Viagra Overview - The Most Popular Erectile Dysfunction Medication

Manufactured by Pfizer Pharmaceuticals, Viagra is an anti-impotence drug with an active ingredient sildenafil citrate that works effectively for the treatment of male impotence. Find out more about this drug here.

Viagra, with its active ingredient as sildenafil citrate, enables many men with erectile dysfunction (ED) to respond to sexual stimulation and get a longer-lasting erection that enables them to participate in satisfactory sexual activity. It is the foremost and the most popular impotence treatment on the market today.

What is it made of?

The active ingredient in Viagra is sildenafil citrate. The other ingredients are: microcrystalline cellulose, calcium hydrogen phosphate (anhydrous), croscarmellose, magnesium stearate, hypermellose, titanium dioxide (E171), Lactose, triacetin and indigo carmine aluminum lake (E132). Viagra film-coated tablets are blue in colour, with a rounded, diamond shape. They are marked "PFIZER" on one side and "VGR 25", "VGR 50" or "VGR 100" on the other side.

Viagra dosages

Viagra is available in 3 doses: 25mg, 50mg and 100mg. An oral prescription medication, Viagra is available in the form of tablets. Ideally, this medication must be taken about an hour before intended sexual activity. However, this erectile dysfunction drug can be taken anytime from 4 hours to 30 minutes before sexual activity. It takes 30-45 minutes to take effect and its effect lasts for almost 4 hours. Avoid taking this drug with high-fat meals as it may take a little longer to start working. Never take this medication more than once a day unless prescribed by your doctor.

Working of Viagra

The mechanism of action of Viagra involves the release of nitric oxide (NO) in the corpus cavernosum of the penis, resulting in increased levels of cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP). This leads to smooth muscle relaxation and increased blood flow. Then in the presence of physical stimulation of the penis, an erection occurs. Sildenafil is a potent and selective inhibitor of cGMP specific phosphodiesterase type 5 (PDE5), which is responsible for degradation of cGMP in the corpus cavernosum. It must be noted that Viagra is not a hormone or an aphrodisiac; it works only when a man is sexually stimulated.

Effectiveness of Viagra

Viagra takes about 20 minutes to an hour to work and remains effective for about 4 hours after ingestion. Within this 4-hour period you should be able to get an erection in response to sexual stimulation. This medication has been found to be effective in most men but like all prescription drugs Viagra too may not work for all the men.

Benefits of Viagra

The successful treatment of erectile dysfunction (ED) with Viagra is a proven fact. Its usefulness in the treatment also includes the improvement in sexual relationships between partners as well as an overall improvement in the quality of life of impotent men. This drug has benefitted a wide range of people and is considered to be the most popular ED drug today on the market.

Viagra side effects

Every medicine has certain side effects and so does Viagra; this however differs from person to person. Most side effects are mild to moderate and do not last longer than a few hours. Generally side effects become more evident with high intake of the drug. The most common side effects of Viagra are headache, nausea, flushing of the face, and upset stomach. Also there can be some temporary changes in colour vision such as trouble telling the difference between blue and green objects or having a bluish tinge to them, eyes becoming sensitive to light or blurred vision.