What is it?
The FDA has approved the first oral drug for erectile problems. Known as Viagra (sildenafil), it is a true breakthrough since it does not involve surgery, injections, or mechanical devices. Painless and discreet, it is also the first form of treatment that simulates natural functioning since it doesn't actually cause an erection unless the man is sexually stimulated. In clinical trials, up to 80 percent of men found that it improved their erections.How does it work?
Viagra enhances the natural response to sexual stimulation by blocking the effect of an enzyme that breaks down cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP). By blocking the enzyme, Viagra helps to relax smooth muscle cells, thus increasing blood flow to the penis and making it much easier for a man to get and maintain an erection.Who is it for?
Almost all men experience difficulties with getting an erection at least some of the time. However, Viagra is designed for the approximately 20 million men affected by long-term erectile dysfunction. In studies, the drug was effective in patients with erection problems attributed to diabetes, prostatectomy, spinal cord injury, psychological, and other causes. It is not meant to be used casually, and men should be carefully evaluated for underlying medical/psychological causes. Men who are currently using medicines that contain nitrates, such as nitroglycerin, should not use Viagra, because taken together, these medications can lower the blood pressure too much.How do you use it?
Viagra is taken approximately one hour before sex. Sexual stimulation is still required to get an erection, but often less than would be normally required. It is effective for about four hours and should not be used more than once a day.Are there side effects?
The most common side effects noticed were mild headache, facial flushing, and/or upset stomach. With larger doses, some men developed a very unusual side effect: a color shift towards blue, making green and blue indistinguishable.Because Viagra does not cause an erection but simply makes it easier to get one, the most dangerous side effect of injectables (that do cause an erection) is avoided. Injections can cause a condition, known as priapism, where a man cannot lose his erection. This is a dangerous condition that must be treated immediately and can lead to permanent damage. Given that no chemical is being injected, Viagra also does not lead to scarring.
What about vision problems?
The American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO) has expressed concerns about vision problems, including blurring and light sensitivity, experienced by some men taking Viagra. The AAO has called for further studies and is urging men (especially those with preexisting eye disorders) to use the lowest dose possible.However, the temporary vision problems some men experience is not the "shocking new discovery" that the media is claiming, but a known side effect. Pfizer, the makers of Viagra, have stated all along that a small percentage of men (about 3 percent) do experience an unusual color-shift in their visual perception.
Such side effects are entirely understandable: Viagra acts upon a chemical that occurs not only in the genitals, but also in small quantities in the eye (as well as other parts of the body). In early studies, those men who experienced visual disturbances sometimes noticed a slight bluish tinge, as well as blurring of vision and increased light sensitivity. Such effects increased with higher doses, but always went away within a few hours. In the thousands of men who participated in Pfizer's studies, only one stopped taking the drug due to these problems.
Although caution is always warranted when taking a new medication, and the long-term side effects are not yet known, men taking Viagra probably have little to worry about even if they do notice some temporary vision difficulties.
Are there other benefits?
No one is exactly pushing this point (for fear that the drug will be abused), but in many men, the drug allows them to maintain an erection even following multiple orgasms. So, in a sense, Viagra may eventually be useful for treatment of premature ejaculation. For men who have partial erections, or easily lose their erections, this drug may also make it easier for them to use condoms and have safer sex.How do i get it?
Viagra is available by prescription only, so you need to consult your doctor. It should cost approximately $10 a pill. Expensive, but still much cheaper than most of the other forms of treatment such as MUSE, injections, or vacuum pumps.Viagra Online
You can buy Viagra without prescription online from internet pharmacy. Generic Viagra much cheaper than Brand Viagra.How was it discovered?
Viagra (before it was called that) was originally being studied for use with high blood pressure and angina. It wasn't terribly successful, but when men refused to give their samples back, the researchers suspected they were onto something! Indeed, demand for the drug has been so high that some research subjects have camped out on researchers' doorsteps, or even broken into labs, to get more!What about women?
Although Viagra has not been extensively tested or approved for use with women, there is some reason to believe that it might have some beneficial effects for females as well as males. A number of doctors admit to cautiously prescribing it "off-label" for a small number of women, and large-scale studies are already underway.While Pfizer (the manufacturer of Viagra) has begun studying effects on women, it is still too early to know about effectiveness or side-effects. One thing that is clear: Viagra will almost certainly not increase libido or orgasms in women. However, since Viagra might increase blood flow to the genitals the same way it does for men, it could possibly help some women with lubrication and arousal.
"Viagra's greatest potential may be for women with sexual difficulties related to medical conditions such as diabetes. It might also be helpful for women who have problems with arousal and/or lubrication due to menopause, but who cannot use other forms of treatment such as estrogen replacement therapy. Viagra should not be considered an 'orgasm pill' but, with further research, we may find that it has some benefit in augmenting sexual functioning in women," states Professor Gerdes, a neuropsychologist whose research has focused on female sexuality including the G-Spot.
In the meantime, it is important to remember that Viagra is a prescription-only medication with potential side-effects and should only be used under medical supervision.
