medications that are specifically designed for these diseases and conditions. For example, people with hypertension (high blood pressure) may benefit from taking valsartan or amlodipine, while those with heart failure may require a beta blocker such as carvedilol or bisoprolol.
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Is It Safe to Take Viagra During Pregnancy?
Yes. It is safe to take Viagra during pregnancy as long as you are not allergic to the drug or its active compound, sildenafil citrate. Many women with ED report that their treatments are safe and effective during pregnancy. In fact, it is sometimes suggested that ED in pregnancy is a result of high blood pressure caused by hormones. For this reason, it may be necessary for the patient to take a combination of medications during pregnancy to treat both conditions.
However, some medications used to treat ED are known to be harmful to the fetus. For this reason, women should only take these medications after consulting a physician and weighing the risks of using them against the possible benefits. Also, some medications used to treat ED have not been tested in humans during pregnancy. Therefore, it cannot be confirmed that they are safe for use during this time. In these cases, the medication should be avoided altogether.
When Will Viagra Go Generic?
Since its approval in 2014, Viagra has been prescribed to more than 11 million people worldwide. This medication is extremely popular and has been a commercial success for Bayer. The company’s share price has more than doubled since then as a result of investors’ expectations that Viagra will eventually become generic. However, Bayer has indicated that it will not begin to see significant savings until at least 2025. This is because, until now, all people with ED have had to pay out-of-pocket for this medication. Once it is available as a generic, the company expects to save around $600 million annually.
However, this medication is still very expensive. For this reason, only people who can afford it can access this treatment. The out-of-pocket costs for Viagra alone are around $1,200 per year. This makes it one of the most expensive medications available, even though it is just one component of a multimillion-dollar ED treatment. Also, only people with severe ED or those who have tried and failed to achieve an erection with other medications can benefit from this medication. In fact, it can take months before doctors will finally diagnose ED and prescribe this drug to a patient.
So, while the news that Viagra has been approved as a treatment for ED is promising, it also has serious financial implications for people with diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and kidney disease. If these conditions are ruled out by your doctor as the cause of your ED, he may still prescribe this medication despite your best intentions to avoid it. In these cases, you should ask for a copayment reduction or exemption from the pharmacy. This will ensure that you do not run up an excessive out-of-pocket expense from the outset of your treatment.