What Is Viagra
Viagra is the most widely used drug in the world to combat erectile dysfunction and enjoys the unique trust of men. The history of this medicine goes back 25 years. It was registered in 1998 by the American pharmaceutical company Pfizer. It is based on the active ingredient sildenafil citrate. It belongs to PDE-5 inhibitors (phosphodiesterase type 5).
An interesting fact is that scientists initially conceived sildenafil citrate as a means to combat pulmonary arterial hypertension, a severe cardiovascular disease in which the pressure in the pulmonary artery increases. Clinical trials of the new drug revealed that although it has some effect in reducing the symptoms of PAH, its effect on the male reproductive system is much more significant. Male volunteers on whom clinical studies were conducted noted among the side effects of the drug an improvement in the quality of erection and did not even want to return the extra pills received as part of the study to the manufacturer.
What Is Viagra Used For
Viagra is used as a means to increase potency in men, regardless of their age – the medicine is approved for use in all age categories over 18 years. Viagra demonstrates effectiveness in erectile dysfunction of various etiologies: it is effective in potency disorders of both organic and psychological causes, as well as in a combination of psychological and physiological factors. Thus, Viagra is recommended by urologists for potency disorders associated with diabetes, a sedentary lifestyle, atherosclerosis, fear of sexual failure, increased anxiety and other similar conditions. However, despite the fact that this drug is known in the United States as the “magic pill”, not all cases of erectile dysfunction respond to Viagra treatment. Thus, since sildenafil citrate does not affect the level of sex hormones, Viagra is not effective for problems with potency caused by a lack of testosterone or decreased libido due to taking certain medications, in particular antidepressants.
How Does Viagra Work
The mechanism of action of Viagra is associated with the ability of sildenafil citrate to dilate arteries in the cavernous bodies of the penis.
This is achieved by increasing the production of nitric oxide and is accompanied by inhibition of the synthesis of the enzyme PDE-5, which is a kind of lever responsible for the cessation of erection (it is secreted mainly in the tissues of the cavernous bodies of the penis).
The medicine begins to act approximately 40 minutes – 1 hour after the intake and actively affects the man’s body for four to six hours. The vasodilating effect of sildenafil citrate helps to increase blood flow to the male genital organs, improve the quality of erection and its duration.
Viagra Dosage
Brand Viaga from the pharmaceutical company Pfizer, as well as most generics of this medicine, is produced in three main dosages: 150, 50 and 25 mg in one pill. In the case of a branded drug, the pills are diamond-shaped, deep blue tablets with the dosage engraved on one side and “VGR” on the other. They are covered with a film shell and should be washed down with water. This makes it easier to swallow the tablet, and also promotes faster absorption in the stomach and absorption of the active substance into the blood, and also prevents negative effects on the gastric mucosa.
Viagra Side Effects
Viagra is a medicine that is considered the gold standard for treating erectile dysfunction. In addition, doctors around the world have accumulated the most extensive experience in using this drug in various cases of potency disorders, so its effect on the male body has been better studied than in the case of any other drug to restore potency. Unfortunately, it is a generally accepted fact that Viagra quite often provokes side effects in men. Of course, their presence, as well as the degree of severity, vary greatly depending on the individual sensitivity of the man to sildenafil citrate and his tolerance to this drug.
The most common side effects of Viagra include headache, dizziness, flushing of the face and neck, nasal congestion, indigestion, color vision problems, or blurred vision. The listed side effects are considered not dangerous to health and in most cases do not require any therapy. They disappear on their own 2-3 hours after taking the medicine, in some cases a little later.
All men have different susceptibility to the active substance of Viagra, so such side effects may be completely absent or present to a fairly strong degree. This cannot be predicted before starting therapy.
If a man is hypersensitive to sildenafil citrate, then taking Viagra can result in consequences such as nosebleeds, insomnia, back pain, ringing in the ears, lightheadedness, or even loss of consciousness due to a sharp decrease in blood pressure. There may also be a feeling of palpitations and tachycardia. It is noteworthy that, as a rule, side effects after taking Viagra are most pronounced the first few times, and after taking three or four tablets, the effectiveness of side effects usually decreases.
Is Viagra Safe
The safety of almost any medicine is a controversial issue, since one should not forget the ancient wisdom that the same drug in one dosage is a medicine, and in another a poison. This also applies to Viagra.
If a man has consulted with a urologist before taking the medication, has undergone a medical examination and has no serious contraindications to taking medications based on sildenafil citrate, it is most likely that taking Viagra will be safe for him (The clinical safety of viagra, long-term safety and effectiveness of sildenafil citrate), and the maximum he will encounter is some discomfort from side effects. However, an overdose or use of Viagra by a man who has contraindications to taking such medications (especially in combination with alcohol) can lead to serious negative consequences, including death. Don’t forget that Viagra is a serious drug that has a systemic effect on the body. This is not at all a harmless vitamin-mineral complex or a biologically active food supplement.
Taking too high doses of Viagra or combining the drug with alcohol and drugs can lead to serious disturbances in the functioning of the cardiovascular system, to the appearance of symptoms such as chest pain, difficulty breathing, arrhythmia, loss of consciousness, and heart attack.
You should exercise increased caution if you plan to take Viagra and have cardiovascular disease, even if it is in the compensation stage. In conditions such as arterial hypotension or hypertension, heart failure, coronary heart disease, it is strongly recommended to consult with a specialized specialist, since excessive load on the heart can even lead to myocardial infarction.
Also, patients with a family history of hereditary retinal diseases, such as retinitis pigmentosa, should also avoid taking Viagra and other drugs classified as PDE5 inhibitors. Sildenafil citrate can damage retinal cells in people with a predisposition to such diseases.
Does Viagra Make You Last Longer?
Sildenafil citrate – the active ingredient of both branded Viagra and its numerous generics – is known not only for its ability to help a man develop a stronger erection, but also for its positive effect on the duration of sexual intercourse. Despite the fact that Viagra does not belong to the category of drugs that are used for premature ejaculation, most patients note that along with an increase in the intensity of the erection, its duration also increases, which results in an increase in satisfaction with the quality of sexual life on both the part of the man and his partner.
It often happens that before taking Viagra, a man experienced an erection on his own, which subsided too quickly, which prevented full sexual intercourse. In most such cases, Viagra helps to get rid of such a deplorable situation by increasing the duration of an erection, as well as reducing the refractory period that a man needs to have sex again.
Does Viagra Make You Bigger?
Statistics show that, regardless of which country the survey is conducted and what the initial parameters of the men surveyed were, almost all of them would like their penis to be somewhat larger. Few people are completely satisfied with the size of their penis, even if it is absolutely average or even larger than average according to objective parameters.
Widespread porn videos make a significant contribution to this opinion. It’s no secret that in porn, firstly, the most popular actors are those with the most outstanding dignity, and secondly, cameramen skillfully show it, focusing on their impressive size. Another point that affects a man’s perception of the size of his own penis is related to the fact that a man sees his genital organ from above, and from this angle it seems shorter than it actually is when viewed objectively from the side. Not all men know how to measure their penis correctly and often underestimate their actual measurements. It would also not be superfluous to note that few representatives of the stronger sex honestly name the parameters of their penis, even on condition of anonymity, and even more so in the company of friends or on men’s forums. All this gives a man the illusion that there are only sex giants with impressive machines around, and he, poor and modest, is completely deprived of nature. Finally, one should not lose sight of the fact that excess body weight greatly conceals the actual size of the penis – firstly, due to fat in the legs and pubic area, and secondly, simply because the penis begins to appear smaller than it actually is, compared to a large body.
Unfortunately, Viagra is in no way capable of influencing the size of the penis, especially at rest, since the size of the penis is determined genetically, as well as under the influence of the level of male sex hormones during puberty. However, after taking Viagra, due to the onset of a stronger erection than usual, the penis may appear larger, more engorged, with a larger head and have a more positive visual impression on the partner.