You’ve probably heard of the pharmaceutical drug, Viagra. If not, you may know about its popularity in helping men with erectile dysfunction. But did you know that the drug is also prescribed to combat other problems, such as migraines and heart disease? Discover why men take Viagra and what medications it might be helpful to try if you’re experiencing problems with performance.
Viagra Is A Popular Medication
Viagra is one of the world’s most popular medications. It’s also one of the most prescribed medications. For years, its popularity has been attributed to the fact that it helps improve sexual performance in men. But that’s not the whole story. Here’s more about the medication’s history and the reasons for its increasing popularity.
The History Of Viagra
Viagra was originally approved for use in 1998 and came about as a result of a series of experiments that began in the 1950s. Back then, two US pharmaceutical companies – Merck and Pfizer – were working together to find a treatment for male impotence. The two companies first tried a prostaglandin derivative but concluded that it wasn’t acceptable for use as a treatment for impotence. They then tried a drug called yohimbine, which was shown in one trial to improve sexual performance in men. Yohimbine is a natural product derived from the yohimbe tree, which is native to Africa.
The researchers conducting the trial concluded that yohimbine was not an acceptable treatment for impotence but that it might be helpful in treating migraine headaches. So, in the 1960s, Merck and Pfizer began working to combine the two drugs into one, more effective medicine. After several trials, the companies concluded that the combination of yohimbine and sildenafil – which they named Viagra – was the most effective treatment available for impotence at the time. Viagra was approved for use by the FDA in 1998 and is now among the country’s most prescribed medications.
What Is Viagra?
Viagra is a registered trademark of Pfizer. It was first made available in Europe in 1998 and is prescribed to men around the world who are experiencing problems with erectile dysfunction or low libido. In the U.S., Viagra is available as a generic medication and is classified as a PDE-5 inhibitor – similar to sildenafil (generic name) and tadalafil (a prescription medication).
In layman’s terms, PDE-5 stands for “Phosphodiesterase type-5”. It’s an enzyme that breaks down cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP) in the body. When cGMP breaks down, it has the effects of relaxing the smooth muscles in the walls of blood vessels and increasing blood flow throughout the body. This improves the health of men with cardiovascular concerns and promotes better performance during sex. Inhibiting PDE-5 has the exact opposite effect and is why the medication is sometimes prescribed for erectile dysfunction and sometimes for other conditions as well, such as heart disease and migraines.
Viagra For Migraines
It turns out that Viagra wasn’t originally intended for treating migraine headaches but was approved for use in treating sexual dysfunction due to its effectiveness in treating impotence. However, the drug was not initially approved for use in the treatment of migraines. That was because, at the time, there were no known effective treatments for migraine headaches. But, since the 1990s, research has shown that Viagra is an effective therapy for migraine. In fact, some studies even suggest that it’s more effective than traditional migraine treatments. It’s also a safe and relatively inexpensive medication. These factors have contributed to its popularity as a migraine therapy. In the U.S., Viagra is approved for use in the treatment of migraine and is commonly prescribed for this purpose.
Why Is Viagra Popular As A Treatment For Heart Disease?
Viagra isn’t just effective in treating sexual dysfunction and migraine headaches. It also has been shown to be effective in the treatment of cardiovascular disease. Again, this is largely because of its usefulness in treating impotence. In men with heart disease, reduced blood flow to the penis causes a reduction in the size of the erection that can be achieved. But, even in cases where an erection is not impossible, it may be difficult for the man to maintain – especially after the erection subsides. In such cases, Viagra is often prescribed to help improve the quality of erection and, in turn, the quality of sexual experience. It’s also highly effective in cases where impotence is a symptom of cardiovascular disease, but not the cause. In these instances, the underlying heart problem needs to be treated first, before any attempt is made to try and improve the sex life of the patient.
Why Do Men Prefer To Take Viagra?
It’s no secret that Viagra is a popular medication. But, beyond that, why do men prefer to take the medication – and what does it have that other medications don’t offer? There are several things that set Viagra apart from other medications used to treat impotence. It’s a medication that men can take without having to worry about whether or not they’ll have an erection. With other medications, such as sildenafil and tadalafil, there’s always the chance that the medication will not work, or will have unexpected side effects. These factors can make a difference in whether or not a man will take a particular medication and, if he does, whether or not he will like the results.
Most Popular Medications
Based on sales figures from 2017, these are the top 20 prescribed medications in the U.S.:
- ALZHEIMER’S DRUGS (includes Duragesic, OxyContin, and Adolprazole) – 8.3 million prescriptions
- HIV MEDICATION (Includes Atripla, EFV, and Resevir)
- HEPATITIS C VIRUS MEDICATION (Includes Remdesivir, Sovaldi, and Stribild)
- ANTIPSYCHOTICS (Includes Oxycodone, Clomipramine, and Fluoxetine)
- ANTICHOLINERGICS (Includes Tizanidine, Tolterodine, and Terodiline)
- PARKINSON’S DRUGS (Includes Requip and Ropiniac)
- ASPIRE (Includes Olanzapine, Quetiapine, and Riluadomib)
- NARROWBAND ANTIDIRECTIVES (Includes Ampyra, Avanafil, and Mefenamic Acid)
- LAXATORE POTENTIATI (Includes Rasagilin, Veliparib, and Xalkori)
- FIBROTIC MEDICATION (Includes Dalteparin and Tinzaparin)
- ANTI-INFLAMMATORY DRUGS (Includes Etanaric, Etravirine, and Raloxifene)
- TRIQUATRYL (Includes Travoprost, Betamethasone, and Fluorometholone)
- HYPERPAREDUCTIVE DRUGS (Includes Minoxidil and Finasteride)
- ACETAMINOPHEN (Includes Minocycline and Ketoprofen)
- CLONTRAZOLE (Includes Clontrafenil, Tolterodine, and Troches)
- VIAGRA (Includes Sildenafil, Tadalafil, and Avanafil)
Are There Any Negative Effects To Taking Viagra?
Yes, there are certain risks associated with taking Viagra. These include heart attacks, strokes, and even death. Though these risks are relatively low, they do exist. Fortunately, they’re also relatively rare and most likely occur in men who already have cardiovascular problems. Because of this, doctors usually warn men who take Viagra about the possible risks and try to persuade them not to take the medication if they’re not genuinely in need of it. The risks of taking Viagra seem to be more prevalent in developing countries, where men may be more likely to engage in risky behaviors due to limited access to healthcare. In these countries, cases of sudden cardiac death and stroke are on the rise. Due to this, some experts are warning that there’s a public health crisis on the horizon if something isn’t done about the lack of accessible healthcare.