Viagra (Sildenafil)

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Many men worldwide experience such an uncomfortable condition as erectile dysfunction (ED) at least once in their lifetime. No matter how old you are, you may have difficulty developing and maintaining an erection required to have proper sexual intercourse.

The condition can be emotionally distressing and it may badly influence the general well-being of an individual. If untreated, erectile dysfunction can become a reason for serious negative health complications. The good news is that such a health issue as ED can be successfully treated with the help of medications, such as Viagra.

Viagra is a powerful ED relief medication, which has already managed to become a household name. For decades, men use this drug to significantly improve their sex life and boost self-esteem. Even though it can be prescribed for treatment of a number of various conditions, such as Raynaud’s phenomenon or pulmonary arterial hypertension, to name a few, this medication is widely used to treat male impotence.

Sildenafil belongs to the group of drugs called phosphodiesterase type 5 inhibitors (PDE5 inhibitors), which act by relaxing the smooth muscle of a penis and increasing blood flow so that the erection is achieved and, most importantly, maintained. The drug comes as pills in two forms – branded and generic. Is there any difference between them? Let’s have a closer look so that you could decide which option will suit you better.

How Does It Work?

Viagra is designed to temporarily improve erectile function by increasing the blood flow to the penis. This results in a firm and prolonged erection, which can last from three to four hours. The drug can be taken before the expected sexual intercourse and starts working in about twenty minutes. If you don’t plan to have sex on some days, you may skip taking the pill and take it only when needed. It is important to note that Sildenafil is not designed to cure ED but rather to restore the sexual function of a male for a particular period of time.

Main Active Ingredient

Both branded and generic drug have the same active component Sildenafil, which was originally synthesized by the Pfizer pharmaceutical company. Initially, the drug was supposed to help patients who suffer from hypertension and angina pectoris but it appeared that it had such a side effect as improvement of male erectile functioning. After this was discovered, studies and trials were conducted and the medication was patented under the brand name Viagra. Nowadays, Sildenafil is extensively prescribed to millions of men for effective treatment of sexual dysfunction.

How to Take

The drug comes in such dosages as 25 mg, 50 mg, and 100 mg, which is very convenient since you can find the one that suits your body and the current state of your health. The variety of the dosage amount corresponds to the concentration of an active ingredient Sildenafil in the tablet. Typically, the average dose that is prescribed by doctors is 50 mg but it is recommended that you start with taking 25mg pill.

Reportedly, approximately 80% of men can achieve an erection and prolong it after taking Viagra. To know whether the drug works for you, it is recommended to take it on several separate occasions since it might not work the first time you use it. Your body might need some time to adjust to the medication or you may figure out that the dosage needs to be increased for getting the desired effect.

Sildenafil comes in the form of the film-coated pill that has to be taken orally with plenty of water. You do not need to crush or chew the tablet. The best time to take it is when your stomach is empty and the drug will work quicker. For the medicine to get absorbed in your body, you might need to wait for about twenty to forty minutes. The effect wears off in approximately four hours after it started working.

Is It Possible to Overdose?

As with a majority of tablets, you need to be careful not to overdose on the medication and in the case of Viagra, you should not take more than one pill in the course of 24 hours. If you cannot say for sure whether you have taken the pill already, skip taking the drug to avoid health complications. Don’t take the second tablet if you do not observe the immediate result after you have taken the first pill. A double dose will not increase the effectiveness of the drug but you may suffer a number of side effects as a result.

How Safe is Sildenafil?

This medicine has been tested over an extensive amount of time and was found to be safe as long as you follow the recommendations of both the manufacturer and your healthcare provider. Make sure that you purchase the medication from reliable sources so that you could get a high-quality product, which is safe and is potent enough to deliver the desired effect.

Side Effects

In the majority of cases, the drug is well tolerated but certain side effects may take place. Some of them are mild but some can be serious so it is important to be aware of how your body might react after you take the pill.

Side effects may include the following:

  • Headache;
  • Nausea;
  • Mild diarrhea;
  • Fatigue;
  • Dizziness;
  • Muscle pain;
  • Runny nose.

These symptoms are not considered to be serious and might go away over time. If they don’t disappear, consider stopping taking medication and contacting your healthcare provider for advice.

Some severe side effects include the following:

  • Vomiting;
  • Coughing ;
  • Ringing in the ears;
  • Numbness and tingling sensation in the limbs;
  • Fever;
  • Blood in the urine;
  • Difficulty breathing;
  • Blurred vision;
  • Coordination problems;
  • Painful erection.

If you experience any of those symptoms, especially if they worsen, get emergency help as soon as possible.

What Should You Tell Your Doctor Before Taking Viagra?

Before you start taking Sildenafil, you need to consult a doctor since he can decide whether this medication is safe for you.

You need to inform him if you have or had the following conditions:

  • hypotension or hypertension;
  • stroke, arrhythmia episodes, or cardiac arrests;
  • diabetes;
  • allergy;
  • bleeding disorders;
  • primary pigmentary degeneration of the retina.

Can Viagra Be Combined with Other Medicines?

In order to avoid unwanted or unexpected reactions, using Viagra needs to be treated with caution in those cases when you take additional drugs and herbal supplements. When combined with other medications, Viagra’s effectiveness can be decreased or even completely canceled.

The following medicines should be avoided when using Viagra since some of their components might be incompatible with Viagra ingredients and their interaction may cause adverse reactions:

  • medicines for treating liver or kidney diseases;
  • sGC stimulators for treating pulmonary hypertension;
  • Alpha-blockers;
  • HIV protease inhibitors;
  • certain antifungal medications;
  • nitrate medicines for treating angina pains;
  • any other ED drugs.

The above list is not exhaustive and patients are strongly advised to consult a healthcare provider and inform him about all the medications that are currently taken. The dosage of Viagra may be adjusted according to what other drugs you take.

How to Store?

It is important to follow storage instructions in order to make sure that the tablets keep their effectiveness. It is not recommended to store the drug in the bathroom cabinet or a refrigerator since it should not be affected by the moisture, heat, or direct sunlight. You need to keep Viagra at room temperature away from children and pets. Make sure that you do not take the medication after it expired.

Things to Remember:

  • Your erection will not last after you orgasm. The pill will only help you develop and maintain an erection but it will not influence the general mechanism of the sexual intercourse.
  • You will not get a spontaneous erection after you have taken the pill. The drug will not make you get hard until you are sexually aroused. It does not increase your sexual desire and the pill will start working only after you get turned on.
  • You can take the drug for a long time. If your erectile dysfunction condition is chronic, you might feel that you need to take it regularly. It is safe to use for many years as long as you follow all the recommendations related to this medicine.

Is There Any Difference Between Branded and Generic Viagra?

Since both medications have the same active ingredient, there is no medical difference between them. They work identically and produce the same effect, which results in firm and prolonged erection. As long as you purchase generic drug from trusted manufacturers, you can be sure that using generic version will cause the same result as the branded Viagra.

If to take other aspects that distinguish those two products, we can list the following:

  1. The price
  2. The look
  3. Online availability
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