What is Viagra?
We should start from the most obvious question. Viagra is a more than just a popular medicine. It is a cultural phenomenon that changed the very way we look at sex and sexual dysfunctions. When sildenafil was first discovered, the hype around the medicine was truly noisy. At some point, Viagra was an undisputed king of the market without any competitors. The latter appeared later. However, for a long time, we all had known only Viagra.
While many know what Viagra does, not everyone is aware of other medical applications for this medicine. Simultaneously, thousands of people do not truly know what sildenafil is and what it was initially created for. There were people who were afraid of using Viagra due to not understanding holistically how it works.
Viagra is a not a magic trick that makes erectile dysfunction disappear. There is certain biological mechanism behind the process of curing the erectile dysfunction. The medicine has specific limitations and should be used with caution. However, in general it is one of the safest medications for treating erectile dysfunction and specific sexual disorders in women.
On top of that, Viagra is being tested for other medical applications including treating improperly growing children in a womb or inhibiting symptoms of Raynaud’s. There are other important medical applications and myth that are related to sildenafil. There are so many misconceptions and so much disinformation about the medication that we feel obliged to talk about Viagra, its downsides, and its benefits.
The History of Viagra (Sildenafil)
Sildenafil is possibly amongst the most famous prescription drugs in the world. It is generally referred to as Viagra. Its highest peak of popularity was in 2000s after its FDA-approval in 1997. Just like any successful and actually working drug, Viagra immediately started to rule market and showed incredible sales growth over the course of the next decade. Brand Company produced Viagra generated over $2 billion in 2008 and demonstrated to intention to stop increasing the numbers.
The cultural and medical phenomenon of Viagra started much earlier in 1989 when a group of talented Pfizer scientists were working on a medication that was supposed to treat hypertension and maybe allow to inhibit symptoms of angina pectoris that is usually caused by various heart problems. While the medication was showing mediocre results at reaching the goal of treating angina, the early clinical trials uncovered an unplanned property of the drug – sildenafil effectively induced erection.
The results were immediately recognized by Brand Company. In 1989, erectile dysfunction was a big problem with no visible solution on the horizon. Both marketing and medical research showed that erectile dysfunction was a highly impactful issue that drastically affected men all over the world. Back in 1989, ED was a well-known yet under-researched health issue. However, Pfizer had enough information in order to realize the potential of sildenafil on the market. Thus, the plans were changed immediately. Proven to be slightly less effective than expected in treating both hypertension and angina, sildenafil was set for a new direction.
In 2014, the British Medical Journal (a.k.a. BMJ) released a report of a research that focused on the frequency of erectile dysfunction cases amongst men. Surprisingly, over 52% of men aged between 40 and 70 reported that have either frequent or consistent issues with sexual performance. This means that each 2nd man on the planet starts experiencing problems with erection after turning 40. With such a wide audience of interested customers, it was not a surprise that Viagra became one of Brand Company’s main flagships on the market.
Simultaneously, Viagra allowed a multitude of competitors to start taking their respective places in the market. However, for many companies with similar products, the market was way too one-sided. Viagra had a name that was rumbling all over the world. Amongst the most widely known Viagra competitors are Cialis and Levitra, both having significantly less impressive market shares. Viagra is a synonym of erectile dysfunction in modern culture.
However, the glorious story of the medication is not yet done. With the appearance of multiple sildenafil-based medications, the market became less dependent on the will of Pfizer’s marketers. The prices became more volatile and more customer-friendly due to a multitude of competing companies entering the market with generic sildenafil-based products that many refer to as to Generic Viagra.
The latter is just a very good chemical copy of Viagra that has all its merits and downsides. British Company still has a very influential presence in North America due to the prevalence of branded Viagra, but everywhere in the world Generic Viagra becomes a go-to choice for many men and people who need to use PDE5 inhibitors to treat other health issues. The history of Viagra is still being written even though Pfizer is no longer the only main protagonist.
The versatility of Viagra
One of the most cement arguments supporting Viagra and its safety is that the medication has seen numerous applications in a variety of areas of life and medicine. At the same time, the amount of actual health issues caused by taking “small blue pills” was nearly obsolete.
The biggest problems were caused either by users who did not follow the instructions correctly or by excessive usage of the medication which is never a good idea regardless of the type of the medication.
Fetal medicine. Interestingly enough, Viagra is being tested as a new ground-breaking medication that may help in helping weak fetuses to survive in the womb. There are certain medical conditions and issues that may cause a child in the wood to stop growing. Oftentimes, the problem is related to the blood supply. Such issues prevent the fetus from feeding and effectively stop it from continue growing. Needless to say, this leads to premature births. Viagra is used to stimulate the blood flow and direct it to the placenta. Note that Viagra is not an aphrodisiac and does not affect the libido of a pregnant woman dramatically.
Raynaud’s. Another efficient medical application of Viagra and Generic Viagra is treating Raynaud’s. This condition is widely known health issue that forces lesser blood vessels to narrow down. The condition is usually caused by stresses and extremely low temperatures. There are scenarios where even a slight cold can cause Raynaud’s. The pain is unbearable. This health issue is obviously more frequent in regions with a colder climate. Women are more likely to have Raynaud’s than men. Viagra is one of the go-to solutions for this health issue.
Other applications. As mentioned before, Viagra is still a viable solution for hypertension cases and helps to reduce its symptoms greatly. Simultaneously, the preparation is often used to inhibit symptoms caused by mountain sickness. This is also the reason that one of the myths about Viagra appeared. There are people who believe that Viagra is a good answer to jet lag. While it can positively affect the symptoms caused by the environmental pressure change, it is barely a good medication for those who suffer from jet lag.
Viagra is a versatile medication that is used in a wide variety of areas. Many doctors use Viagra to treat a rich assortment of health issues outside of the circle outlined by the erectile dysfunction. Viagra can be used together with a plethora of other medications which makes it even better for a wider number of medical applications. There is only a handful of negative side effects and most of them are extremely rare. When used correctly, Viagra and Generic Viagra are completely safe and incredibly effective. This is one of the reasons why it became so popular.
Erectile Dysfunction Treatment
The most popular medical application for Viagra is treating erectile dysfunction caused by physiological conditions. Note that Viagra is not an aphrodisiac and neither a sex stimulant. The reason why Viagra is so effective is that it affects physiological aspects of the problem directly. However, psychological sexual problems are less likely to be treated by Viagra.
Ever since the unexpected discovery that PDE5 inhibitors in general can cause the blood to travel easier to penis, pharmatheutical companies became obsessed with creating other PDE5 inhibitors. Over the course of last 3 decades, tadalafil and vardenafil appeared on the market. Both medications have their upsides and downsides. However, all of them are using a similar physiological mechanic.
PDE5 inhibitors are affecting cGMP (cyclic guanosine monophosphate) molecules produced in our bodies that causes muscle relaxation near penis and blood can easily fill its tissues. In order for erection to occur, sexual stimulation is a necessity. Sildenafil also known as Viagra or Generic Viagra is a highly efficient PDE5 inhibitor that increases the lifespan and production rate of cGMP molecules allowing for stronger and easier achieved erection. Both tadalafil and vardenafil employ the same mechanism and cause the same effect.
Due to the direct nature of the interaction between the organism and sildenafil, Viagra is one of the most efficient means of treating erectile dysfunction. While its effect is less likely to be positive in cases when the root of the problem has a psychological origin, the vast majority of erectile dysfunction cases comes with age and sildenafil is a great and safe countermeasure.
With over 52% of men having troubles performing in bed, sildenafil is constantly in-demand all over the world. With more and more stress sources and extremely stressful lifestyle, humanity will most certainly face the inevitable increase of ED cases. Having a time-tested safe solution is definitely a good thing for all of us!
Is Generic Viagra really that effective
One of the most concerning questions for any person that wants to try out Viagra is whether it is effective. Obviously, the medication has limits and not everyone can enjoy the full effect of sildenafil. There are physiological specifics that can significantly reduce or even render useless the very effect of sildenafil. However, in the vast majority of cases, generic Viagra can fix ED efficiently.
Research show that over 80% of customers that tried Viagra or Generic Viagra experience significant improvement of their sexual life. Less than 8% of customers are unsatisfied with the results achieved through using sildenafil. This is an extremely high success rate.
Viagra is a medication that is convenient to use and highly efficient.
There are various reasons why it has such popularity:
- Convenient usage. While the most popular form of sildenafil is a little blue pill, there are other forms distributed for customer’s convenience. Oral sprays can help in achieving the desired effect much faster. Usually, the effect is noticeable in 15 minutes after using a spray.
- Quick effect. The erection can be achieved in a period from roughly 10 to 70 minutes. For the vast majority of men, having a preparation that delivers its effect in less than an hour is a great benefit.
- Generic Viagra is much cheaper than branded Viagra. At the same time, branded Viagra is also not the most expensive medication in the world. Sildenafil is distributed in the majority of countries all over the world.
- One of the biggest upsides of sildenafil is its safety. The medication can be used together with a wide variety of other preparations and thus does not negatively affect other ongoing treatment procedures. At the same time, the amount of negative side effects is limited with a low rate of occurrence.
The safety comes first
Sildenafil can cause negative side effects. The compound may affect senses including hearing and sight. In extremely rare cases, users reported a temporary loss of hearing. There were individual cases of people having reoccurring hearing issues. Impaired vision and photophobia are also rare side effects. More often, users experience headache, flushing, problems with nasal congestion, and issues with digesting. However, in the vast majority of cases, sildenafil causes no side effects what so ever.
Amongst notable negative effects is prolonged erection that does not go away for several hours which can be extremely dangerous for soft penis tissues. Due to the fact that sildenafil affects the blood vessel system, problems with blood pressure and heart also should be accounted for. Usually, sildenafil is not recommended or even forbidden after heart strokes.
Viagra and Generic Viagra can be successfully used together with various medications. However, when using it together with other PDE5 inhibitors, it should be carefully dosed and taken with extreme caution. Note that drugs like cimetidine (used when treating heartburn and ulcers) or erythromycin (an antibiotic) can affect sildenafil and its metabolism. Before using sildenafil together with any antibiotic, you should consult with a doctor.
It is important to closely follow an instruction when dealing with any drug. Viagra and Generic Viagra should not be used immediately after or during an intake of nitrates (nitroglycerin and poppers are good examples). People with hepatic, cardiovascular, and renal issues cannot use the medication as well as people who recently experienced a heart attack. Extremely rare genetic mutations and diseases also can be a problem.
Conclusion
In general, Generic Viagra is a very effective medication that has proven its efficiency over the course of decades. At the same time, when used correctly, it has from little to no negative effects and can be taken by the vast majority of individuals if they do not have health issues listed above.
