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“The little blue pill” has become a punch line for many jokes since the maker of Viagra (Pfizer) put a very profitable drug on the market in the Spring of 1998. Of course, the fact that Viagra treats erectile dysfunction creates both an opportunity for humour but also gives hope for many men facing an emotionally challenging problem.

Viagra made headlines as the first oral medication approved by the American Food and Drug Administration for the treatment of impotence. Even with all the publicity surrounding this drug, you may only know the end result of Viagra and still have many unanswered questions about the drug.

Viagra is the trademark name of a compound called Sildenafil Citrate. It was originally studied to treat hypertension and angina pectoris (a symptom of heart disease). The drug was not effective in treating these conditions but, the researchers noticed that it increased blood flow to the penis.

Erectile dysfunction (or male impotence) is defined as the “inability to develop or maintain an erection of the penis sufficient for sexual performance.” It is estimated that 1 in 10 men will experience this problem at some point in their lives.

Viagra increases the concentration of Nitric Oxide in the penis, resulting in smooth muscle relaxation and increased blood flow. However, men need to be sexually stimulated to have an erection with the drug.

Viagra is a blue, diamond-shaped pill with the word Pfizer on one side and the dosage (i.e., VGR 25) engraved on the other side. There are 3 dosages available: 25, 50, and 100 mg. It is recommended to take the drug 30 minutes to 4 hours before sexual intercourse.

A high-fat meal slows down the absorption of Viagra and its overall action on the penis. The drug is broken down by the liver and excreted from the body by both the liver and the kidneys.

The common side effects of Sildenafil Citrate are headaches, flushing, nasal congestion, indigestion, and impaired vision. Severe but rare side effects are: severe hypotension, heart attack, stroke, increased pressure in the eyes, hearing loss, and erections that last for more than 4 hours.

Some men should not take Viagra such as those who: take medications containing Nitric Oxide (i.e., Nitroglycerin); are at high risk for heart attacks/strokes; have poorly functioning livers/kidneys; have low blood pressure or have hereditary retinal disorders.

A prescription is needed to purchase Viagra. However, there are thousands of unregulated websites that sell the drug. This puts the public’s health at risk. Also, some men use Viagra as a recreational drug or to enhance their sports performance.

By 2007, the sales of Viagra dropped by 50%. Part of the reason for this drop is the introduction of 2 other competitors: Cialis and Levitra. Regardless of its shrinking profit margin, this I know for sure – erectile dysfunction is an emotionally charged problem, and men like their penis harder!

Literary Truths

Before turning to Viagra to treat erectile dysfunction, men should try these lifestyle changes:

• Have a healthy body weight: even a reduction of 5-10% of body mass will significantly reduce your risks of diseases such a Diabetes and Heart disease.

• Stop smoking: cigarettes constrict blood vessels, decreasing blood flow to all your organs.

• Exercise regularly: it increases blood flow to all your organs and elevates the production of serotonin (a “feel good” neurotransmitter).

• Lower your stress: sexual arousal starts in the brain. If you are stressed, it may decrease your libido and affect your erections.

• Check your hormones: ask your doctor to verify if you have a balanced ratio of the different sex hormones (i.e., testosterone).

• Control your symptoms of diabetes: if your blood sugar is too high, blood flow to all your organs will be reduced.

• Check the side effects of your medications: most drugs have side effects and one of them could be lower libido (i.e., anti-depressants).

• Resolve emotional issues in your relationship: if you are in a dysfunctional relationship, the problem may not be with your body, but with your mind.

Truth in Motion

References

Her Parts’ Desire, Anne McIIroy, The Globe and Mail. Toronto, Ont.: Feb 28, 2009. p. F.1

Sales Of Impotence Drugs Fall, Defying Expectations