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What is Viagra?

what is viagra

Viagra is produced in 25, 50, and 100 mg tablets, which contain, respectively, 25, 59, and 100 mg of sildenafil citrate.

As opposed to other ways of erectile dysfunction treatment which consist in injections into the penis or other medical procedures, Viagra is a simple and easy-to-use preparation. When using Viagra, you just take one pill before having coitus.

The mechanism of Viagra effect is simple: the preparation increases the quantity of blood arriving to the penis. This helps a man to cause natural erection. Viagra has its effect only in thy case when a man is feeling natural sexual arousal, and when the coitus ends, the penis naturally relaxes. In other words, Viagra affects only natural mechanisms of erection and in this there’s its undeniable up-to-dateness and the secret of great popularity.

The discovery of Viagra became the third greatest “accidental” opening in medicine – after the opening of X-rays and penicillin. These discoveries were awarded Nobel Prize. This high award was also given in 1998 to the research people who discovered, in addition, the characteristics of Viagra.

The history of Viagra started in 1992 in Great Britain in the township Pfizer Sandwich in the course of pharmacology research work of Pfizer Corporation. The research people were probing the new pharmaceutical substance – Sildenafil Citrate – which was developed as the remedy for medication of some heart diseases.

The scientists expected that sildenafil citrate will promote increasing blood inflow to the cardiac muscle and lowering blood pressure. But it was noted that sildenafil citrate doesn’t influence much neither blood circulation in cardiac muscle (myocardium) nor blood pressure. At the same time it was found out that many patients of male sex taking part in the testing refused to return sildenafil pills, despite of the ending of the experiment. The reason was one among all the patients – they all noted erection recovery. Thus, in spite of the minimum influence of the new medicine on the blood circulation in myocardium, sildenafil caused perceptible blood inflow to male genital organs.

The research people of the pharmaceutical Pfizer Corporation took this unexpected quality quite seriously and managed to recognize powerful preparation for erection dysfunction combat. The new preparation was named Viagra – the name appeared as the result of junction of the words “Vigor” (power, energy, force) and Niagara – the most massive waterfall in North America.

Since 1993 prolonged clinical trials necessary for proving Viagra characteristics started. As the result of these trials high effectiveness of Viagra and its safety were proved. And after all on the 27th March, 1998 the USA Medical Supply Department approved the use of Viagra. The effect of the preparation was estimated among more than 3000 men from 19 to 87 of age during the research work of erectile dysfunctions held in all the countries of the world. The average duration of dysfunction was about 5 years (from 6 months to 26 years), while the nature of this malfunction was of organic, psychogenic, and combined psychogenic-organic origin.

The results of these research work show that Viagra is effective for erectile function recovery and for the improvement of successful coitus rates among a great number of the patients including those having diabetes, spinal cord injuries, and other concomitant clinical states, as well as among the patients taking a whole number of medicaments.

According to numerous clinical trials and testing the preparation on volunteers suffering from different types of erectile dysfunction, sildenafil citrate is quite effective. But some nuances should be noted.

Unfortunately, there exists no preparation able to treat all the diseases, in this case all the types of erectile dysfunction. Viagra isn’t a panacea either; it can help in the majority of cases, but not all the patients. Viagra is effective among the patients suffering from atherosclerosis, the injury of nerves of penis vessels, or diabetes.

Moderate results are observed among the patients with pathological venous drainage. In each of the enumerated cases only a doctor can organize erectile dysfunction treatment in the right way. He can prescribe the necessary treatment regimen and choose the best medicine.

Viagra or Cialis

At present the two preparations are more often used for erectile dysfunction (or impotence) treatment – Viagra and Cialis. Viagra appeared at the Russian medicine market in 1998, Cialis appeared five years later, in 2003. Both have the same action mechanism which is in phosphodiesterase-5 (PDE-5) enzyme blocking, while this enzyme is responsible for cyclic guanosine monophosphate splitting. This enzyme is responsible for the vascular components which play an important role in the appearance of the penis erection. The level of cyclic guanosine monophosphate is below normal among men suffering from erectile dysfunction, that’s why it’s not enough for providing sound erection.

So, in order to heighten the level of cyclic guanosine monophosphate in the organism a simple enzyme blocking method able to split cycling guanosine monophosphate was used.

As for the side effects of Viagra and Cialis, they are quite similar; in both cases after the preparation taking vertigo, headache, diarrhea, nausea, stuffiness in nose, and the sensation of blood inflow to the head can be felt. Besides, when taking Cialis, a pain in the small of the back, stomachache and a pain in joints can appear. As a rule all the side effects progress in the light or moderate form. You should also remember that for Cialis the possibility and the force of side effects can be decreased during its further taking.

As far as Viagra has existed at the market, there stored enough information which doesn’t speak well for this preparation. The fact that Cialis can be taken together with fat food and alcohol in small dozes says much for it. So, we can state with certainty that this time Cialis is better than Viagra, but you should keep in mind that taking some medical preparation isn’t a panacea for impotence.

Viagra FAQ

What’s Viagra?

Viagra is a well tested and reliable remedy which improves men’s sexual function and helps live a full-blown sexual life.

Is Viagra a sexual stimulator?

NOT AT ALL, VIAGRA ISN’T A STIMULATOR. Everything happens naturally. Viagra acts in that exact moment when it’s necessary, but not when it’s taken.

What’s the mechanism of Viagra action?

The taking of Viagra leads to the widening of arteries and great blood inflow to the penis. Viagra reveals its effect in case of sexual arousal, when there’s no sexual arousal – the erection doesn’t take place. At the end of coitus the erection ends naturally. The effect of Viagra isn’t connected with the influence on sexual arousal or hormones.

To what extent is Viagra effective?

Viagra Improves Erection in 76% of Cases.

Does Viagra improve the capability to coitus?

Yes, if a man takes Viagra the number of sex acts reaches six a month. 89% of partners note erection improvement when taking Viagra.

Does Viagra have its effect in case of serious illness?

Yes, up to 60% of men with grave irregularities of erection when taking Viagra estimated their erection as good and excellent.

What are the results of prolonged treatment?

97% of men taking Viagra during 2 years and more note the improvement of erection.

I’ve taken Viagra once, but it hasn’t worked. Does this mean that it does suit me?

Among the majority of men Viagra has its effect after the first or the second taking. The best effect is noted after the third or the fourth taking, so it’s very important to proceed the treatment. Of course, you must keep to your doctor’s recommendations about Viagra taking.

How quickly does Viagra start to act and for how long does it have its effect?

The effect of Viagra is evident in 30 minutes and lasts for at least 4 days after the taking.

I’ve heard that Viagra influences the heart badly

The data of clinical testing (the use of Viagra for more than 11,000 patient-years; placebo – less than 700 patient-years) prove the absence of the heightened risk of the development of cardiovascular diseases as a result of Viagra taking.

How often can I take Viagra?

Not more frequent than once a day.

What contraindications does Viagra have?

The presence of some serious diseases in case of which sexual activity is prohibited: unstable stenocardia, grave cardiac insufficiency, grave hepatic failure, low blood pressure, recent myocardial infarction or stroke; retina pigmentation, hypersensibility to sildenafil or some other component of Viagra.

What doctor can prescribe Viagra?

A doctor of any specialty can prescribe Viagra, but, in the first place, urologist, sexual pathologist, andrologist, endocrinologist, and cardiologist.

What effect does Viagra have on practically healthy people?

Pfizer Corporation hasn’t tested and isn’t going to test the effect of Viagra on healthy people. Pfizer Corporation has produced this preparation for the treatment grave and marked pathological cases. So, on this basis the Company has filed an application both to the Food and Drug Administration of the USA and to the European Quality improvement System.

The tests upon healthy people imply the preparation selling among healthy people, but the Company isn’t going to do this. Viagra is meant for people suffering from erection disorder.

How to define the sexual norm?

In other words the question can be formulated this way: the so-called “practically healthy people” take Viagra and feel better, so can they be regarded as healthy people?

Those people are considered to be healthy who have and keep erection which allows to have coitus and finish it successfully. As far as Viagra brings the patients back to the normal state or, at least, helps to move in this direction it definitely doesn’t affect those people who are initially healthy.

Though if a man who consider himself to be healthy takes Viagra and reveals the improvement of erectile function, he is possibly suffering some kind of erectile dysfunction, at least some temporary one, and he can’t be treated as healthy in the true sense of the word.

So the mass media should inform that healthy people don’t need Viagra and they would have no benefit taking it.

Does Viagra raise sexual attraction?

The effect of Viagra is based only on the local growth of the blood flow to the cavernous body of the penis and it doesn’t influence the arousal of sexual attraction. It doesn’t improve libido and isn’t a stimulant. Viagra just depresses the functioning of enzyme which influences the blood flow in the penis. Sexual arousal is necessary for its functioning. That is it stimulates the natural reaction of the organism to the sexual stimulation. Clinical testing proves the absence of arousal in that group of patients taking Viagra preparation in comparison with the group of the same taking placebo without Viagra.

Do the wives share the husbands’ hopes for the return of young years?

We recommend to the doctor to find out initially the attitude of the patient towards the treatment and then, in case of necessity, with their sexual partners. Though the results of clinical tests show that in usual circumstances Viagra improves the quality of partners’ sexual life. More over, it’s known that in many countries wives, not husbands, consult the doctor in the first place. And in the USA 80% of men suffering from erectile dysfunction discuss this question with their partners before starting the treatment.

Does Viagra allow keeping erection after taking alcohol?

There are no data concerning its interaction with alcohol. Though, as far as strong drinks can’t be regarded as stimulating sexual activity, they are not recommended to be taken before taking Viagra. Alcohol can only prevent goal achievement and probably in proportion to the quantity of strong drinks.

Alcohol taking can lead to the temporary inability to achieve erection. To get the maximum benefit from the medicine it’s not recommended to take much alcohol before taking Viagra.

If Viagra is safe and effective why not sell it over-the-counter?

Yes, clinical testing has proved the safety of Viagra. At the same time we know about some drug interaction, especially with nitrates used in cardiac disease treatment. So, it’s very important for Viagra to be prescribed by the doctor thoroughly acquainted to the patient’s medical card.

In what way does it interact with other medications?

During clinical research work some inessential interaction with other medical preparations or its complete absence. Though there exists an exception to this rule – nitrates which are mainly used to treat cardiac diseases. So Viagra is contra-indicated for the patients cured with the help of nitrates. The danger is in possible drop of blood pressure – hypotension.

Viagra must be taken without nitroglycerine and nitroglycerine-containing preparations of long-term and short-term action. You mustn’t take it with donator preparations of nitric oxide, for example, molsidomine (Corvaton, Sydnopharm) and sodium nitroprussidom. These preparations are used for stenocardia treatment.

It’s not recommended to take Viagra with other remedies aimed at erectile dysfunction treatment.

If you don’t know exactly whether you take these preparations consult your doctor.

What remote side effects does Viagra have?

During the last five years Pfizer has been conducting clinical research work in which those patients have taken part who had taken Viagra for a long period of time – up to three years. On the assumption of proper use no data indicating some danger of its use were fixed. Only slight and transient side effects were noted, not serious and not long-termed.

Viagra can cause some side reactions. Usually they are moderate and last for a short period of time: sometimes there appears a headache, face redness, heartburn, and stuffiness in nose.

When some undesirable reactions take place tell your physician about it.

More than 90 clinical research works with more than 8000 patients involved stated the effectiveness and safety of the preparation on condition of its using according to the instruction.

Does Viagra influence reproductive performance?

Viagra itself doesn’t affect the reproductive performance. Though in those cases when erectile dysfunction prevents couples of childbearing age from conception Viagra can help a lot.

To what extent is Viagra effective for women?

Viagra is developed for men. Some experimental research work has been held and at present they recruit the volunteers for further research work. Though the results of this testing aren’t still known. The clinical testing among women with erectile dysfunction appear sto be more difficult than among men. There’s no set methodology for them.

Are there any age limits for Viagra taking?

Viagra isn’t prescribed to the patients under 18.

Is Viagra a natural (herbal) or synthetic preparation?

The active component of Viagra is sildenafil – a synthetic substance.

What’s the form of production of Viagra?

Viagra is produced in packings of 1 pill of 50 or 100 mg; of 4 pills of 50 or 100 mg. there exist some other forms of Viagra delivery.

What corporation produces Viagra?

Viagra is developed and produced by the biggest pharmaceutical corporation in the world – Pfizer. The discovery of the mechanisms having shown the way to the developing of Viagra was awarded Nobel Prize in the field of medicine. At present other pharmaceutical corporations of the world have started producing chipper and effective generics of Viagra. Generic forms are identical to Viagra in their structure, produced under other trademarks or under sildenafil name and are chipper, as the costs of the advertisement are lower in the share of the cost price of these generic forms.

A considerable part of these preparations is the so-called generic forms. They possess the same action as the preparations sold under some famous trademark as they have an identical structure. Their cost is, as a rule, lower as the producers needn’t invest much money into the promotion campaign.

Viagra, Cialis and Levitra Are Working up a Market

The Pills of Joy: Now Orange and for the Young

Viagra, Cialis and Levitra – the three resembling medicine from impotence – are working up new and new segments of the market. If sometime ago elderly senator Bob Dowl took part in the first Viagra advertising campaign, now the main characters of the commercials are men under 40.

Marketers don’t offer the customers to receive treatment from impotence, but position the preparations as the pills of joy. Levitra, for example, is colored in cheerful orange.

Who Buys Viagra Nowadays?

According to The New York Times, firstly people suffering from impotence started to receive these medicines. Following the prescription, patients with diabetes, neurological malfunction and the side effects of antidepressants managed to restore their lives.

Though later the demand for Viagra has greatly risen. First, doctors started prescribing medicine for everyone who asked for that. Second, there appeared numerous drugstores which offered preparations from impotence without any prescription and with delivery.

Correspondingly, the circle of consumers has become wider. Even healthy people have become “patients” as they wanted to play safe before stirring dating.

The portrait of one of such a consumer is given in the New York Times. 41-year-old Chris London lives in New York and is an attorney. One of his business partners once declared that she couldn’t work with a man normally if she hadn’t had sex with his before. London was confused at any rate, but agreed to meet in the evening. Following the advice of his fellow-doctor he overcame his nervousness with the help of Viagra having swallowed it in the bathroom.

Simply speaking, Viagra, Levitra and Cialis are bought by everyone who wants to be sure in his sexual abilities irrespective of the circumstances. The producers of the medicines point out at the same time that neither having meals nor alcohol influence their effectiveness.

What Impotence?

Impotence or erectile disfunction is regarded as disability to keep up erection necessary for coitus.

This disorder affects both elderly men and rather young ones. In the first case the cause of impotence is more often some chronic diseases or injuries, and in the second impotence is a psychological problem.

In spite of the opinion of many men, Viagra and its analogues function exceptionally on penis blood supply and have no psychotropic effects. That is such preparations can improve potency, but not libido. However, as physicians have found out, very often the desire of coitus comes together with normal erection.

Sex in the City

According to psychologists, in the first place it’s the need of city on habitants to take Viagra. Sexual revolution has resulted in the fact that coitus more and more often takes place between unfamiliar people: colleagues, people who met at a party or via the Internet.

At the same time in the mind of many people there’s an image of an ideal man who’s always ready for coitus and is eager to have it. Trying to keep with this opinion, men take the pills in secret as did the above-mentioned Chris London. Entering the bedroom with high color in their cheeks, they complain of the heat and stuffiness. And in the morning they often suffer from headache.

As The New York Times mentions, such pills are often taken even by gay men. Both lovers do this secretly and then suffer the same side effects together.

For How Long Will You Hold On?

The only of the reports about Viagra research in mass media which realistically evaluates one of the most important questions of this preparation effect is “To what extent can Viagra improve the duration of erection?” This report was published in 1996 in the British Urology Magazine. Scientists examined 12 men with erectile dysfunction taking Viagra or placebo in various dosages. During this examination the patients were subjected to “visual erotic stimulation”. The patients were from 36 to 63 of age. The patients taking placebo pills noted that the duration of their erection increased at the average had increased by one minute. Those taking Viagra pill of 25 mg noted that their erection was 8 minutes longer, and of 50 mg – about 11 minutes.

Viagra doesn’t restore erection to the “normal” level. According to the two most important factors characterizing the hardness of the penis at the period of erection and the ability to keep this state the indices of the patients taking Viagra are a bit lower than among those who’ve never suffered from erectile dysfunction. Though Viagra increases the possibility of successful coitus among men with erectile dysfunction, it doesn’t guarantee a hundred-pre-cent success. The patients taking Viagra have about 82 % of sex acts from 100.

Viagra can help nearly 70 % of men suffering from erectile dysfunction. One of the most amazing characteristics of Viagra is that the reason of sexual disorder makes no matter – whether it’s some somatic cause like diabetes, or neurological like spinal injury, or mental disease manifested in depression.

Viagra has best revealed its qualities in those cases when erectile dysfunction was provoked by some psychological problems. Among men with psychogenic erectile dysfunction taking Viagra 70 % of all sex acts were successful, while the same index for the patients taking placebo was 29 %.

The degree of Viagra effectiveness in cases of erectile dysfunction caused by different diseases:

Diagnosis Viagra Placebo
Spinal injury 83% 12%
Hypertension 68% 18%
Diabetes 59% 16%
Radical prostatectomy 43% 15%

Viagra is effective in the case of impotence caused by physiological reasons. Among 68 % of men with erectile dysfunction caused by physiological reasons a considerable improvement was noted at Viagra taking (among men taking placebo the improvement was noted only in 19 % of cases).

The above table offers the results of Viagra effectiveness in the treatment of erectile dysfunction caused by different diseases.

As the research works have shown, Viagra’ action is not so effective upon the patients who had undergone radical prostatectomy in connection with prostate gland cancer than in other cases. This can be easily explained: the medicine can improve blood circulation in the nerves of the sexual sphere, but in those cases when these nerves are absent or interrupted, the effect of Viagra is noticeably lower.

It turned out that Bob Dole, the ex-senator and the presidential candidate of the USA was one of the 110 patients subjected to radical prostatectomy and taking part in the clinical testing of Viagra. Bob Dole mentioned that Viagra is a wonderful medicine. Elizabeth Dole, the president of American of the Red Cross, answering questions at a special news conference in New York repeated the words of her husband: “A wonderful medicine!”

The positive influence of Viagra on the organism isn’t limited to the achievement of more evident and prolonged erection. The survey of the patients having taken Viagra, done before and after the medicine approbation, has shown that Viagra influences some other sides of sexual life. Those who had been taking Viagra noted unusual erection durability, more frequent orgasm, higher level of sexual arousal, and greater pleasure from coitus in general.

It’s interesting that those men who had been taking Viagra and those taking placebo had sexual act with the same frequency – at the average twice a week. Though among the patients taking Viagra the coitus was more successful – they noted the positive result in 66% of cases while in case of taking placebo – the index was about 20%.

It was found out that Viagra has the best effect on those men who had been taking it for the longest period of time. For example, among the patients who had taken part in the longest testing – it lasted for a year – Viagra promoted erection improvement in 88% of cases.

Diabetes. One of the research works of Viagra effect was held among 268 patients with diabetes complications. Those people got Viagra in the dosage of 50 mg, then the dosage grew up to 100 mg, at the end of the course the dosage was lowered to 25 mg. The researchers note erectile function improvement according to the two main criteria (the frequency of successful sex acts and the ability to keep up erection) among the patients taking Viagra in comparison with those taking placebo.

The improvement of sexual function was noted by 57% of the diabetes patients taking Viagra and only 10% of the patients taking placebo. 48% of all sex act were successfully finished (among the patients taking Viagra) while among those taking placebo this index is about 12 %.

Spinal injury. One more research work was held among 178 patients with erectile dysfunction caused by spinal injuries. As well as in the previous case, the results got in case of Viagra taking are quote different from those in case of placebo taking. The frequency and successfulness of coitus in case of the preparation regular taking is definitely higher. Viagra has greatly influenced the quality of erection among 83% of the patients in comparison with 12% of placebo group. According to the records of the participants of the experiment 59% of sexual contacts were successfully finished while among the patients of placebo group only 30 % of sex acts were successful.

Viagra and Alcohol

Viagra and alcohol are the great problem of compatibility. It’s no secret that often sexual relations are closely connected with taking alcohol. Let not reefer to morality, besides this article is dedicated to quite another thing; let’s try to clear the question of the combined taking Viagra and alcohol.

Men with poor potency or erectile dysfunction of different types have some need in taking Viagra before coitus. Correspondingly, there appears a reasonable question about Viagra and alcohol compatibility, so let’s consider it more closely.

It’s possible to state with confidence that the combined taking Viagra and alcohol won’t lead to any global problems; at least such cases weren’t registered in the world medicine. At the same time you should take into account that no full-fledged large-scale research work was registered. Besides, it’s necessary to have in mind that alcohol itself influences man’s erection badly oppressing the central nervous system. So the best and the most reasonable decision is to abstain from alcohol if coitus is being planned.

At the same time you should remember that the combined Viagra and alcohol taken together increase heart load that isn’t very pleasant. Viagra preparation was produced to improve erection and is absolutely harmless for your organism, though you shouldn’t experiment and Viagra together with some doubtful strong drinks. It won’t definitely lead to health problems, but there’s no reason to spoil your sexual delight.

Ecstasy Heightens the Risk of Sleep Apnea

American scientists have found that ecstasy heightens the risk of sleep apnea – prolonged breath-holding in one’s sleep having negative consequences for health, PhysOrg reports.

The syndrome of sleep apnea is a widespread disease (about 15 per cent of Americans suffer from it). It can worsen the course of hypertension, coronary disease, and lower mental abilities and heighten the risk of heart attacks and strokes.

The scientists from Jones Hopkins University in Baltimore have carried out a study which included 71 people who had taken ecstasy for 25 and more times and 62 people of the control group. During the research all the volunteers were read polysomnocinematography allowing to estimate breath rhythm in sleep.

Light form of sleep apnea met more often in the control group, but moderate and serious forms were observed only in the group of ecstasy consumers – 13 and less than 1 per cent correspondingly.

At the same time the frequency of breath-holding directly depended on the duration of taking the preparation.

According to the researchers, such an effect of ecstasy is connected with metabolic disorder of serotonin neurotransmitter which also takes part in sleep and breath regulating.

Initially ecstasy is regarded as empatogen MDMA, though these homemade tablets contain a number of other psychoactive substances often exceeding the amount of MDMA.

In 2006 Brazilian scientists found out that sildenafil – the active component of Viagra – is able to worsen the course of sleep apnea.