Viagra is more accessible than ever in the United States, and with the rise of telehealth platforms that allow men to acquire a prescription for the little blue tablet online in a discreet manner, younger men are utilizing the drug more than ever.
The medicine, which has been sold by the pharmaceutical company Pfizer since 1998, was initially intended for older men with erectile dysfunction. According to City Care Family Practice, the prevalence of mild to moderate erectile dysfunction among men in their 20s and 30s has reached 20 percent and 30 percent, respectively.
Younger men may be hesitant to discuss the matter with their doctor, however. This has led to the emergence of companies such as Hims, Lemonaid, and Roman, which enable a person to obtain a prescription for the medicine fast following an online consultation.
While the drug has been approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and certified safe for proper use by regulators, it can be harmful if abused, as is the case with all medications. It can cause priapism, a condition in which a person has an erection that lasts for hours and causes irreversible penile damage. It also has several hazardous interactions with cholesterol-lowering medications.
Here is all the information you need about the drug:
WHAT DOES IT MEAN?
Most men periodically fail to achieve or maintain an erection owing to stress, fatigue, worry, or excessive alcohol consumption.
According to the National Institutes of Health, over 30 million men suffer from erectile dysfunction, with the condition being most prevalent among older men. It might be caused by excessive blood pressure or cholesterol, hormonal issues, or pharmaceutical adverse effects.
Some younger men may have ‘performance anxiety,’ where mental distractions and other challenges make it difficult for them to achieve or maintain an erection.
Viagra’s main ingredient, sildenafil, is frequently used to treat erectile dysfunction. It dilates blood vessels and increases vaginal blood flow.
In 1989, Pfizer, the producer of the Covid vaccine, created Viagra in the hopes that sildenafil citrate could cure hypertension.
A few years later, however, males participating in clinical studies in Wales reported an uncommon side effect: increased erections while taking the medicine.
The medicine was approved in the United States and European Union in 1998, marketed under the name Viagra, and became one of the fastest-selling drugs ever.
WHERE CAN YOU GET IT?
The medicine is available with a prescription in the United States. Typically, a man’s primary care physician will write a prescription that may be filled at a drugstore.
Nonetheless, online pharmacies and telemedicine providers have enabled many to bypass a portion of the process. Online pharmacies offer Viagra and its competitors Cialis and Stendra to men on prescription.
These include, among others, Hims, Lemonaid, and Roman. While the corporations operate within the law, some are requesting additional oversight.
After a brief online consultation, physicians are frequently prepared to prescribe prescription medications made available by companies like Hims.
In 2019, Dr. Adriane Fugh-Berman, a pharmacology professor at Georgetown University in Washington, D.C., told the Associated Press, “These are lifestyle medications with the potential for major side effects, and this seems like an overly casual approach to access them.”
The National Health Service (NHS) of the United Kingdom likewise advises against purchasing medications from online pharmacies.
‘[Online medications] are not always controlled, and the substances in each package can vary. They may have undesirable side effects or may not be appropriate for you,’ the agency warns.
It is best to consult a physician before purchasing drugs online. They are aware of your medical history and can determine if you may benefit from treatment.
WHO CAN USE IT?
The majority of men over the age of 18 may take the medication to cure erectile dysfunction, however, adults and children (older than one year) may also take it to treat pulmonary hypertension.
Experts advise that it is not appropriate for everyone, particularly those with severe heart or liver conditions, recent stroke or heart attack sufferers, and those with low blood pressure.
WHAT SIDE EFFECTS ARE THERE?
Headaches, heat flashes, nausea, indigestion, vertigo, and a stuffy nose are common adverse effects.
Seizures, chest pain, and painful erections (particularly if they persist longer than two hours) are more significant potential adverse effects.
In addition to the side effects indicated in the medication’s packaging, an allergic reaction is also possible.
HOW COME MORE MEN ARE RELYING ON VIAGRA?
Many of the new generations of adolescent and young adult Viagra users are physically active and rely on the drug to enhance their sexual performance.
In recent years, however, doctors have warned that others may experience sexual issues and impotence due to obesity and type 2 diabetes caused by obesity.
Ian Eardley, a professor of urology at Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust in the United Kingdom, told that this issue was previously observed primarily in significantly older people.
Young men may experience challenges in the bedroom for a variety of reasons, including the increasing prevalence of pornography, excessive drinking, and drug use, as these behaviors necessitate greater stimulation.
Doctors are becoming more aware that erectile dysfunction (ED) may be a symptom of an underlying condition, and they fear that young men may self-prescribe Viagra. As a result, the actual, treatable cause of their problems remains untreated.
Professor Eardley stated, “There is no question that type 2 diabetes causes erectile dysfunction, and a 30-year-old diabetic is at least twice or three times as likely as a non-diabetic to suffer from erectile dysfunction.”
In April, Canadian researchers discovered that the common erectile dysfunction medication Viagra may increase the risk of three dangerous eye disorders.
Three other impotence medications, Cialis, Levitra, and Spedra, have been identified as potential causes of eye issues.
Those who take the drugs may have a sudden visual loss, flashes of light, and black areas called ‘floaters.’
Blood supply to the eyes may have been diminished as a result of the tablets’ effect on blood flow to the genitalia, according to the doctors.
Dr. Mahyar Etminan, an ophthalmologist at the University of British Columbia and the study’s principal investigator, advised users who have vision problems to “get medical assistance.”
WHAT WOULD OCCUR IF YOU TOOK EXCESSIVELY?
Viagra has a variety of adverse effects with varying degrees of severity. According to Medical Daily, an overdose of the substance can cause priapism, a painful, “uncomfortably and disproportionately huge erection” that can last for hours.
According to the NHS website, this could cause lasting harm to the penis if not treated immediately.
It is advised to seek medical attention if the erection lasts longer than two hours. At the hospital, the patient may be treated with ‘tablets or injections directly into the penis,’ or blood may be evacuated from the area through a needle or surgery.
Priapism may improve on its own within two hours, according to the guidelines, and there are things you can do to try to minimize the erection.
It is advisable to urinate, take a warm bath or shower, drink plenty of water, take a stroll, perform some exercises, and (if necessary) use painkillers such as paracetamol.
According to the NHS website, you should NOT apply ice packs or cold water to the affected area, engage in sexual activity or masturbation, consume alcohol, or smoke.
BUT THERE CAN BE POSITIVE SIDE EFFECTS
According to research, taking Viagra could reduce the risk of developing Alzheimer’s.
The Cleveland Clinic in the United States reviewed the medical records of seven million Americans in their 70s and followed them for six years.
Adults who used sildenafil, the active ingredient in the little blue tablet, had a 69% reduced risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease compared to those who did not take the medicine.
Sildenafil, which is also used to treat high blood pressure, appeared to function better than two Alzheimer’s medications now being tested on humans.
Dr. Feixiong Cheng, the lead researcher, acknowledged that clinical trials are necessary to confirm whether the impotence treatment can effectively prevent the disease.
However, additional laboratory studies have demonstrated that it can promote brain cell proliferation and prevent the accumulation of toxic proteins in the brain.
HOW LONG DOES VIAGRA LAST FOR?
According to Healthline, the average duration of Viagra is between two and three hours, depending on factors such as dosage, age, and general health.
It can last for up to five hours, and a person may experience many erections throughout this time.
HOW OFTEN CAN YOU TAKE VIAGRA?
Those with erectile dysfunction who use sildenafil may be able to obtain pills in various doses ranging from 25 to 100 mg.
According to the NHS, the standard dose is 50mg, taken as needed and never more than once per day.
The website recommends taking it four hours before sexual activity. According to the Viagra dosage information provided by Pfizer, the suggested dosage for the majority of individuals is 50 mg taken as needed around one hour before sexual activity.
However, VIAGRA may be taken 30 minutes to four hours before sexual activity…
‘Depending on efficacy and tolerability, the dose may be increased to a maximum of 100 mg or decreased to 25 mg…
The maximum suggested frequency of administration is once per day.
