Viagra
Viagra (sildenafil citrate)
Viagra is the first erectile dysfunction (ED) treatment widely available. If first appeared for use in 1998 after trials in Swansea, Wales.
The active ingredient in Viagra is Sildenafil citrate. It is a Phosphodiesterase Type 5 (PDE5) Inhibitor and originally developed as a blood pressure lowering medication.
Trials showed that although it had an ability to lower blood pressure, Sildenafil citrate allowed men who suffered term ED to achieve erections.
Consequentially, pharmaceutical giant Pfizer branded the drug as Viagra and brought it to market as a new ED treatment. The rest, as they say is history.
Millions of men worldwide have used Viagra as an effective cure to ED.
The inventor of Viagra, Simon Campbell, was later awarded with a knighthood.
[table “7” not found /]
Below are a number of popular questions about Viagra and their answers.
Viagra side effects
Will Viagra increase or lower blood pressure?
No. The effects of Sildenafil citrate, the active ingredient of Viagra, does not increase blood pressure.
As noted above, Sildenafil citrate was first developed as a blood pressure lowering drug. If Viagra has any affect on blood pressure it will result in lowering blood pressure.
Can Viagra cause headaches?
Although Viagra side effects are not common for most users, some men experience headaches after taking Viagra. This side effect is experienced by men who could be characterized as sensitive to Sildenafil, the active ingredient of Viagra.
The headaches are rarely severe and will dissipate as the effects of Viagra wear off. Reducing the strength of the dosage may eliminate headaches while still preserving the benefits of Viagra as a temporary cure for erectile dysfunction (ED).
Are Viagra side effects permanent or temporary?
Viagra side effects are temporary. The side effects disappear with the removal of Sildenafil from the body. No side effect should last much more than 10 to 12 hours.
Who should not take Viagra?
Men who already take nitrate based drugs for heart problems should not take Viagra. Taking Viagra with nitrate-based drugs can cause a severe loss in blood pressure. If you are in any doubt as to whether you should take Viagra as a ED cure, you should consult with your doctor.
Effectiveness of Viagra
What does Viagra do to a man?
As men age, they tend to find it increasingly difficult to achieve and maintain erections. This is largely due to the increase of an enzyme called Phosphodiesterase type 5 (PDE5). PDE5 decreases the ability of sufficient blood flow to the penis reducing the ability to achieve erections.
The active ingredient of Viagra is Sildenafil, a PDE5 inhibitor. By blocking the production of PDE5, erections are more easily achieved.
In essence, Viagra inhibits the male body from making it more difficult to achieve erections. It does not cause erections by itself. This is why taking Viagra does not cause erections outside of sexual stimulation.
Men who use Viagra report larger and more firm erections when sexually stimulated. Erections also have greater longevity. Sexual pleasure is enhanced.
When Viagra should be taken?
As a rule of thumb, Viagra should be taken at least 30 minutes before engaging in sexual intercourse. Some men report effectiveness in as little as 20 minutes while other say that it can take up to 45 minutes for the effects to take full effect.
The half-life of Viagra is 4 to 5 hours. This means that the effects of Viagra can experienced for up to 10 hours after ingestion. Peak performance is usually between 1 and 3 hours after ingestion.
Will Viagra work after eating?
Viagra will still work after eating. However, the effectiveness of Viagra is effected by the presence of food in the stomach. Fatty foods in particular retard the uptake of Viagra and reduce its overall effectiveness.
Other types of food do not decrease the effectiveness of Viagra although they may delay the absorption of Viagra into the bloodstream. This will cause a delay in Viagra’s peak effectiveness.
Alcohol does not effect Viagra either in its uptake of effectiveness. Needless to say, excessive alcohol consumption will diminish overall sexual capacity and performance.
Which Viagra is the strongest?
The strongest Viagra are the pills with the highest concentrate of Sildenafil. The strongest Viagra contains 200mg of Sildenafil.
There are other ED pills that contain Sildenafil sold under different names. One example is Kamagra. 100mg Kamagra is identical in strength to 100mg Viagra.
To judge the strength of any ED pill that contains Sildenafil, simply see how much of Sildenafil it contains.
However, the strongest Viagra may not be the best choice for most men. Viagra that is too strong may cause undesirable side effects discussed above.
Which Viagra brand is best?
Viagra® is a the brand name of the pharmaceutical giant Pfizer. Pfizer was the company to originally develop Viagra for the marketplace. Pfizer still holds the patent on Viagra® in some countries although this has expired in most jurisdictions.
As far as quality and effectiveness, generic Viagra is identical to brand name Viagra®. The same pharmaceutical manufacturers, often based in India, produce both Viagra® and generic Viagra, simply changing the packaging.
From a perspective of price and saving money, generic Viagra is often many times cheaper than Viagra®. However, some people prefer Viagra® due to peace of mind, assured that they are receiving the genuine article.
Will Viagra fix performance anxiety?
Studies indicate that Viagra can help men overcome performance anxiety. However, the reduction in performance anxiety is not do to any chemical effect on the brain. It is rather psychosomatic, or placebo effect.
In essence, men who use Viagra to enhance their sexual performance enjoy greater confidence and reduced performance anxiety as a result.
Will Viagra prevent premature ejaculation (PE)?
Viagra has little or no effect on preventing PE.
There are other drugs however that are effective in preventing PE. One such drug is Dapoxetine often marketed as Priligy. Priligy, however, has no effect on ED.
For men who suffer from both ED and PE, there is now available a pill that combines both medicines Sildenafil and Dapoxetine. These ‘ED & PE combo pills‘ allow meant to achieve significant erections when sexually stimulated and stamina when engaged in sexual activity.
Does Viagra increase libido?
Viagra does not increase libido, or sexual desire, directly.
However, anecdotal evidence suggests that the subsidence in sexual performance anxiety noted above can lead to greater sexual interest. In this sense, Viagra can lead to an increase in libido indirectly.
Viagra dosage
Can Viagra be taken daily?
Viagra can be taken daily without undue health concerns. However, experts do not recommended to take Viagra more than once every 24 hours.
Nor do health professionals recommend taking Viagra in combination with other ED pills such as Cialis or Levitra.
In short, one should not take any ED pill more than once every 24 hours.
What Viagra dosage is best?
The 3 main strengths of Viagra is: 25mg, 50mg and 100mg. This refers to the amount of Sildenafil in each pill.
Some online pharmacies also sell strengths of 150mg and 200mg per pill.
The best dosage of Viagra will be dependent on the user. As a rule of thumb, 50mg Viagra would suit most men enabling them to enjoy significant erections when stimulated.
For those men who only suffer mild ED, Viagra 25mg may be sufficient. For those men who suffer significant ED, 100m Viagra may be necessary.
As noted above, if one experiences negative side effects, such as headaches or distorted vision, it may indicate a sensitivity to Viagra and the need to reduce dosage.
Viagra compared to other ED pills
Viagra vs Cialis
Cialis consists of PDE5 inhibitor Tadalafil. Viagra consists of PDE5 inhibitor Sildenafil.
Both Sildenafil and Tadalafil block PDE5 and produce similar results- the ability to have erections when sexually aroused. However there are some substantial differences between Viagra and Cialis.
20mg of Tadalafil (Cialis) is equivalent in strength to 100mg of Sildenafil (Viagra).
Viagra has a half-life of 4 to 5 hours. Cialis has a half-life of 17 to 18 hours. This means that the effects of Cialis lasts up to 3 times longer than Viagra. Some studies suggest that the effects of Cialis can last up to 36 hours compared to 12 hours for Viagra.
Unlike Viagra, fatty food content in the stomach does not effect Cialis. Fatty foods do not prevent the absorption of Tadalafil into the bloodstream, unlike Sildenafil.
Sildenafil is inhibits PDE6 as well as PDE5. This can lead to a slight visual distortion for some men when taking Viagra. Tadalafil does not affect PDE6. This means that Cialis has less likelihood of causing side effects.
Cialis tends to be more expensive that Viagra although the difference is slight. Cialis can be ordered online in brand-name Cialis or as generic Cialis
For a more in-depth analysis of the differences between Viagra and Cialis see: Viagra vs Cialis vs Levitra
Viagra vs Levitra
As noted above, the active ingredient of Viagra is PDE5 inhibitor Sildenafil. The active ingredient of Levitra is PDE5 inhibitor Vardenafil.
20mg of Vardenafil is the same in strength to 100mg of Sildenafil. 10mg or 20mg Levitra are the standard strengths for this ED pill.
Levitra has a slightly longer half-life than Viagra. Its effectiveness lasts a few more hours than Viagra but the difference is not significant.
Levitra is also more effective in preventing PE than Viagra. However it does not prevent chronic PE and a PE & ED combo pill noted above is still necessary for those men who suffer severe PE.
Based on anecdotal evidence, Levitra is the ED pill that produces the most hard and substantial erections when aroused.
Like Viagra Levitra is available in brand-name Levitra® and generic Levitra.
Viagra vs Kamagra
Both Viagra and Kamagra are composed of the active ingredient Sildenafil. From a chemical point of view, this makes Viagra and Kamagra identical.
Ajanta Pharma, a well established pharmaceutical company based in India, manufacturers Kamagra.
In short, the only difference between Viagra and Kamagra is the name, packaging and look. In composition and effect they are identical.
Prices between Kamagra and generic Viagra are comparable.
Viagra vs Stendra
Stendra is the latest ED pill to be made available to the public. A PDE5 inhibitor called Avanafil is the active ingredient of Stendra. Vivus Incorporated holds the patent to Stendra®. One can also order cheaper generic Stendra.
Milligram by milligram, Avanafil is roughly equivalent in strength to Sildenafil, the active ingredient of Viagra.
The main difference between Stendra and Viagra is it that Stendra is faster acting than Viagra. Stendra becomes active withing 15 minutes of ingestion and reaches its peak effect withing 45 minutes on average.
Viagra® versus generic
As noted above, there is no chemical or qualitative difference between Viagra® and generic Viagra. In many instances both Viagra® and generic Viagra are manufactured in the same pharmaceutical laboratory.
The difference is one of packaging, legality and price. Generic Viagra is available at a much reduced price to Viagra® in most countries around the world.
Given that laws governing the dispensation of drugs is in constant flux, any list of countries where generic Viagra is or is not available would become quickly redundant.
The choice whether to order Viagra® or generic Viagra is one of personal choice.
Viagra vs Viagra connect
The Viagra connect program was launched in the UK to provide generic Viagra to the public via high street drugstores.
Although buying Viagra through the Viagra connect program does not require a prescription from a doctor, it does require an in store consultation with a pharmacist.
Viagra connect prices are considerably less than Viagra®, yet ordering generic Viagra online is still the cheapest option by far.
Buying Viagra
Will Viagra become over the counter (OTC)?
As mentioned above regarding the Viagra connect scheme, Viagra is available over the counter in many countries.
If changes in regulations over the past few years is any indication of future trends, it would be reasonable to assume that Viagra OTC will be available in all countries in the near future. This is partly due to demand and partly due to the fact that one can order Viagra online and delivered to your door with ease.
Which Viagra is best for the first time?
Viagra 25mg is the best for the first time taking it. This is the lowest dosage available but in generally effective for most men. By trying this low dosage the first time you avoid severe side effects (if you are over-sensitive to Viagra). After a first dose of 25mg Viagra, you can try higer doses to find what strength is the best for you.
Where to buy Viagra online?
There are many websites where you can buy Viagra online. These companies act as intermediaries connecting pharmaceutical manufacturers, such as Ajanta Pharmaceuticals, with customers. These intermediaries arrange the payment and shipping of drugs ordered.
Because the overheads are very low, one can make significant saving when ordering Viagra online, as opposed to going to a traditional bricks and mortar drugstore.
The best place to buy Viagra online (and other drugs) is from companies that enjoy a lot of return custom. Only when customers are happy with the quality of service do they return for repeat business.
All links to websites of intermediaries where you can buy Viagra online from this website enjoy high customer satisfaction and return custom.
Can one buy Viagra without a doctor’s prescription?
You can buy Viagra without a doctor’s prescription.
Due to change in regulations, when buying Viagra online one does not need a prescription but an online consultation form has to be completed and reviewed by a qualified pharmacist.
The process only takes a few minutes to complete and approval is usually given within 1 hour and you order in packaged for delivery that day.
Viagra prices
Viagra prices have dropped considerably over the past few years. This is due to the proliferation of generic Viagra to meet growing demand.
Also the ability to connect customers to pharmaceutical manufactures through online intermediary companies have allowed significant savings to be passed on to the consumer.
The price of generic Viagra is only a fraction of Viagra® due to an absence of monopolistic patent price gauging.
When buying in bulk, a Viagra pill can cost less that $1 each. To view a range of Viagra prices see our price comparison chart below.
[table “7” not found /]