Viagra – how and how long does potency drugs work?

Added: 21-03-2019 | Update: 21-03-2019

The effects of Viagra – the first potency drug for men – have been appreciated by hundreds of thousands of patients all over the world who struggle with erectile dysfunction (ED). Viagra, however, is not a wonderful medicine that can be used without restriction by every person. Viagra is neither an aphrodisiac, it will not work without sexual arousal.

The most popular blue pill, which can bring its manufacturer – Pfizer, a pharmaceutical company – an annual profit of even 2 billion dollars, was developed in the ‘90s to treat hypertension. It soon turned out that the effects of Viagra are much broader. Not only does the drug perfectly deal with arterial hypertension, but also have other properties, namely those related to erectile dysfunction.

Since 1993 when it was patented, Viagra is the most frequently counterfeited medicine. Five years after registering Viagra, encouraged by Pfizer’s success, its competitors marketed other drugs with similar mechanism of action:

Bayer launched Levitra (active substance – wardenafil)
Liily Elly launched Cialis (active substance – tadalafil)
Polpharma marketed Maxigra (active substance – sildenafil)

Viagra – how does it work?

The effects of Viagra are based on its active substance, sildenafil, one of phosphodiesterase type 5 inhibitors. The effectiveness of this medicine in men with erectile dysfunction is estimated at 50–70%. Viagra, however, is not an aphrodisiac and does not improve libido. Nevertheless, it proves useful when there is sexual arousal, but it is not followed by an erection or a man is unable to maintain an erection firm enough to engage in a satisfactory sexual intercourse.

How does sildenafil work, then? The drug facilitates the production of nitric oxide, which is activated during sexual arousal in the cavernous bodies of the penis. Viagra also dilates the blood vessels in the penis, thus increasing the supply of blood to the penis during sexual arousal.

Sildenafil – duration of effects

Viagra can be taken with a meal or without a meal, but you need to remember that, taken with a very large meal, the drug may kick in later than if taken on an empty stomach. Alcohol also can delay the effects, so it is better to refrain from it before taking the medicine.

The proper effects of Viagra should appear 30 minutes or an hour after taking it and washing it down with a glass of water. The fact, however, whether a man will achieve sexual arousal depends on individual factors.

Recommended initial dose is 50 mg (you should not take the blue pill more than once a day). If the medicine, however, is not enough to achieve or maintain erection for a time long enough to have a sexual intercourse, you must tell your doctor about it. You should not take higher doses of the drug on your own because, first of all, doses higher than 100 mg will not make it more effective and, secondly, there is a risk of complications.

Viagra – adverse drug reactions

Just as all drugs, Viagra may cause adverse reactions as well. You should be aware that Viagra may cause:

allergic reactions,
chest pain (do not take nitrites in this case),
prolonged and painful erections (for up to even four hours),
headaches and dizziness,
sudden facial redness,
indigestion,
abnormal vision (colourful glow, hypersensitivity to light, unclear vision or low visual acuity),
nasal congestion,
less frequently: vomiting, skin rash, haemorrhage to the back of the eye, eye irritation, eye congestion, eye pain, double vision, abnormal sensation in the inside of the eyes, irregular or faster heartbeat, muscular pains, sleepiness, weaker sense of touch, dizziness, ringing in the ears, nausea, dry mouth, chest pain, and tiredness.
sporadically: arterial hypertension, hypotension, fainting, stroke, nose bleeding or sudden weakness or hearing loss, palpitation, chest pain, sudden death, heart attack, or temporarily reduced blood flow through some parts of the brain.

Viagra – contraindication

Viagra is not a drug that can be used by every man with erectile dysfunction. The drug cannot be used in the following cases:

ischaemic heart disease,
uncontrolled arterial hypertension,
recent heart attack,
malignant ventricular arrhythmia,
cardiomyopathy,
aortic valve stenosis,
recent stroke,
low arterial hypertension (below 90/50 mmHg).

Particular care and doctor attention is necessary if the patient has been diagnosed with any of the following diseases:

leukaemia,
penile deformity,
Peyronie's disease,
heart diseases,
peptic ulcer disease,
bleeding disorders,
kidney and liver diseases.

Each chronic disease requires medical consultation, as sildenafil may react with different drugs, especially nitrite preparations, which creates the risk of dangerously reduced blood pressure. In some patients treated for high blood pressure or prostate enlargement, Viagra may lead to dizziness or a blackout.

Levitra

Levitra is available as 5, 10, or 20 mg orange tablets. The active substance is wardenafil, which reaches maximum blood concentration after 30–120 minutes after ingestion. Remember that, as in the case of Viagra, taking it with a high-fat meal might delay the onset of the effects of the drug. The preparation should not be taken more frequently than once a day. Particular caution should be exercised by patients with cardiovascular disorders. The drug can induce strong headaches and facial redness; sometimes nausea, rhinitis, or dizziness may occur.

Cialis

The main active substance of this preparation is tadalafil. Recommended initial dose is 10 mg, taken 30 minutes before a planned sexual activity (the effects of the drug may persist for even 36 hours after ingestion; no other medicine for erectile dysfunction has such long effects). If the dose is not sufficient, your doctor can increase it to 20 mg.

Adverse drug reactions are similar to other potency drugs. Therefore, it is worth talking to your doctor about your problems with erection to choose the most appropriate drug together.

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