Viagra is the most well known medication for treating impotence in men. Viagra is the product of Pfizer, first used to treat a heart problem but after some patients reported about getting unexpected erection after taking the drug, Viagra then became the first drug for erectile dysfunction in men. Viagra has been approved by the FDA and is currently the most lucrative product of Pfizer. And because of its genuine effectiveness and the power of marketing, the annual sale of Viagra is still gradually increasing.
The main ingredient of Viagra is sildenafil citrate. This is a PDE5 inhibitor, and as mentioned above, it was originally used to treat chest pain and heart problems but now used mainly to help men achieve and maintain an erection. There are many reasons that create erectile dysfunction in male, and one of these reasons are certain enzymes in the male body that cause blood vessels to dilate and thus prevent the blood to enter the male sexual organ. Viagra blocks these enzymes and therefore pump more blood into the penis when the man is under sexual stimulation. And under the effect of Viagra, the blood flow is maintained so the erection can last for a longer duration than under normal conditions.
Viagra is currently the foremost choice for most men who are suffering erectile dysfunction. And as approved by the FDA, and as its manufacturing process is tightly controlled and regulated, the drug is generally considered safe. But just like any other drug, either for treating erectile dysfunction or other diseases, there are still side effects. And how each individual would react to the same drug is always different. So here are something to know before buying and using Viagra.
Viagra, as originally used to treat chest pain and heart problems, can cause a sudden and dramatic decrease in blood pressure, and thus can make use feel nausea, faint and dizzy and can possibly cause a heart attack. This side effect can be amplified if Viagra is taken together with other alpha blocker drugs such as Hytrin (terazosin) and Flomax (tamsulosin HCL). And if you are having a heart or blood pressure problem, Viagra can worsen the condition.
Some other side effects of Viagra that have been reported are loss of vision and hearing, diarrhea, back pain, nasal congestion … While these side effects are not as dangerous as the drop in blood pressure, you still should have stop taking Viagra and seek medical help immediately if you experience any of these side effects.
You should also never take a higher dosage of Viagra than the recommended dosage. You may have a too hard erection that can last for hours, even after ejaculation, which can be very painful and can result to tissue damage and more severe impotency.
One more thing to remember when taking Viagra is that the drug does not mix well with alcohol and grapefruit. Grapefruit, either in fruit form or juice form, will prevent the breakdown process of Viagra in the body. And alcohol will reduce the positive effects of Viagra while simultaneously increase the negative side effects of the drug.
I am self employed. General Practitioner in Melbourne, VIC. My special interest: male reproductive system.