Viagra is a commonly used drug among the male population to improve the sex life. It is used in the treatment of erectile dysfunction, a common problem causing distress in men. Although Viagra is very common these days, there are many other drugs and herbal things that can lessen the symptoms of erectile dysfunction and improve the sexual tendency of a person. The alternative options to Viagra are medications, treatments, lifestyle changes and other remedies.
Mechanism of action of Viagra
Viagra is the commercial name of sildenafil drug. Viagra was first introduced in the market in 1988 by Pfizer, an American pharmaceutical company. It is also available by the name of Revatio.
The basic mechanism of Viagra is slowing down the action of an enzyme named PDE5. The target site of this enzyme is smooth muscles of the penis. Basically, the enzyme PDE5 acts on a chemical substance which is responsible for blood flow in muscles of the penis. As Viagra slows down the action of PDE5, the flow of blood increases and helps to maintain the erection for a certain period of time.
However, the action of Viagra is only limited to assistance in the erectile dysfunction. It only helps to maintain the erection, but it has nothing to do with the stimulus. Viagra can only cause an erection once the penis is stimulated physically.
What is Erectile Dysfunction?
Erectile dysfunction is an inability to get an erection or maintain it during the intercourse procedure. It is the inability of getting an erection at all or failing to sustain it during sex.
Erectile dysfunction is quite common among adult men. Erection problems are common among men but all of them are not considered as erectile dysfunction. This problem is usually associated with old age but it does not mean that it is confined only to older people.
Reasons behind erectile dysfunction
There are various factors that contribute to this problem such as medical, physiological or emotional.
Medical conditions
High blood pressure
Diabetes
Heart diseases
Multiple sclerosis
Atherosclerosis
Physical factors
Penis injuries, surgeries of spinal cord, prostate, bladder and pelvis.
Physiological issues
Major contributors to erectile dysfunction are stress, anxiety, depression, a feeling of guilt and lack of self-esteem.
Unhealthy lifestyle also aggravates the problem. Alcoholism, obesity, lack of exercise and smoking are some factors.
Erectile dysfunction and use of Viagra
Viagra was first introduced by pharmaceutical companies for the treatment of hypertension and angina pectoris. It is the most controversial but quite commonly used drug in the present age. As a mechanism of action clearly states that it has nothing to do with underlying causes of erectile dysfunction. Although it only functions to improve the blood circulation in penis muscles.
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Description
How does Viagra and Sildenafil work?
Viagra (Sildenafil) helps men to get and maintain an erection when sexually stimulated and/or excited. The medicine relaxes the blood vessels in the penis which results in more blood flowing to the penis when you are sexually excited.
How do I take it?
You should take Viagra (Sildenafil) approximately 1 hour before planning to have intercourse. Within a window of between 30 minutes and 4 hours after you take the medicine, it will be easier to keep and maintain an erection when you are sexually excited. If you take this medicine after a meal with a high fat content it may take a little longer to start working. This medicine will only work when you are sexually excited. You won’t get an erection just by taking Viagra (Sildenafil).
Dosage
The standard recommended dose for Viagra (Sildenafil) is 50mg and this will be suitable for most people. If this dose is not effective, you can try 100mg and if 50mg gives you side effects you can also reduce the dose to 25mg tablets.
You must not take more than 100mg daily of Sildenafil/ Viagra. Clinical trials have been conducted in patients taking up to 200mg sildenafil and it was found that ‘doses of 200mg did not result in increased efficacy but did increase the incidence of adverse reactions (headache, flushing, dizziness, dyspepsia, nasal congestion, and altered vision).’
In addition, in patients taking more than 100mg daily, there have been reports of rhabdomyolysis (a breakdown in skeletal muscle tissue the byproducts of which can lead to kidney failure), visual perception changes, vertebral artery dissection (a tear in the artery supplying blood to the brain), heart attacks and aggressive behaviour.
If the 100mg strength doesn’t work for you, there may be alternatives you can try and we recommend that you call us for a free consultation with our pharmacist or doctor to discuss any underlying conditions you may have. We recommend that all men taking medicine for erectile dysfunction have regular tests for blood pressure, cholesterol, diabetes and hormone imbalances. For instance, it may be that by fixing a hormone imbalance such as testosterone, your Viagra medication will be even more effective.
In addition, drug manufacturers do not advise patients to split tablets in half to get the correct dosage as they cannot guarantee that the active ingredient will be distributed evenly throughout the tablet. For instance, if you cut a 100mg tablet in two, you may find that you get 80mg in one half of the tablet and 20mg in the other half leading to either an overdose (increased risk of side effects) or a suboptimal dose (the medication may not work).
It is important that you choose the correct dose for you. If you wish to talk to our pharmacist or doctor about this, please contact us in the pharmacy on 01625 460621 or email [email protected].
Side Effects
Viagra (Sildenafil) is normally well tolerated, however, side effects can include:
- Headache
- Dizziness
- Nausea
Side effects normally subside after a few hours, however, if you experience a prolonged or painful erection (longer than 4 hours), then you must contact your doctor immediately.
Drug interactions
There are a number of medicines which interact with Sildenafil/ Viagra. For an exhaustive list please see the patient information leaflet (see section below) or call us in the pharmacy to discuss your specific situation. The main drug interactions are listed here:
Recreational drugs such as ‘poppers’ or amyl nitrate
Alpha blockers used for urinary retention or blood pressure problems (eg Flomax or Cardura)
Anti- arrhythmic drugs such as disopyramide
Antibiotics such as erythromycin
Antifungals such as itraconazole
Antivirals such as drugs used to treat HIV
Bosentan
Cobicistat
Calcium channel blockers to treat blood pressure and angina such as amlodipine
Dapoxetine (Priligy – used to treat premature ejaculation)
Grapefruit juice**
Nicorandil
Nitrates
Riociguat
Cimetidine (to treat stomach ulcers)
Please do not take Sildenafil/Viagra if you have taken any of the above drugs within the last 60 days without first consulting with either us in the Pharmacy ([email protected] / 01625 460621) or via email with our doctor [email protected].
**We advise not to take Sildenafil/Viagra with grapefruit juice as the blood concentration of Sildenafil will possibly be increased resulting in side effects.
Patient Information Leaflets
Please click here for the patient information leaflet for Viagra.
For Actavis Sildenafil please see the following leaflets: 100mg, 50mg, 25mg.
Storing Medicines Safely
Please keep your medicine out of the reach of children and store at room temperature. Unwanted medicine can be disposed of by returning it to any local pharmacy or indeed to us here for us to dispose of it for you.
Side effects of Viagra
Almost all organs of the body are affected by the long-term use of Viagra. The side effects of Viagra are from common daily problems to long-term health issues.
Common side effects of Viagra are
• A headache
• Facial flushing
• Problems related to indigestion
• Peyronie’s disease
• Bladder pain
• Dizziness
• Increased urination
• Numbness
Some of the adverse side effects are
• Dyspepsia
• Abnormal vision
• Congestion
• Back pain
• Myalgia
Things better than Viagra
The side effects and drug interactions of Viagra outweigh its benefits. As it only works to increase blood supply to penis muscles, it can be replaced by some safer things whether medicine or lifestyle changes.
Listed below are few lifestyle changes and some diet-related suggestions that can bring a healthy change and improvement in your sex life without depending on Viagra.
Dietary remedies
Several food products and herbal supplements are available in the market as remedies for erectile dysfunction.
A few of them are
Gingko
It is a herb used for providing a boost to memory. It improves the blood flow without having side effects. Gingko is reported to lessen the sexual problems in men.
L-arginine:
Arginine is an amino acid that increases blood flow. The arginine seems to improve the issues of impotence. It has also benefited the men having circulatory disorders that helps to improve the sexual problems.
Dehydroepiandrosterone:
This hormone is helpful in making estrogen and testosterone and it found helpful to men with impotence. This hormone provides benefit for men who are suffering from low level of DHEA hormone in the blood.
Propionyl-L-carnitine
But it is recommended that users should consult their doctors and should be very careful while using these products.
Several warnings have been issued by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to consumers of these products. Several statements have said that this kind of food alternatives have to be used considering the underlying factor of the presence of certain hidden chemicals. They can be harmful in a certain way.
Ginseng:
It is an Asian herb or root that helps to increase the strength by giving a boost to the nervous system. Clinical trials in 45 men have proved its efficacy in reducing sexual stress and improved activity.
Should I change my lifestyle
Lifestyle choices can play a very crucial role in men suffering from erectile dysfunction issues. Many research results support the factor that the problem can be reduced and even reversed in many cases by considering lifestyle changes.
Some of the lifestyle choices are listed below which can help to reduce erectile dysfunction.
Balanced diet:
Researchers are convinced that having a food rich in flavonoids such as blueberries, strawberries and vitamin C rich fruits can be helpful in reducing the problem irrespective of the age of the person.
Body weight:
A healthy body weight is very much important to lead a healthy life. Overweight or obesity can contribute or can cause erectile dysfunction.
Regular exercise:
As it is known that one cause of erectile dysfunction is low blood flow in muscles of the penis. By doing regular exercise, the physical activity of body is increased and blood flow is improved. Thus reducing stress, increasing circulation and maintaining weight, exercise helps to improve the symptoms of erectile dysfunction.
Avoid Smoking:
Avoiding smoking can improve erectile dysfunction. There is a direct contact between cigarette smoking and erectile dysfunction. Quitting smoking can reduce the problem and improves the overall health of a person.
Misuse of drugs:
Illicit drugs such as marijuana can be a potent cause of erectile dysfunction. Excessive intake of Alcohol also affects the sexual tendency of a person.
Physiological issues:
One should seek an expert opinion from a medical practitioner on issues such as stress anxiety and depression. Emotional or physical distress plays the role of a trigger in erectile dysfunction. A stress-free man is quite safe from developing the early age erectile dysfunction.
Drugs other than Viagra:
Alternatives to Viagra available for erectile dysfunction problem are
• Vardenafil
• Staxyn
• Tadalafil
• Avanafil
All these drugs are PDE5 inhibitors and are only prescribed by a physician.
Alternative therapies for Erectile Dysfunction:
Several therapies are available in the field of medicine for the erectile dysfunction treatment. These therapies are a good alternative to Viagra and other similar oral medicines.
• Injections:
One method is injecting of the drug such as alprostadil or papaverine into the corpus cavernosum resulting in an erection. The procedure is first done under the observation of a urologist. When the required dose is estimated then the patient can inject himself at home. One must be careful about the dose so that he may not suffer from prolonged or unwanted erection after the sexual act.
Testosterone:
Men who suffer from erectile dysfunction because of low-level production of testosterone are treated by injecting the hormone. Testosterone can also be delivered by patches.
Urethra Stents:
In this treatment, the stents are used to relax the muscles. The stents are used to administer a gel in the urethra.
Implants, inflatables and hollow tubes are also useful for the treatment of erectile dysfunction. But all of these therapies should be provided by a qualified health professional.
In conclusion considering the side effects of Viagra one should try to solve the sexual problems with the lifestyle and dietary changes first. If it is unavoidable to use medication one should consult his doctor and find a better way out instead of just moving on directly to Viagra.
References:
- www.askmen.com
- www.medicalnewstoday.com
- www.menshealth.co.uk
Assured Pharmacy is not liable for the currency or accuracy of the information contained in this blog post. For specific information about your personal medical condition, please contact our doctors or pharmacists for advice on [email protected]
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