All About Viagra

EVERYTHING YOU SHOULD KNOW ABOUT IT

What Is It?
If you're one of the millions of men who suffer from erectile dysfunction or ED (also called impotence), then you will already have heard about Viagra (sildenafil citrate) which is an oral treatment for impotence. (See our article on impotence). Viagra is by far the most widely used treatment for ED. In the United States, more than 5 million men are using the drug to improve their sexual function. Doctors in the United States have prescribed Viagra more than 16 million times and the product is now available in more than 90 countries worldwide, including Japan, which only recently approved the usage of it. According to some reports, the number of men in Japan who suffer from impotence is as many as seven million. Japan was the 54th country to approve Viagra, which had global sales worth $788m in 1998.

How Does It Work?
Viagra works in up to 82% of patients who take the drug by causing an improvement in their erections. That means more than 4 out of every 5 couples who try Viagra benefit from it. The drug improves erections in most men regardless of how long they have had ED, what caused it, or how old they are. And the effectiveness of Viagra has been proven in enough credible clinical studies done on thousands of patients, so there is no doubt of its efficacy.

The Sensation Viagra Has Caused
Since its approval in the United States by the US Food and Drug Administration on March 27,1998, the medication Viagra has exploded onto news headlines and TV screens. In the USA, the once seldom-discussed condition of impotence is being blared across living rooms, supermarkets and pharmacies in a way that is unprecedented for any other drug in history. There are 30 million men in America bearing the burden of impotence and this may very well be a medication that will substantially change their lives.

In Hong Kong it is now freely prescribed and even available without a prescription from various pharmacies. It is also easy to obtain your order of Viagra over the Internet with no medical controls whatsoever.

How Viagra Helps
As noted there are 30 million men in the USA who are clinically impotent. This means they cannot achieve or sustain an erection or experience a sexual climax. For these men, loss of self-esteem, embarrassment and relationship difficulties are not uncommon and can wreak havoc in their lives. The cause of their impotence may be psychological, resulting from stress, fatigue, anxiety or depression, but in more than 80% of cases, there are identifiable biological problems. As a man ages, his arteries gradually begin to harden. Production of important chemicals called neurotransmitters slows down. He may experience high blood pressure, diabetes, or kidney problems. He may develop a prostate cancer that may mean that the organ must be surgically removed. All of these conditions may translate into a partial or total loss of sexual function. Historically, penile implants, injectable drugs (into the penis), vacuum constriction devices or grinning and bearing it have been the only options up until Viagra.

Dr. John Mulcahy of Indiana University, a US expert on erectile dysfunction (the scientific term for impotence), provides the reason behind Viagra's phenomenal success: "By the mid-to-late fifties, 1 of 4 men are impotent; by the mid-60s it is half; and by the mid-70s it is most. Indeed, research from the US National Institutes of Health found that 5% of 40-year old men are also impotent." Therefore, the large numbers of men seeking prescriptions for Viagra may indeed be true sufferers of impotence. For them, the success rates with Viagra are impressive.”

Should I Use It?
If you suffer from ED you should certainly consider seeing your doctor about using Viagra, but should under no circumstances buy it through the Internet or in some back street Hong Kong pharmacy because there are some risks that need to be ruled out.
Viagra is, and should be, a prescription medication, so you'll need to talk to your health care provider to find out if it's right for you. Your doctor will do certain health checks on you, like taking your blood pressure, checking your heart and will also talk to you about your health before prescribing it.

Are There Side Effects?
With Viagra, the most common side effects are headache, facial flushing, and upset stomach. Viagra may also briefly cause bluish or blurred vision, or sensitivity to light. In the rare event of an erection lasting more than 4 hours, seek immediate medical help. Remember to protect yourself and your partner from sexually transmitted diseases. If you have chest pains, dizziness, or nausea during sex, stop and immediately tell your health care provider.

How Do I Know If Viagra Is Right For Me?
You'll need to see your doctor to find out if Viagra is right for you. It's important to know that Viagra isn't for everyone. If you're a man who uses nitrate drugs, like nitroglycerine, (drugs commonly used for the treatment of chest pains) never take Viagra as with any nitrate medicine, your blood pressure could suddenly drop to an unsafe or life threatening level. Men taking nitrates of any kind, any time, must never use Viagra. Other medications may interact with Viagra and change the way the drugs work (drug interaction) so it’s important to tell your doctor about any medications you take, both prescription and non-prescription. Like many medications, your doctor may have to adjust your initial Viagra dosage if it doesn't produce the desired results or you're bothered by side effects.

The bottom line is this: Viagra may help you if you suffer from ED, but first see your doctor and obtain it with a prescription and the necessary controls. Using it without seeing a doctor is dangerous.