Viagra is the trade name for a drug called Sildenafil. Viagra is in a class of medicines known as phosphodiesterase (PDE) inhibitors. It works by increasing blood flow to the penis.Viagra and the other PDE-5 inhibitors can help men with erectile dysfunction (male impotence) by enhancing the erectile response when a man is sexually stimulated.
Uses
Taking Viagra relaxes the walls of your blood vessels and lets blood flow more easily into the parts of your penis that cause an erection.
Pulmonary hypertension
Viagra is now marketed under the name Revatio for this uncommon but serious disorder of high pressure in the blood vessels leading to the lungs.
Mountain sickness
Viagra can reduce pulmonary artery pressure at high altitude and improve the ability to exercise in low oxygen conditions.
Raynaud’s phenomenon
In affected individuals, exposure to the cold triggers spasm of the small arteries that supply blood to the fingers, toes, or both, which become pale, cold, and painful. Both Viagra and Levitra have been helpful in clinical trials.
Heart disease
Studies suggest Viagra might help patients with congestive heart failure or diastolic dysfunction.
Common Side Effects of Viagra
Tell your doctor if any of the following side effects become severe or don’t go away:
- Headache
- Diarrhea
- Upset stomach
- Dizziness
- Heartburn
- Runny or stuffy nose
- Nosebleeds
- Flushing
- Difficulty falling or staying asleep
- Numbness or tingling in the hands, arms, feet, or legs
- Muscle pain or back pain
- Sensitivity to light
- Vision color changes (seeing blue on objects or being unable to tell the difference between green and blue)
Treatment of ED
Erectile dysfunction is a condition where the penis does not harden and expand when a man is sexually excited, or when he cannot keep an erection. When a man is sexually stimulated, his body’s normal response is to increase blood flow to his penis to produce an erection. By controlling the enzyme, sildenafil helps to maintain an erection after the penis is stroked. Without physical action to the penis, such as that occurring during sexual intercourse, sildenafil will not work to cause an erection.
Sildenafil is also used in both men and women to treat the symptoms of pulmonary arterial hypertension. This is a type of high blood pressure that occurs between the heart and the lungs. When hypertension occurs in the lungs, the heart must work harder to pump enough blood through the lungs. Sildenafil works on the PDE5 enzyme in the lungs to relax the blood vessels. This will increase the supply of blood to the lungs and reduce the workload of the heart.This medicine is available only with your doctor’s prescription.
How to use viagra
This product is available in the following dosage forms:
- Tablet
- Powder for Suspension
Do not take Viagra if you are also using a nitrate drug for chest pain or heart problems, including nitroglycerin, isosorbide dinitrate, isosorbide mononitrate, and some recreational drugs such as “poppers”. Taking sildenafil with a nitrate medicine can cause a sudden and serious decrease in blood pressure
Take Viagra exactly as it was prescribed for you. Follow all directions on your prescription label. Do not take this medicine in larger or smaller amounts or for longer than recommended.
Viagra is usually taken only when needed, 30 minutes to 1 hour before sexual activity. You may take it up to 4 hours before sexual activity. Do not take Viagra more than once per day.
Viagra can help you have an erection when sexual stimulation occurs. An erection will not occur just by taking a pill. Follow your doctor’s instructions.
During sexual activity, if you become dizzy or nauseated, or have pain, numbness, or tingling in your chest, arms, neck, or jaw, stop and call your doctor right away. You could be having a serious side effect of sildenafil.
How to buy viagra
To get a prescription for Viagra or any other erectile dysfunction medicine, you should visit your GP. Alternatively, you can order Viagra online from an accredited online doctor service, and a doctor will assess your suitability for the medicine via an online questionnaire