Viagra is perhaps the most well known product of the pharmaceutical giant Pfizer. The drug was first called Sildenafil, used as a treatment for chest pain and heart problems but then many consumers reported of an interesting side effect that they gained an unexpected erection after taking the drug. After that, Pfizer began to do more studies and researches about that side effects and eventually, the drug was named Viagra and sold as a treatment for male impotence.
Sildenafil citrate, as the original name of Viagra, is the main ingredient of the drug. It is a PDE5 inhibitor that blocks the PDE5 enzymes in the consumer’s body. PDE5 enzymes are known as one of the reasons of erectile dysfunction in men. These enzymes enlarge blood vessels in the body and therefore prevent blood to flow into the male sexual organ. Under the effect of Sildenafil citrate, more blood will be pumped into the penis when a man is sexually stimulated. The effect of sildenafil citrate can last for hours so the blood flow will be maintained for a long duration.
With its fame, Viagra is now the first choice for all men who wish to improve their erectile dysfunction problems. The drug has been approved by the FDA so it is generally considered as a safe product. Also, the manufacturing process at Pfizer is always tightly regulated so all risks are minimized. However, there are still reports of unexpected side effects of Viagra. So before considering buying and using Viagra, a man should and must know about the side effect of the drug first.
The most usually reported side effect of Viagra is a sudden drop in blood pressure. This side effect can also lead to other minor side effects like nausea, faint and dizzy and sometimes can even lead to a heart attack. This side effect happens because Viagra pumps blood into the penis and thus decreases the blood flow inside the body, and therefore the low blood pressure happens. The low blood pressure side effect of Viagra can be more severe if the man is taking another alpha blocker medications like Hytrin ( terazosin) and Flomax ( Tamsulosin HCL) alongside with Viagra. And if a man is already having low blood pressure problems, Viagra must be avoided totally.
Loss of vision and hearing, diarrhea, back pain … are the other side effects of Viagra. These side effects are not reported as much as the low blood pressure problem but still occurred quite frequently. These side effects are actually an indirect result of the sudden flow of blood into the penis.
Viagra can create problems if taken together with alcohol or grapefruit juice. These two specific drinks affects the breakdown process of sildenafil in the body in a negative way. If consumed together with alcohol or grapefruit juice, the positive effects of Viagra will be decreased and the potential side effects of the drug will be amplified.
All in all, Viagra is a good choice for men who are suffering impotence. But before taking the drug, a man must check his current health conditions and seek professional medical advice first. The drug instruction must be read and followed carefully. Never take more than the recommended dosage of Viagra to avoid dangerous side effects. And if you expect any pain or discomfort or abnormal problems, you must contact your doctors immediately.
