Wizz Pharmacy Logo

What is Viagra?

  • By: Dr Sophia Miller
  • Jun 24, 2021
What is Viagra?

Sexual impotence is one of the most common sexual dysfunctions affecting men. It is the inability to achieve or maintain an erection firm enough for sexual intercourse. ED is believed to affect at least 30 million men in the United States, and this statistic is thought to increase to 32 million by the year, 2025. Erectile dysfunction pills, or ED pills, are used for the treatment of ED or sexual impotence.

The causes of ED can be related to:

  • A medical condition or disease: the most common physical issues related to ED are associated with blood circulation and hypertension.
  • An unhealthy lifestyle: smoking and consuming alcohol are factors thought to potentiate the symptoms of ED.
  • Emotional or interpersonal issues: physiological effects relating to trauma or childhood abuse can add to the effects of impotence.
  • Financial problems: everyday stresses, such as financial problems, can lead to anxiety. Both anxiety and stress have a link to this sexual dysfunction.

Viagra pills contain sildenafil, a substance known to assist in the management of ED symptoms by increasing the flow of blood to the penis. This page will set out to answer the important questions what is viagra? what is viagra used for? and is viagra safe? Before we learn how to use viagra effectively and find out where can you buy viagra online without a prescription.

What is Viagra Used for?

  • Penile erections: understanding what is viagra and how long does viagra last, is crucial to relieving erectile dysfunction symptoms. This medication works by relaxing the blood vessels in smooth muscles, thereby enhancing blood flow to the penis to induce penile erections. Men's health researchers have suggested that the regular use of these tablets may restore normal erection functions. In a study of a group of men with ED, given Viagra every night for at least six months, almost 60% of the clinical trial patients returned to normal erections after a year of treatment. Furthermore, less than 10% of men who used the medicine on an 'as-needed' basis experienced similar effects. 
  • Pulmonary hypertension: in a series of small studies, the use of sildenafil citrate, for the treatment of pulmonary hypertension, revealed that this medication shows promise as a useful therapy in several cases of this medical condition, with varying causes.
  • Off-label uses: non-FDA (Food and Drug Administration) uses of this medicament include the treatment of female sexual arousal dysfunction and Raynaud's phenomenon (a condition in which there is decreased blood flow to the fingers). Additionally, these erectile dysfunction tablets may be useful as an athletic performance enhancer, however, the evidence relating to this use is limited.

How Does Viagra Work?

  • When considering how to use viagra, the erection process can be complex. During sexual stimulation, impulses form the brain and nerves cause the muscles in the penis to relax, allowing blood to fill the open spaces. The blood creates pressure in the penis, making it erect. Those with impotence often have issues with this process of the penile erection and in most cases require treatment with pharmaceuticals, such as Viagra.
  • This medication works by relaxing the muscles and arteries inside the penis. This is accomplished through the inhibition of phosphodiesterase type-5, or PDE-5, and hence these tablets are categorized as PDE-5 inhibitors.
  • The inhibitory action of this erectile dysfunction treatment reduces the action of phosphodiesterase in breaking down the substances responsible for the relaxation of blood vessels. This ultimately aids an accumulation of the substances which cause the blood vessels and arteries to relax and widen.
  • In conjunction with sexual arousal, the relaxing of blood vessels as well as the increased flow of blood assists in filling the penis with blood, and hence inducing a penile erection.
  • The action of these ED tablets take approximately an hour to come to prominence and so these pills should be taken at least an hour to two hours before you wish to engage in sexual activity.

How Long Does Viagra Last?

Viagra lasts for up to four hours. This means that you have at least four hours to engage in sexual intercourse, if you find yourself asking the question, how long does viagra last? For the therapeutic benefits to take effect, sexual arousal is required but the action of these tablets will not help you last longer during sexual intercourse. Viagra tablets are mainly used for assisting in achieving an erection or maintaining the erection once it is achieved. Lasting longer duration sex is not one of the standard Viagra effects.

The question, is viagra safe for those with slower metabolisms is a fair one. Senior people, may more-often-than-not benefit from a lower dosage as they will generally take longer to breakdown the medication in the body. Moreover, these people should normally not use larger amounts of the therapeutic as the medication can take longer to be eliminated from the body and hence, accumulate to create unwanted side effects.

Viagra Dosage Guide

Figuring out how much of a medication to take can be a daunting task. Viagra pills are available in the following strengths:

The initial recommended Viagra dosage for adults aged between 18 and 64 years is 50 mg. This is the dosage most men will use when starting treatment but this dosage can also be adjusted upward or down depending on the response of the patient to the medication. For those older than 65 years of age, a 20 mg dosage will be the most suitable option when beginning ED treatment. This is to reduce the risk of side effects.

Viagra dosage of 100 mg should be taken only once a day. This is the maximum daily dosage and is typically used by those who can tolerate the effects of the medication well. These tablets can be taken with or without food, but eating a light meal before administration of these ED pills may assist in the functioning of the therapeutic.

Viagra Side Effects

Most medications are associated with undesirable effects when used in the long-term. Viagra, on the other hand, has been shown to restore normal penile erections in those using the medication for longer than six months. Viagra side effects are most frequently reported to be mild in severity, in fact, many men have indicated that they do not experience side effects when using these pills. The most common adverse events are known to be hot flushes, headaches and dizziness.

The side effects of this erectile dysfunction medication can be life-threatening in situations where one is using nitrates concomitantly with these pills. Nitrates are medications often prescribed for chest pains but when used in concordance with ED tablets, blood pressure levels can decrease to dangerously low ranges. Viagra tablets are typically well-tolerated, but you should not use this medicine if you do not suffer from impotence.

Is it Safe to Buy Viagra Online?

  • Online pharmacies have grown in popularity over the past few decades. Most users of e-commerce pharmacies do so because they can get answers to question like what is viagra, is viagra safe and how long does viagra last without feeling awkward or embarrassed.
  • When you buy Viagra online, you alleviate the cost and energy associated with the purchase of the medication. Furthermore, the privacy of buying ED medications online removes the need of discussing this medical condition with a person face-to-face, as it can in some cases be embarrassing.
  • It is unsafe to buy Viagra from pharmacies, which are not reputable or established. These sites can potentially retail medicines which are fake and/ or dangerous to your health. Therapeutics which are fake can possibly have the incorrect amount of active ingredient, thereby affecting the functioning of the medication, or contain harmful added ingredients, that can lead to severe allergies or other harmful effects.

You Can Buy a Viagra Alternative

  • Erection problems can be a sensitive topic for those experiencing the sexual dysfunction and for those around them as well. If these medical conditions are not treated with urgency, the effects can be drastic on the health of the individual, their relationships and other aspects of their lives too.
  • Luckily there are treatments available, such as the branded or generic Viagra. There are also other medications available for the treatment of ED and these include a Viagra alternative, such as vardenafil. These alternative medicines are similar in action regarding the treatment of sexual impotence, but there may be differences with regard to the onset and durations of action among these brands.
  • The generic options are often more favorable in terms of cost, especially when these medications have to be administered on a regular basis. Generic formulations are not subject to the same clinical trials and marketing or advertising restrictions, as branded originals are, allowing them to be more cost effective. However, they still maintain the same efficacy as their branded counterparts as they are subject to the same FDA (Food and Drug Administration) requirements associated with their efficacy and safety.

Online pharmacies can be an appropriate way to buy Viagra and other therapeutics for the management of impotence symptoms. These healthcare platforms offer discretion when you buy Viagra alternative products as you do not have to discuss the details of your condition, in person, with a healthcare representative. Your privacy can be maintained, which is often an advantage for those who have to deal with this health disorder.

Dr Sophia Miller
Medically Review by:

Dr Sophia Miller

Dr Sophia Miller was born in New York City, USA. As a young woman, she was always interested in science, specifically; chemistry and she was determined to pursue a career in the field.

Checked: 15th March 2023
Review Due: March 2024

Rate this Post

Your email address will not be published.
Required fields are marked *

  • Your rating