Viagra. Sildenafil. The Little Blue Pill.
It’s doubtful this is the first you’ve heard of it. Viagra is the world’s most popular erectile dysfunction treatment, loved for it’s quick and discreet solution to erectile problems, and is used by hundreds of millions of men around the world every year.
Who makes Viagra?
Sildenafil (brand name Viagra) is owned and manufactured by American pharmaceutical giant Pfizer. Pfizer originally discovered the medication in 1989 while attempting to produce a drug for hypertension and heart-related chest pain in a research facility in Sandwich, Kent.
Men participating in the early clinical trials did not show significant relief from the intended targeted symptoms, but did note the common side effect of increased rate of erections.
Researchers changed the course of their trials, and in 1998, Sildenafil (of which Viagra is the brand name) was approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the European Medicines Agency (EMA) as the first oral treatment for men with ED.
Peaking at over $2 billion dollars in revenue for Pfizer, it’s manufacturer, in 2012, Viagra’s sales have declined over the past few years as other pharmaceutical companies have been allowed to market generic versions of Sildenafil, as the final patent expired in April 2020.
How does it work?
Viagra is taken typically in pill form, though can be taken intravenously. Typically within 20 minutes, the user will find it easier to achieve and maintain an erection. The effects typically last around 2 hours.
A common misconception is that it increases the user’s sex drive, however its only effect is influencing the ease at which they can achieve an erection. Sexual stimulation is still needed for the user to become erect, however many men say that the ability to become erect increases their sexual confidence, which in turn increases how high their sex drive is.
Viagra protects a cyclic nucleotide called cGMP from degradation by an enzyme called PDE5 which leads to smooth muscle relaxation and vasodilation (veins becoming wider). This increases the amount of blood able to flow into the penis, which aids the user in achieving an erection.
Normally, an erection would go away once PDE5 had broken down the cGMP in your penis, but Viagra blocks the action of PDE5, so it allows cGMP to keep working for a longer period of time than usual.
Can anyone take Viagra?
No. Many men are not advised to take Viagra, as it may not be safe for them. Conditions which exclude men from its use include:
- Peyronie’s disease
- Leukemia
- Sickle cell anemia
- Hearing loss
- High blood pressure
- Low blood pressure
- A previous heart attack
- Narrowing of the aortic heart valve
- Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy
- Irregular heart rhythm
- Chronic heart failure
- A previous stroke
- Liver cirrhosis
- Any condition you are taking nitrates or riociguat to treat.
What’s more, up to 30% of men who take Viagra do not see any noticeable effect. If it has been four hours since you took Viagra and cannot achieve erection, you may be one of these men.
Where can I buy Viagra?
Always make sure you buy Viagra from a trusted retailer. Viagra no longer requires a prescription in the UK as of 2017, and can be bought from high street shops such as Boots and Superdrug. Viagra is often sold under the brand name Viagra Connect in the UK.
Viagra is the most counterfeited drug in the world, and according to a Pfizer study, 80% of websites claiming to sell Viagra were actually selling counterfeits, some of which contain harmful substances like blue ink, amphetamines, metronidazole, boric acid and rat poison. 3.5 million fake erectile dysfunction pills were seized in 2019 alone.
What are the side effects?
Side effects include:
- Low blood pressure.
- Shortness of breath.
- Priapism (erection that lasts longer than four hours).
- Vision problems.
- Hearing problems.
- Nosebleeds and headaches.
- nausea and vomiting.
- (In very rare cases) heart attack or stroke.
If any of these symptoms are persistent or you feel they are cause for alarm, seek medical attention immediately.
Does Viagra permanently treat ED?
No, and that is Viagra’s most important issue. 90% of men with ED have at least one underlying physical cause for their problem, and the most common causes are cardiovascular disease and diabetes. If the symptoms of ED are simply covered up by Viagra use, these underlying causes can become worse and potentially life threatening. You should consult your doctor if you are experiencing ED over a long period of time.
As well as underlying health conditions, ED might be rooted in lifestyle factors such as:
- Excessive alcohol consumption.
- Lack of exercise.
- Smoking.
- Unhealthy diet.
Viagra is, and will likely continue to be, the most popular treatment for erectile dysfunction because of two things. It is easy and discreet. This is great, and it’s availability to make men more confident and able in the bedroom is cause for celebration.
We, at ED Clinics, would recommend that all men who take Viagra also talk to a medical professional to ensure they have no underlying health conditions, and also to research more permanent solutions to their issues, such as shockwave therapy.
