Erectile dysfunction is a dreadful health problem to most men. It causes troubles to relationships and marriages because it has negative impacts on not only the men but also their romantic partners and spouses. It lowers the self esteem and confidence of a man. But men who are suffering erectile dysfunction now have a great medication to treat this embarrassing problem. The medication is Viagra, a very well known product of the American pharmaceutical giant.
The generic name of Viagra is Sildenafil Citrate. The backstory of how Viagra was created to treat erectile dysfunction is quite interesting. The drug was originally used to treat a heart problem. But then many men who took Sildenafil Citrate reported that they had achieved a better erection than normal. After that, Pfizer decided to do more studies about the new discovered side effects. After years of researching, Viagra has become the first and most popular drug to treat male impotence.
Sildenafil Citrate is a PDE5 inhibitor and this is related to how Viagra can help erectile dysfunction. The PDE5 enzymes in a man’s body is one of the direct cause of erectile dysfunction. These enzymes make the blood vessels near the penis dilate so the blood flow to the penis when the man is aroused will be decreased. Viagra will block these enzymes and therefore more blood will be in the penis when a man get an erection. And the more blood in the penis, the stronger and firmer erection. Viagra can also help a man to last longer so he could have a much better and more enjoyable sexual intercourse.
Viagra has been approved by the FDA for years so the drug is generally safe. However, there are still some side effects. The side effects are mostly related to how Viagra affects the blood flow in the body. And how these side effects occur depends on individuals, their health condition, the dosage and drug interactions of Viagra with other drugs.
The most common side effect is a drop in blood pressure. When more blood is pumped into the penis, a drop in blood pressure in the body is unavoidable. This would be nothing dangerous to a healthy man but if a man is having any heart problem, this could be a severe problem. In another case, if a man is taking other drugs that also cause low blood pressure, a combination of Viagra and these other drugs can amplify the problem. So if you are having heart and cardiovascular problems, or are taking any other drug, you should have your health checked carefully and ask your doctor’s opinion first before buying and using Viagra. Once the doctor decides that you can take Viagra safely, you can use the drug with confidence.
Some other less troublesome side effects of Viagra are a slight, temporary loss of vision and hearing, a mild dizziness and nausea, back pain, nasal congestion … If you experience any of these symptoms while taking Viagra, you still should get a medical help as soon as possible.
One last thing to remember is that you should not attempt a higher dosage than the recommended one. There is a drug instruction in every Viagra package. You should read and follow the instruction carefully and strictly. Overdosing Viagra can cause a very hard and painful erection that cannot even stop after ejaculation. This can lead to tissue damage and deformity in the penis if not treated immediately.
