Viagra, also known as sildenafil as its generic name is one of the best known drugs of all times. A lot of people have heard about the drug and can tell you something about it. So what actually is the “Viagra”? And what is the big deal about this little blue pill?
Viagra is used to help men who have an erectile dysfunction by enhancing their erectile response when sexually stimulated. It is thus a medication for erectile dysfunction. It works by making the blood vessels relax then increase blood flow to the man’s penis. However, it does not cause a man to be sexually aroused and the drug is only effective when one is sexually aroused. It belongs to the class of drugs called phosphodiesterase type 5 (PDE-5) inhibitors. The other drugs in this category are the Levitra and Cialis.
Clinical studies
Clinical studies have shown that the Viagra, when used properly, has shown positive improvement in helping men with erectile dysfunction. However, this does not mean that it will work in all cases and is suitable for everyone. One should take the drug as prescribed by the doctor and avoid over dosage or under dosage. The drug should be taken when needed, approximately between 30 minutes to 1 hour before sexual activity. It should however not be taken more than once in a day. If one becomes nauseated, dizzy, feel pain or even become numb, it is advisable to call the doctor immediately as they may be having a serious side effect of the drug.The drug comes in 3 dosages, the 100mg, the 50mg and the 25mg. This is because different men responds to different dosage of the drug. Some respond to lower dosages while others respond to higher dosages. Others may be taking medicine that interacts with the Viagra and may need to adjust the Viagra dosage that they are taking. To know the right dosage to use, it is advisable to see a doctor for prescription. In some cases the drug may not work for the first time one is taking it, most doctors advice one to take the Viagra at least 8 times then try a different medicine. One should not take the drug if they are allergic to sildenafil. It is also advisable not to take it if one uses a nitrate drug for heart problems and chest pains.one is advised to talk to the doctor especially if they have other medical conditions like stomach ulcers, liver or kidney diseases, heart diseases, high or low blood pressure etc.
Some side effects of the Viagra include:
• Irregular heartbeat
• Sudden loss of vision or vision changes
• Sudden loss of hearing or ringing in the ears
• Chest pains, spreading pains to the shoulder or arm, sweating or nausea.
• Breadth shortness
• Diarrhea
• Stomach upset and headache
• Reddening of the face chest or the neck
The Viagra can be bought from most pharmacies. It can also be bought online from several websites. However before one makes a purchase, they should ensure that the online stories are approved by the general medical council just to ensure that they buy drugs that is not harmful to their health. If one gets a store that is ready to sell the drug with no prescription then the web store is untrustworthy because the Viagra is a prescription only medication. The Viagra is available as a brand name, its generic version is available in Australia.
The 25mg goes at $288.80 for 6 tablets, the 50mg at $121.26 for 5 tablets and the 100 mg at $69.15 for 2 tablets.
I am General practitioner (GP) in Melbourne since 2006.