In the middle of the 20th century, a lot of men were affected by problems with erections. Known as “erectile dysfunction” or “impotence,” this issue was often associated with diabetes, heart disease, and strokes. In the 1950s, drug companies started developing medications to help with this issue. Although there were already therapies available, such as hormone therapy and radical prostatectomy, the medications that were developed in this era radically changed the face of medicine. Two of the most prominent medications were known as “Viagra” and “Cialis.”
Both of these medications are PDE5 inhibitors, which work by increasing the activity of nitric oxide in the corpus cavernosum. Nitric oxide is a substance that helps maintain an erection. A third drug, sildenafil, also a PDE5 inhibitor, is available and is commonly used for treating erectile dysfunction. Together, these medications are known as “Viagra-type medications.”
The First Patent
The first Viagra-type drug was sold under the trademark “Penimax” by the now-defunct pharmaceutical company, Biochem Pharmaceuticals. It was officially approved by the FDA in May 1994 and was available in prescription form. Like many other medications at the time, it was also available in different forms, such as tablets and elixirs. The generic name for Penimax is “Sildenafil.”
The success of these drugs was groundbreaking at the time, as they helped millions of men with issues related to erectile dysfunction. Since then, many other medications have been developed and marketed for treating this issue. Although much has changed, the fundamentals of treating erectile dysfunction have not. In most cases, doctors will still recommend lifestyle changes and other medications as a first line of defense, while prescribing PDE5 inhibitors in cases where these are available.
The Rise Of Generic Viagra
In the 1990s, with the introduction of sildenafil and the subsequent approval of generic forms, the cost of these drugs dropped significantly. This made them more accessible to a wider audience. In addition, this decreased the regulatory burden on the FDA, since generic medications do not need to be submitted for approval and may be marketed without prior notice.
This made it possible for pharmaceutical companies to produce and market cheaper generic forms of medications. In some cases, these were even produced to be equivalent to the original brand-name medication. In other cases, they were simply replicas that were sold for much cheaper prices. Because of this, it is quite common to see many different versions of generic Viagra available, with varying prices and packaging. Some of these are even found in regular grocery stores, drugstores, and big-box retailers. This makes it much easier for anybody to find the medication that they need, without having to go from pharmacy to pharmacy to find the best price.
When Was Viagra Introduced?
Since the late 1980s, there have been continual questions about when exactly Viagra was first introduced. Based on the packaging and the advertising on television at the time, it would seem that the drug was first marketed in or around 1982. This would put its origin at approximately 40 years ago.
However, according to the FDA, the first approved dose of Viagra did not arrive on pharmacy shelves until May 1994.
This was the result of extensive tests that confirmed its safety and efficacy before it was approved for sale. In these tests, known as “pharmacokinetic,” chemicals were used to track the movement of the drug throughout the body. The team at the University of Wisconsin-Madison monitored radioactively tagged material in the blood, as it went through different phases of digestion. This monitoring is what enabled them to pinpoint when the drug was first introduced.
This was also supported by advertising in the Washington Post in April 1981, where the head of the Madison, Wisconsin, branch claimed that Viagra “is now available in most big drugstores and supermarkets.” In addition, the television show, “Dallas,” was also seen airing commercials for Viagra in the late 1980s. Based on this evidence, it would appear that Viagra was introduced in or around 1982.
Viagra And Other PDE5 Inhibitors
PDE5 inhibitors are not the only medications that are used to treat erectile dysfunction. In fact, they are not even the most prominent drug in this category. Other medications, such as Viagra’s competitors, include:
- Cialis,
- Levitra, and
- Staxyn.
These medications are similar to Viagra and are used to treat the same conditions, although they do not always work in the same way. In some cases, they can help with issues that Viagra does not address. In addition, some men may respond better to one drug than the other. For example, some men may respond better to Cialis than to Viagra. It is also important to keep in mind that not all manufacturers are created equal, and some may have better quality control than others.
Changes In Prescribing
As mentioned above, doctors often prescribe medications for erectile dysfunction. Since the 1960s, the paradigm for treating this issue has not changed. In general, doctors will still recommend lifestyle changes, such as increasing exercise and cutting back on alcohol and coffee, as a first line of defense. They may also prescribe hormone therapy or treatment for prostate cancer before they turn to a PDE5 inhibitor. In most cases, doctors will still recommend these medications as a last resort and will only turn to them in cases where other treatments have failed.
However, in recent years, there has been a trend towards prescribing these drugs as a first line of defense. This was most likely the result of increased awareness, as well as scientific data that supported their use. For example, a study published in the Journal of Sexual Medicine in 2011, found that 90% of men suffered from some form of erectile dysfunction. In addition, only 20% of men reported having sexual intercourse without the help of a chemical, while 11% said that they did not know how they would react if they were deprived of sex drugs. These drugs simply made it easier for men to have safe and satisfying sex lives, without risking their health.
According to the data, only 1% of men said that they did not experience any side effects from these medications. The good news is that these drugs are generally safe and effective. However, like most medications, there is always the risk of side effects, which are mostly mild to moderate in severity and rarely fatal.
The Future Of Viagra
While Viagra is generally safe and effective, it is not perfect. In most cases, it works as its name would suggest and improves the quality of erection. However, in some cases, it caused men to have low blood pressure and dizziness. This occasionally led to fainting or heart attacks, among other health issues. In addition, other medications, such as nitrofurantoin, have been shown to interact negatively with this drug. While in most cases this does not cause serious harm, it can in rare instances. For this reason, it is still recommended that men who are already taking nitrofurantoin, or who are also at risk for low blood pressure, do not take Viagra.
Because of these potential side effects and drug interactions, it is still recommended by many doctors that men who are already taking nitrofurantoin monitor their blood pressure and avoid taking this medication in combination with Viagra.
Despite these caveats, Viagra is still commonly used to treat erectile dysfunction and has been a standard fixture in the drugstore for decades. Today, it is still advertised on television and found in many big-box retailers and drugstores. This makes it quite easy for anybody to find and purchase the medication that they need, without having to go from pharmacy to pharmacy to find the best price. As a result, it has become one of the most popular and well-known medications in the world. This is undoubtedly because of its effectiveness at treating erectile dysfunction and its reputation for safety. This is also due in part to its status as a generic drug, which makes it much easier for manufacturers to produce and market the medication without having to go through extensive clinical trials.