How effective is Viagra?

Viagra: The Little Blue ED pill

Erectile Dysfunction is a well-known health issue among men. Almost half a million men face this issue after entering the age group of 40 to 70 years. It is a condition whereby the man faces difficulty in obtaining an erection due to a decreased blood flow to the penile nerve.

In the year 1989, Pfizer scientists found a drug called Sildenafil citrate that could treat erectile dysfunction in men. Initially, it was discovered to treat pulmonary arterial hypertension and angina, a chest pain associated with coronary heart disease. But later, it was found to be effective in men suffering from erectile dysfunction. This led to the amazing discovery of Viagra, which was approved by the Food and Drug Administration in 1998. Since then, it has been playing a major role as an erectile dysfunction medicine. You can also find Viagra online in many medical stores today, the popularity of which is hugely attributable to the medicine’s well-known effectiveness.

How Viagra works in the body?

Also known by the term Impotence, erectile dysfunction is a serious health issue among men. It is mainly caused due to the presence of an enzyme called PDE5 (phosphodiesterase type 5), which blocks the free flow of blood to the penile nerve. It does so by degrading the production of cGMP (cyclic guanosine monophosphate).

The active ingredient in Viagra is Sildenafil. Its mechanism of action is quite simple. When there is a sexual stimulation, nitric oxide is released in the body and signals are received from the endothelial cells in the penis. Viagra simply inhibits the PDE5 enzyme so that the conversion of GTP (guanosine triphosphate) molecule to cGMP is possible in the presence of nitric oxide. This enables the cGMP to dilate the blood vessels and the blood can easily flow to the erectile tissue called corpus cavernosum. This makes the tissue firm and an erection can be obtained.

Is Viagra effective for everyone?

Viagra is a PDE5 inhibitor which is known to bring about a remarkable 80% improvement in the erection capacity of men. It is seen to be effective in most men suffering from erectile dysfunction.

There are many factors which can determine the effectiveness of this ED pill-

·         Starting off with the dosage, Viagra’s effectiveness, as well as safety, will depend on what dose you are taking. Doctors generally recommend starting off with a lower dose if you are using it for the first time.

·         The time at which you take the pill will also determine the responsiveness of the drug. In general, you should always take Viagra 30 minutes to 1 hour before any sexual activity. You can also take it up to 4 hours before a physical intercourse. Although the main response starts after 30 minutes of its intake, most men can experience the same up to 4 hours.

·         It will also depend on the metabolic process of your body. If the metabolic process is slow, you might notice the effects after an hour of taking the pill instead of the usual 30 minutes.

·         An important factor affecting the responsiveness of this ED pill is the food intake. If you are taking a fatty meal just before taking a Viagra dose, you may notice a reduced rate of absorption. In fact, this medication is known to work the best in an empty stomach.

·         The responsiveness of Viagra will also be affected by the severity of your erection problem. In fact, there are many cases, whereby the person is suffering from other health-related problems at the same time. So, a proper consultation with the doctor is a must before taking this medication.

Side effects of Viagra:

Most common side effects of Viagra include the following-

•        Headache

•        Dizziness

•        Back pain

•        Muscle pain

•        Muscle stiffness

•        Nausea

•        Vomiting

•        Stomach upset

•        Blurry vision

•        Skin rash

 If you come across any of these side effects, make sure to report to your doctor immediately. Follow your doctor’s instructions carefully in order to get effective results after taking this medication.