Viagra: Uses, Dosage, Side Effects, And More
Affecting more than 150 million people all over the globe, erectile dysfunction has inarguably become a concerning issue. The solution that comes to your mind while hearing about this issue is, for sure, Viagra.
Also referred to as sildenafil, Viagra is a brand-name prescription drug that helps to treat different sexual function issues in males, namely erectile dysfunction and impotence.
The drug Sildenafil included in Viagra belongs to the phosphodiesterase Type 5 inhibitors. You could get this medication in the form of tablets and consume it to enhance the blood flow to your penis and hence get an erection.
However, the only thing you need to know here is that Viagra works only when you are sexually aroused. You can substantiate the efficiency of this drug from the fact that it is one of the most popular drugs in the US.
Though the brand name prescription comes in blue pill form, the generic pill could be found in the form of a white pill. This generic sildenafil could even help to treat pulmonary arterial hypertension.
However, the FDA approves only the Revatio-equivalent sildenafil to treat this condition.
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How Does Viagra Function?
If you are thinking to consume viagra to treat your erectile dysfunction, then this is the right place you have come across. But before learning more about the functioning of viagra, let’s understand the anatomy behind erections.
The process of erection begins with the release of nitric oxide in your body in case you are sexually aroused. Nitric oxide is the main molecule that may help to incentivize the process of erection.
However, if you have Erectile dysfunction, then a protein named phosphodiesterase type 5 (PDE5) may break down different messengers that help to perform the process of erection.
In such conditions, a PDE5 inhibitor like Viagra could help to block this enzyme and hence, smoothen out the erection process.
Other than this, Viagra and other similar drugs could help to relax the arteries as well as the muscles inside your penis. Once these muscles are relaxed, the blood circulation in the penis improves, which can help in erection when you are aroused.
The credibility of this medication is substantiated by this clinical study that shows how it was effective in treating erectile dysfunction.
How To Use Viagra?
You could get sildenafil or Viagra in the form of a tablet or suspension to take through your mouth.
In case you are consuming this medication to treat your erectile dysfunction issue, then be sure to follow all the recommendations and guidelines given by your doctor.
In such a case, you may be required to consume Viagra before having any sexual activity. Though you can consume the medication 30 minutes before the sexual activity, the best time is one hour before it.
Moreover, you should also know that Viagra is effective for four hours from its consumption. Viagra should not be consumed more than once every 24 hours.
Initially, if you are taking it for erectile dysfunction, then your doctor will plan out an average dosage for you and increase or decrease the dosage according to your requirements.
You could always inform your healthcare provider in case you face any side effects so that he can advise you to stop its consumption.
Moreover, you can also consume this medication with food if you want. However, do not consume a high-fat meal with sildenafil because this medication does not work with it.
Apart from using sildenafil for erectile dysfunction, you could also use it to treat pulmonary arterial hypertension as mentioned earlier.
However, in this situation, the consumption of Viagra and sildenafil will be different, according to the recommendations given by your doctor.
Things To Remember While Consuming Viagra
Whenever you start the consumption of any medication, you must weigh the side effects of the medicine along with its benefits. At the same time, you should also know how you could reduce the side effects of the medication.
The same goes for Viagra. Before consuming this medication, you need to pay heed to the different points mentioned below.
Allergies
Before you start the consumption of Viagra, you should always discuss your allergies with your healthcare provider. This means you should let him know if you have had any allergic reactions to either this medication or other medications in the past.
You should also tell him about different allergies related to dyes, preservatives, foods, or animals. In case you are using a non-prescription product then you must read the label of the ingredients carefully.
Breastfeeding
The study shows that the regular consumption of Viagra feigns risk to infants or not, it is always crucial that you are careful.
Moreover, it is still not known whether this medication could pass through breast milk or not. So make sure to weigh the potential benefits of this medication along with its side effects in case you are a breastfeeding mother.
Geriatric
However, since old people are more prone to different diseases like heart, kidney, or liver issues, they may be cautious before considering the consumption of sildenafil.
Other diseases
If you want to make sure that the consumption of viagra is 100% safe for you, then you should let your healthcare provider know if you have ever had other problems.
These problems could include-
- Low or high blood pressure
- Kidney or liver disease
- Bleeding disorder
- Stomach ulcer
- Physical deformity of the penis
- Retinitis pigmentosa
- Heart attack or congestive heart failure
- Blood cell disorder
You should also let your healthcare provider know if you had been told in the past to avoid sexual intercourse due to health-related issues.
Medications
Interaction of Viagra with other medications could significantly affect the efficiency of this drug and even increase your risk for potential side effects.
One such drug, which you may evade consuming along with Viagra is nitrate. When viagra is used along with nitrates, it could reduce your blood pressure to low levels which could further result in different issues like heart attack, stroke, fainting, or dizziness.
Viagra Side Effects
Viagra can cause both mild and serious side effects. Due to the same reason, you should consult your doctor and know about this medication in detail before you start its consumption.
The different mild side effects of Viagra can include–
- Flushing
- Indigestion
- Headache
- Nausea
- Back pain
- Rash
- Muscle pain
- Dizziness
- Nasal congestion
- Temporary vision changes
Though these side effects can vanish in just a couple of weeks, you may consult your doctor or pharmacist if they become more severe.
Thus, some of the serious side effects that this medication could cause are as follows-
- Sudden loss or decrease in hearing along with other symptoms of dizziness and tinnitus.
- Mild or severe allergic reaction.
- In certain rare situations, viagra can even result in priapism, which is a term used for painful and long-lasting erection. Since this is a medical emergency, it has to be treated right away because it could lead to irreversible erectile dysfunction.
- It could result in an irregular heartbeat or heart attack. It is not necessary that a person with heart issues would only face this issue, it could happen to anyone, hence, one must always be on the lookout.
- Sometimes regular consumption of viagra could even lead to low blood pressure.
- Once you consume viagra, it could widen your blood vessels and hence lead to dizziness and headaches.
So these are the different side effects of Viagra. You should remember that severe side effects require immediate medical conditions, so you should call your doctor right away in this situation.
Conclusion
Thus, this was all you need to know about Viagra. If you are deciding to consume this medication, store it at room temperature and keep it away from moisture, direct light, heat, or very low temperatures.
You should also keep it out of reach of children. Remember to consult your doctor before consuming Viagra as it has a direct impact on your health and vital organs.