Posted on Wed, 21 Apr 2010 14:44:44 by Shannan

Sildenafil Citrate is the generic name of Viagra. It is also sold under different names such as Revatio. It is a drug made to treat erectile dysfunction of males commonly known as impotence and is also used to cure pulmonary arterial hypertension. Viagra was developed by Pfizer, a pharmaceutical company. The major competitors are vardenafil (Levitra) and also tadalafil (Cialis).

The History of Viagra

Viagra was first created for the sole purpose of treating high blood or what is called hypertension and also angina pectoris commonly known as a form of cardiovascular disease. It was developed by Pfizer at their research department located in England. When the drug was scheduled for testing it was found out that it had little or no effect at all in treating angina but what they observed was that it had more use as and inducer for penile erections.

As the results had shown that the drug was a good penile erection inducer it was decided that it will be marketed as a cure for erectile dysfunctions. Viagra was patented in the year 1996 and was approved by the Food and Drug Administration as a cure for erectile dysfunction on the 27th of March in the year 1998. Viagra became the very first drug to be approved for the cure of erectile dysfunctions in the U.S.A.

Sales and marketing of the drug started on the following year after the drug was approved by the FDA. Annual sales of the drug exceeded $1 billion from the year 1999 to 2001 which was considered a great triumph of Pfizer.

Albert Wood and Peter Dunn were considered by the British press as the inventors of Viagra but Pfizer disputed this claim by stating that their names were only put on the patent for convenience.

Viagra was openly advertised to the consumers, despite its being a prescription drug, especially on TV by famous people such as Senator Bob Dole and Pel? the football legend. Viagra was also sold online only by filling up a form to serve as an online consultation in order to buy the drug. The name “Viagra” became a household name to the extent that imitation and fake drugs or aphrodisiacs were labeled with the name “herbal Viagra”. Now, well known names of the drugs are “the Blue Pill”, “Miracle pill for middle aged men” and also “Vitamin V”.

How it works

The basic process of having an erection is that the parasympathetic nervous system releases nitric oxide inside the hollow caverns of the penis. The nitric oxide sticks to the enzyme guanylate cyclase’s receptors which in turn increases the cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP) levels. This process causes the muscles in the penis to be smooth and relaxed which is called vasodilation in the caverns of the penis. This whole process increases the flow of blood into penis thereby producing an erection.

How much does it cost and when is it taken

Dosages of most prescription drugs are usually decided by a licensed doctor. The usual dosage of Viagra is 25mg or 100mg once a day with an interval of 30 minutes and if having sexual intercourse it should be taken 4 hours prior to that.

Usual method is to take 50mg first, and then based on the results of the sexual intercourse, the next dosage can be lowered or raised as appropriate.

Side effects

The usual and most common of side effects are headaches, dyspepsia, sneezing, photophobia, palpitations and longer time of erection. Some reports of blurred vision and other changes in vision and a bluish tinge have occurred.

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