What Is Generic Viagra
Generic Viagra refers to all analogues of this medicine, which since 2018 have received the right to be produced by any pharmaceutical company other than the manufacturer of branded Viagra – the American corporation Pfizer. All generic versions of Viagra, regardless of what trade name they are sold under, contain the same active ingredient called sildenafil citrate. This is an artificially synthesized PDE-5 inhibitor.
It is noteworthy that generics cannot be sold under the name “Viagra” due to the relevant provisions of patent law. They can be called anything else, for example, Kamagra, Silagra, and also have the word “Viagra” in the complex name, but it will never be alone. For example, the original medicine is called Viagra, and one of its generics is called Viagra Sandoz, that is, the name of the manufacturer of this generic is included in the trade name of the drug.
A significant difference between Viagra generics and the branded medicine is that they are produced not only in the form of the well-known film-coated diamond-shaped blue pills, but also in the form of soft tablets that need to be dissolved in the mouth like lollipops to freshen breath, as well as in in the form of a sachet with gel for oral administration and even capsules. A distinctive feature of non-standard forms of release of generic Viagra is their ability to be quickly absorbed into the bloodstream, due to which the effect after taking such drugs occurs faster than in the case of classic pills.
Does Generic Viagra Work
Many consumers are accustomed to being skeptical of any analogues of branded drugs, suspecting that they are inferior in quality to their prototypes. However, there is no evidence to support such a situation. On the contrary, the modern generic drug market is strictly regulated, and in the struggle for the attention of the buyer, generic drug manufacturers are trying in every possible way to make feasible improvements to the formulation of their versions of the original drug. Since generic Viagra is based on sildenafil citrate in the same dosages as that used in the original drug, it is logical that the effect of generics is no less pronounced.
Generic Viagra has the same effect on the male body as the original medicine, namely a vasodilating effect, most strongly manifested in the genital area, and an increase in the severity and duration of erection. This is achieved due to the ability of sildenafil citrate to block the production of the PDE-5 enzyme in the cavernous bodies of the penis, which is a kind of deadbolt, that is, when it begins to be released, the erection process is stopped. Nitric oxide is involved in the process of PDE-5 inhibition, the production of which increases after taking Viagra or its generics.
Like the prototype medicine, generics of Viagra don’t affect male libido, the level of sex hormones, and are not aphrodisiacs. If generic Viagra doesn’t have the expected effect on a man, it is not the fact that the man takes generics that is to blame, but the fact that the main active ingredient of any Viagra – sildenafil citrate – is ineffective in his case of impaired potency. This happens if erection problems are caused by an imbalance in hormonal levels or are associated with taking certain medications.
Just like their branded prototype, generics of Viagra are used in the treatment of potency disorders caused by both physiological and psychological reasons, as well as their combination. According to urologists, most cases of weakened potency are the result of several reasons, including psychological ones, which almost always follow the occurrence of organic problems.
Generic Viagra Side Effects
Despite the fact that some men, especially older men, still have mistrust of generic Viagra, believing that only the drug under the Pfizer label can be quite effective, these prejudices are unfounded. Moreover, generics of Viagra are not only no less effective than the original medicine, but in some cases they turn out to be a more suitable treatment option, since they are better tolerated by the body due to the fact that they cause fewer side effects. Usually, manufacturers of generic Viagra pay increased attention to the perfection of the formulation in terms of excipients, as well as thorough purification of the active substance. This allows you to make the clinical picture after taking the medicine more favorable and reduce the frequency and severity of side effects.
Despite the fact that generics are generally better tolerated by men than the original medicine, do not forget that all cases are individual. While one patient does not experience any discomfort after taking Viagra or its generics, another may experience serious side effects that have a negative impact on his perception of the sexual experience after taking the generic and on his overall well-being.
Despite the fact that sildenafil citrate, the main active ingredient of Viagra and its generics, is a highly selective PDE-5 inhibitor, the cells that secrete this enzyme in the male body are not only found in the cavernous bodies of the penis. They are also present in the walls of many vessels, but mainly in the pulmonary artery. In this regard, the consequence of taking Viagra is its indirect systemic effect on the body. Most men experience a slight rise or fall in their blood pressure, depending on which condition (hypotension or hypertension) they are more prone to.
Generic Viagra most often causes side effects such as headache, dizziness, nasal congestion, and flushing of the face and neck. People with a sensitive gastrointestinal tract may experience dyspepsia, and less commonly, flatulence or nausea. Taking sildenafil citrate may cause increased heart rate and a slight ringing or buzzing sensation in the ears. In combination with a rapid heartbeat, such symptoms indicate a decrease in blood pressure. It is recommended to take a lying position and wait 10-15 minutes after such sensations appear. As a rule, they go away on their own and do not cause significant discomfort.
Another moderately common side effect of generic Viagra is back pain. You shouldn’t be afraid of it, it’s muscle pain that is not dangerous to the body. If back pain prevents you from enjoying sexual intercourse, you can take a Paracetamol tablet.
A side effect such as color vision disturbances, when objects appear to be a different color than they actually are, is also typical for taking any generic Viagra. Objects and light may appear greenish or bluish, which is the most common deviation, and may also appear slightly blurry. This is due to the fact that sildenafil citrate is produced in small amounts in the retina, and its inhibition disrupts our usual color perception.
Generic Viagra Dose
Dosages of generic Viagra vary. The most common are the classic three dosages: 100, 50 and 25 mg sildenafil citrate in one tablet. Branded medicine is available in exactly the same dosage options. However, the range of quite a few generic manufacturers also includes more unusual options, for example, 75 mg, as well as 200 mg. If the presence of a dosage of 75 mg can be explained by the fact that the manufacturers of this option want to fill the niche of a high dosage, but not the maximum one, then how to explain the presence of a dosage of 200 mg on pharmacy shelves if the maximum daily dose of sildenafil citrate allowed for use is 100 mg?
In fact, answering this question is not at all difficult. Such a large dosage is not intended to be taken at one time. Generic Viagra tablets with a dosage of 200 mg are produced to minimize the cost of each individual tablet for both the end consumer and the manufacturer. Therefore, having bought generic Viagra tablets with a dosage of 200 mg, you need to understand that before taking the medicine you will have to divide the pill into at least two parts, otherwise you can get an overdose and experience unpleasant and hazardous side effects.
It has long been known that it is cheaper to produce one tablet with a large dosage than many tablets with a small dosage. This is the secret why Viagra 200 mg pills are the most profitable purchase for those men who take this medicine in a dosage of 100 mg.
It can also be noted that for those patients who take 50 mg of sildenafil, purchasing tablets with a dosage of 100 mg is also a better deal than purchasing tablets with a dosage of 50 mg.
The arithmetic is simple: it is always more profitable to split one tablet into two parts than to take the entire tablet. However, for some men this option may not be very convenient, since it makes it difficult to secretly take pills, and it is also quite easy to lose the orphaned half of the pill. It is preferable not to try to put it back into the cell in the blister, but to store it in a special pill box.
Most patients report that when taking non-standard forms of generic Viagra, a smaller dosage is sufficient to achieve the desired result than in the case of traditional tablets, which is associated with higher absorption of the active substance.