Viagra Helps Treat Erectile Dysfunction

Viagra is a PDE5 inhibitor and therefore causes blood vessels to relax, consequently leading to an erection. It doesn’t affect libido. Hence you will still need to have mental or physical stimulation.

Our bodies contain an enzyme called Phosphodiesterase type 5 (PDE5) that regulates chemicals controlling the contraction and relaxation of muscles. When muscles in your penile blood vessels relax, blood flow increases and creates an erection, while their contraction decreases blood flow and reduces an erection.

Viagra helps treat Erectile dysfunction (ED), which is the incapability to achieve and maintain an erection. And although Viagra helps increase blood flow to the penis, it’s important to note that it doesn’t cure ED permanently.

However, Viagra will help you to get and maintain arousal when you need it most.

Easily Available

Viagra is in great demand, and even with the introduction of generics, Pfizer, Viagra’s parent company, still has a majority hold on the erectile dysfunction market. Pfizer’s generic version is preferred over branded Viagra, presumably due to its affordability, costing almost half the price of the branded version.

All in all, having both the branded and generic versions gives you options from a reputable company.

Furthermore, unlike in the US, where Viagra is only sold under prescription, Viagra is sold without a prescription in the UK. It has increased its availability, and more people can access it without going through dealers or using shady sites.

Companies such as have gained massive popularity among men dealing with ED. You can easily order your preferred product on these sites and have them delivered to you, avoiding the awkwardness of talking to a drug store attendant.

Highly Effective

When taken without food, Viagra is quickly absorbed into the body, and its effectiveness can be as quick as 30 minutes before being sexually aroused. The drug’s effects can also last up to 8 hours after ingestion, depending on your body and the dose you take. It means you can have multiple erections during this time.

However, you should note that a single erection shouldn’t exceed 4 hours, and if it does, you should immediately see a doctor.

The allure of only having to swallow a pill to get an erection, if not multiple, makes the drug attractive. Its efficacy is high, with most who have used the drug reporting getting good results.

A common misconception is that crushing the tablet and placing it under your tongue, or chewing it, will give quicker results. It isn’t true. Taking Viagra as prescribed gives optimal results that are quick and lasting.

Enough Online Information About the Drug

With references in pop culture and the many pop-up ads you’ve most probably come across, it’s safe to say that Viagra’s popularity is undeniable. Its introduction in the late ’90s, a marketing campaign that included a TV ad by a Presidential candidate, revolutionized the way people talked about ED. Before this, ED was referred to as impotence, a term that caused stigma.

Since then, many sources of information have popped up that give more information about the drug, particularly on the Internet. Thousands of websites have information on Viagra, and accessing this info is a simple Google search away – chances are how you came to discover this very article. Individuals also share their experiences on forums and social media.

Besides the company’s website, the FDA also provides information on the drug, including warning the public on counterfeits. You can also find Viagra information in blogs and online medical journals. Going through these websites can be a good way of getting information on the drug.

Telehealth services sell these products and give information on them, the illnesses they treat, and their side effects.

FDA Approved

Viagra was the first oral drug approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to treat ED under prescription.

Sildenafil, its active ingredient, was developed by Pfizer with the initial purpose of treating hypertension and angina pectoris (chest pain caused by heart disease). However, men reported having more frequent erections during clinical trials after taking the drug instead of its intended angina effect.

Seeing the huge market potential for treating erectile dysfunction, Pfizer patented sildenafil in 1996 and, in 2 years, was approved for treating ED.

It is estimated that 30 million men in the US and 100 million men worldwide have ED, with 50% of men between 40 to 70 years having some form of ED. This huge market is why various drugs, devices, and procedures claim to treat or cure ED. Many of these are often disappointing to their users, with Viagra being the most counterfeited drug.

FDA approval of Viagra shows that it’s safe to use as long as it’s taken within your doctor’s prescription.

Mild Side Effects if Used Correctly

The high effectiveness of Viagra shouldn’t make you disregard taking safety measures. Like other medications, Viagra also has side effects. Mild side effects include dizziness, headache, and skin rash. Severe side effects include blurred or loss of vision and hearing loss.

So, since Viagra can give you a hell of a reliable run, taking two pills in a day means reliable double runs, right? Wrong. Increasing your dosage raises the severity of side effects.

Using Viagra correctly can have a significant effect on these side effects. For instance, nitrates or “poppers,” taken to make one high, widen your blood vessels, and Viagra increases this effect. It causes a sudden drop in your blood pressure, and you may pass out or even die if low blood pressure is prolonged. But this shouldn’t scare you if you use the drug as prescribed.

Moreover, Viagra’s side effects are tolerable compared to other ED treatments, adding to the drug’s popularity.

Suitable for All Men Aged 18 and Above

Viagra is recommended for men aged 18 and above for the treatment of erectile dysfunction. It is, however, not recommended for women and children. Its active ingredient, sildenafil, contained in Revatio in small doses, can be used by all people over a year old to treat pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH).

Though most young men have adequate sexual functioning, some do not, as arterial hardening can happen while you’re in your 20s. It makes your ability to have an erection decline. However, some young men still don’t need to use Viagra and use it for recreational purposes.

Though Viagra increases your erection quality, it doesn’t increase your sexual desire. You will, however, have a shorter refractory period, meaning you will be able to go through another round of sex quicker. It is, perhaps, the main reason young men who don’t have ED choose to use Viagra.

It’s still considered safe to use Viagra for recreational purposes, so long as you don’t have underlying heart conditions.

Endothelial Friendly

The endothelium is a smooth membrane lining inside the heart and blood vessels. They release chemicals used in blood clotting, body immunity, and the contraction and relaxation of blood vessels. Injuring the endothelium will cause arteriosclerosis, the thickening of blood vessels due to plaque building up, causing ED.

PDE5 inhibitors, including sildenafil, effectively reduce and eliminate this plaque, reducing the chances of heart attacks, strokes and giving better erections. Sildenafil, in particular, is a recommended drug for people with diabetes who often experience erectile difficulties mostly linked to vascular disease.

Prolonged treatment using Viagra is recommended as it’s endothelial-friendly.

Improves Quality of Life

Men’s self-confidence, self-esteem, and self-worth are largely connected to their sexual function. Having better and quality erections helps in bettering your sexual performance, thus increasing your overall self-confidence. Therefore, having a solution for ED that requires popping a pill can be a big confidence booster.

Doctors previously thought that Viagra would be risky to those with Congestive Heart Failure (CHF). However, research also shows that sildenafil improves the quality of life of men with CHF, which, combined with ED, can cause depression. Studied patients showed an overall improvement in quality of life with better appetite and sleeping patterns that gave an overall good feeling about themselves.

What Is Viagra?

Viagra is a common brand name for a powerful prescription medicine used to treat erectile dysfunction, hence, referred to as an impotence agent. The active ingredient is sildenafil and is used in other generic drugs of Viagra. Viagra is also referred to as the “little blue pill.”

For a long time, Viagra medication has largely been prescription-based, forcing many to resort to peddlers who may sell counterfeits. Unscrupulous online ads and sites promising ‘good results’ are also common and often disappointing. However, the more recently released Viagra Connect in the UK can be bought over the counter without a doctor’s prescription.

Viagra is only sold to persons over 18 years.

How Does Viagra Work?

Viagra doesn’t cause erections on its own; instead, it affects how your body responds to sexual stimulation by relaxing penile muscles to increase blood flow.

Our bodies contain a chemical called nitric oxide that relaxes our muscles when we are sexually stimulated. Viagra increases this effect when introduced into the body, therefore increasing blood flow to the penis. It, consequently, causes or increases an erection.

When Should You Take Viagra?

Viagra is taken orally in a 50 mg (0.0017 oz) dose, typically an hour before sex. However, depending on your particular circumstances, your doctor can prescribe a high dosage of 100 mg (0.0035 oz) or a low 25 mg (0.0008 oz) dosage.

A prescription may also involve taking the meds as late as 30 minutes or early as 4 hours before sex.

Taking Viagra after a heavy meal, especially ones with high-fat content such as a cheeseburger, will make its effectiveness take longer. However, you can still take Viagra without food, which will make it work faster.

Doctors recommend that you shouldn’t take Viagra if you’re allergic to sildenafil, its active ingredient. You should also avoid Viagra if you take nitrates such as poppers, which can cause sudden blood pressure decrease.

In general, you should avoid using Viagra if you have a history of the following conditions:

• Heart or coronary artery disease and heart rhythm issues.
• Low or high blood pressure.
• A heart attack, congestive heart failure, or a stroke.
• Liver or kidney disease.
• Stomach ulcers.
• Any blood cell illness like leukemia, sickle cell anemia, or multiple myeloma.
• Peyronie’s disease or any physical penile deformity.

Should You Take Viagra Daily?

You can take Viagra daily, provided you don’t take it more than once a day. Talking to your doctor would help to find out which dosage is the best for you.

Men experience little blood flow to the penis during the day. It’s only during erections and sleep that the penis gets arterial blood flow. Daily use of Viagra can improve erections at night, therefore increasing oxygenation to your penis. Though not considered a cure for ED, it has been found that it helps get rid of penile scar tissue, which occurs as you age.

Using Viagra daily thus helps in reducing the progression of ED.

As you grow older, your prostate grows larger and makes it harder for you to urinate. Like the penis, the prostate is also a smooth muscle that may not press on the urethra when relaxed. Because Viagra relaxes body muscles, using it daily can also improve your ability to urinate.

Though many men use Viagra for genuine physical issues, others, especially young men, use them due to sexual performance anxiety. Using Viagra this way increases your dependency on it for sexual performance and, with time, can become chronic.

You should consider having a heart-to-heart conversation with your partner to understand both your sexual preferences. This will help reduce performance-related anxieties that often lead to excessive use of Viagra.

What Are the Mild Side Effects of Viagra?

The mild side effects of using viagra include headache, nausea, dizziness, back pain, skin rash, indigestion, muscle pain, and a stuffy nose. You may also have problems with your sight, like having a color tinge in your vision, blurred vision, and your eyes becoming sensitive to light.

Hot flushes, including flushes on your face, are also likely to happen.

Besides hot flushes, you might also experience a ringing in your ears associated with dizziness or have your hearing decreased. Discontinue using Viagra if you have these side effects.

Experiencing an erection that lasts over 4 hours may also happen. This prolonged erection is called priapism, and it hinders oxygenated blood from reaching the penile tissues; hence leading to permanent damage.

Priapism can therefore cause permanent, weakened, or complete erectile dysfunction if it’s not treated immediately. The majority of the side effects can be managed and will clear up within days or weeks.

However, visiting your doctor if side effects persist is the best choice.

Alternatives to Viagra

As mentioned, Viagra was the first oral medication approved by the FDA to treat erectile dysfunction. However, there are other alternatives to treat and even reverse ED.

Oral Medications

Alternatives to Viagra (sildenafil) include vardenafil (Levitra, Staxyn ODT), avanafil (Stendra), and tadalafil (Cialis). Branded Viagra is significantly more expensive than generics, even though their effectiveness is still the same. They all improve blood flow to the penis, causing an erection that can last long enough for sexual activity.

Other Medical Treatments

Your doctor may also recommend the following depending on your situation:

• Penile self-injections
• Implants
• Urethral repositories
• Vacuum erection devices

Though generally safe to use, they may cause discomfort and pain if not used correctly. Testosterone injections may also be used if your doctor determines that low testosterone levels cause your ED.

Personally I’m quite the advocate of vacuum erection devices aka penis pumps, and you can find a break down of what to consider and which vacuum device i’d recommend in my list of best penis pumps.

Natural Remedies

Many products claim to treat ED, with some showing promising or mixed results. These include red ginseng (found in VigRX Plus and Max Performer), L-Arginine, and acupuncture. Since more conclusive studies are yet to be done on them, you should consult your doctor before using any of them.

Lifestyle Changes

Your lifestyle can also contribute to ED, and doing some lifestyle changes can help in treating it.

Changes you can include are:

• Quitting smoking;
• Having enough sleep;
• Avoiding or reducing your alcohol intake;
• Maintaining a healthy weight.

You can also do regular exercises, including aerobic and pelvic exercises that help improve ED in the long term, whilst I’ve also put together a detailed list of yoga exercises for erectile dysfunction which are definitely worth trying out.

How To Relieve the Side Effects of Viagra

You can reduce the side effects of Viagra by lowering your dose. Increased doses have been found to increase the chances of side effects such as headaches. You should also keep yourself hydrated as Viagra can cause your body to lose a lot of water, more so during sex.

Switching to other ED medication can also help alleviate effects felt by particular medicines if the effects are severe. If you cannot, you may also use over-the-counter medication to relieve the side effects.

Wrapping Up

As we’ve established throughout the article, Viagra is popular for a number of reasons like effectiveness, ease of availability, and its ability to treat ED. But although the drug is FDA-approved and readily available, it should only be used for erectile dysfunction-related reasons.

Becoming dependent on the drug can lead to erectile dysfunction issues along the line, hence the need to always consult your doctor before usage.